The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX. No. 1012, May 20, 1899Various
General
The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX. No. 1012, May 20, 1899
Various
Children's literature -- Periodicals
convenience, but should not be omitted altogether.
LEIRION CLIFFORD.
“OUR HERO.”
BY AGNES GIBERNE, Author of “Sun, Moon and Stars,” “The Girl at the
Dower House,” etc.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
A WARRIOR TAKING HIS REST.
The rapid fall of darkness made it difficult to pursue the enemy, who
at every point had been worsted. General Hope, knowing that large
reinforcements might be expected to arrive soon in the French camp,
decided to carry out Sir John Moore’s plan of immediate embarkation.
At ten o’clock that night the march began, brigade after brigade
leaving the field of battle and silently going on board one transport
after another. So complete had been all previous arrangements that, by
morning light, almost the whole British Army was on board.
Meanwhile, anxious consultation had taken place as to what should
be done with the beloved remains of the Commander. Colonel Anderson
settled the question by stating that Moore had often told him his
wish—“if he ever fell in battle, to be buried where he had fallen.”
It was decided that a grave should be dug on the rampart of the Coruña
citadel.
At midnight the body was reverently borne into the citadel by Colonel
Graham, Major Colbourne and the Aides-de-camp. For a few hours it lay
in Colonel Graham’s room.
In the early morning firing was heard. It was then determined not to
put off the funeral any longer, lest a fresh attack should be impending
and the officers be compelled to hasten away before paying the last
honours to their Chief.
Somewhat strangely, it fell to Roy Baron to be present at this mournful
ceremony.
It so happened that, in the early morning, Roy was sent by the Colonel
of his Regiment with a message to one of the Aides-de-camp; and as he
arrived on the spot just when the funeral was about to begin, he was
allowed to be one of the party in attendance.
Not at dead of night, but at eight o’clock in the chill morning of a
January day, and in the grave prepared by his own men, Sir John Moore
was laid. No coffin could be procured. The body had not been undressed.
He wore still the General’s uniform in which he had fought his last
battle, and—
“He lay like a warrior taking his rest,
With his martial cloak around him.”
That same cloak, in which but a few days earlier he had visited Roy in
the little hut,—had laid his kind hand upon the boy’s arm,—had spoken
never-to-be-forgotten words of praise,—had smiled upon him——
Roy dared not let himself think of all this. Burning blinding tears
forced their way to his eyes—and not to his only—as he gazed his last
upon that perfect face in its pale sublime repose.
Moore was carried by the “Officers of the Family,” who would allow no
other hands to do for him these last sad services. The Burial Service
was read by the Chaplain. And what was in the hearts of them all has
been told, in words that cannot be improved upon, by that noble elegy,
which is Moore’s best monument.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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