Adventures of a Soldier, Written by Himself: Being the Memoirs of Edward Costello, K.S.F. Formerly a Non-Commissioned Officer in the Rifle Brigade, Late Captain in the British Legion, and Now One of the Wardens of the Tower of London; Comprising Narratives of the Campaigns in the Peninsula under the Duke of Wellington, and the Subsequent Civil Wars in Spain.Costello, Edward
History
Adventures of a Soldier, Written by Himself: Being the Memoirs of Edward Costello, K.S.F. Formerly a Non-Commissioned Officer in the Rifle Brigade, Late Captain in the British Legion, and Now One of the Wardens of the Tower of London; Comprising Narratives of the Campaigns in the Peninsula under the Duke of Wellington, and the Subsequent Civil Wars in Spain.
Costello, Edward
Peninsular War, 1807-1814 -- Personal narratives, British
After living there some weeks, I looked upon myself as one of the
household; and, soldier-like, began toying with the girls: the one who
attracted my attention most was Augustine; she was a fine young woman,
with light hair and fair complexion. Her manners were playful, yet
gentle, and there was an air of innocence in her freedom, which showed
her thoughts were untainted by that knowledge of the world, which
restrains the levity of youth. Her disposition corresponded with her
manners, frank, generous, and confiding; her sisters used to say she was
of a most forgiving temper, yet of a firm and determined spirit, and
they loved her with more than the love sisters generally bestow upon
each other. I now, day after day, became more intimate with the family,
and the fair Augustine, whether serious or jesting, was always my
favourite. The courtship of a soldier may be somewhat rough; I used to
steal a kiss now and then, which my pretty Augustine would check me for
doing; yet so much goodness was there in her manner, that her reproof,
rather than otherwise, tempted a repetition of the offence. To those who
know the inconveniences to which soldiers are subjected in being
billeted, it must appear I was now in clover; I certainly never shall
forget the happy hours I then enjoyed.
One day, it was I remember on a Saturday, I was ordered on duty to the
head-quarters of our regiment, at a small village called Burloun, about
two miles from Mouvres. Previously to my departure, the youngest sister
Leucade told me Augustine was soon to be married, being engaged to a
young Frenchman who lived our side of Cambray, and had formerly been a
prisoner in England, jokingly adding, that he could speak a little
English. It was customary for me to dine with the family every Sunday;
and on my return off guard next day, as usual, I joined the domestic
party. I noticed a stranger at table, who by his manner appeared the
favoured suitor of Augustine. We had, however, scarcely been seated,
when he gazed intently upon me, and suddenly starting up, seized me by
the hand, and nearly bursting into tears, exclaimed, “Mon brave soldat,
est-ce vous?” I immediately recognized in him the faithful Frenchman
whose life I had spared in the streets of Badajoz before mentioned.
Returning to his seat, he described to the party the scenes we had gone
through at Badajoz, which sometimes called forth fits of laughter, and
sometimes tears.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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