The Works of Thomas Hood; Vol. 01 (of 11): Comic and Serious, in Prose and Verse, With All the Original IllustrationsHood, Thomas
General
The Works of Thomas Hood; Vol. 01 (of 11): Comic and Serious, in Prose and Verse, With All the Original Illustrations
Hood, Thomas
English poetry -- 19th century; English wit and humor; Humorous poetry, English
On the whole the thing might have been very gratifying, but on
reviewing the Field day, the asthmas and agues are uncommonly
numerous, and to say nothing of the horses that are amiss with
coffs and colds--there are three dead and seven lame for life. The
Earl has been very much blamed under the rose among the privates,
for fixing on a Hunting day, which I forgot to say, carried away a
dozen that were mounted on their hunters. I am sorry to say there
was so few left at the end of all, as to suffer themselves to be
hissed into the town by the little boys and gals, and called the
Horse Gomerils; and that consequently the corpse, as a body, is as
good as defunct. Not that there were many resign’d at the end of
the review, as his Lordship gave a grand dinner on the following
day to the troop: but I am sorry to say, a great many was so
unhandsome as to throw up the very day after. The common excuse
among them was something of not liking to wet their swords against
their countrymen.
For my own part as the yomanry cannot go on, I shall stick to it
honorably, and as any man of spirit would do in my case; but dont
be afraid of my attending Market, come what will, and selling the
barley at the best quotation.
I am, dear Brother,
Your’s and the Colonel’s to command,
JAMES CHERRY.
P.S.--I forgot to tell what will make you laugh. Barlow wouldn’t
ride with spurs, because, he said, they made his horse prick his
ears. Our poor corps, small as it is, I understand is like to act
in divisions. Some wish to be infantry instead of cavalry; and the
farmers from the hop grounds want to be Polish Lancers.
I have just learned Ballard, and nine more of the men, was ordered
to keep the ground; but it seems they left before the Troop came on
it. They say in excuse, they stood in the rain till they were ready
to drop; and as we didn’t come an hour after time, they thought
everything was postponed. “None but the brave,” they said, “deserve
the fair;” and till it _was_ fair, they wouldn’t attend again.
The mare you lent Ballard, I am sorry to say, got kicked in
several places, and had her shoulder put out; we was advised to
give her a swim in the sea, and I am still more sorry to say, in
swimming her we drowned her. As for my own nag, I am afraid he has
got string-halt; but one comfort is, I think it diverts him from
kicking.
[Illustration: PEACE OFFICERS.]
[Illustration: “SHE WALKS THE WATERS LIKE A THING OF LIFE.”]
I’M GOING TO BOMBAY.
“Nothing venture, nothing have.”--OLD PROVERB.
“Every Indiaman has at least two mates.”
FALCONER’S MARINE GUIDE.
I.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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