an autobiography-第15节
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itical about the article。
On one of these occasions； when I was about four years old； and being the youngest of the family； I was taken into the company after the dinner was over； and held up by my sister Jane to sing a verse from a little song which my nurse Mary Peterkin had taught me； and Which ran thus：
〃I'll no bide till Saturday； But I'll awa' tile morn； An' follow Donald Hielandman； An' carry his poother…horn。〃
This was my first and last vocal performance。 It was received with great applause。 In fact； it was encored。 The word 〃poother；〃 which I pronounced 〃pootle〃； excited the enthusiasm of the audience。 I was then sent to bed with a bit of plum…cake； and was doubtless awakened early next morning by the irritation of the dried crumbs of the previous night's feast。
I am reminded； by reading over a letter of my brother Patrick's； of an awkward circumstance that happened to me when I was six years old。 In his letter to my father； dated London； 22d September 1814； he says： 〃I did get a surprise when Margaret's letter informed me of my little brother Jamie's fall。 It was a wonderful escape。 For God's sake keep an eye upon him！〃 Like other strong and healthy boys； I had a turn for amusing myself in my own way。 When sliding down the railing of the stairs I lost my grip and fell suddenly over。 The steps were of stone。 Fortunately； the servants were just coming up laden with carpets which they had been beating。 I fell into their midst and knocked them out of their hands。 I was thus saved from cracking my poor little skull。 But for that there might have been no steam hammerat least of my contrivance！
Everything connected with war and warlike exploits is interesting to a boy。 The war with France was then in full progress。 Troops and bands paraded the streets。 Recruits were sent away as fast as they could be drilled。 The whole air was filled with war。 Everybody was full of excitement about the progress of events in Spain。 When the great guns boomed forth from the Castle； the people were first startled。 Then they were surprised and anxious。 There had been a battle and a victory！ 〃Who had fallen？〃 was the first thought in many minds。 Where had the battle been； and what was the victory？ Business was suspended。 People rushed about the streets to ascertain the facts。 It might have been at Salamanca； Talavera； or Vittoria。 But a long time elapsed before the details could be received； and during that time sad suspense and anxiety prevailed in almost every household。 There was no telegraph then。 It was only after the Gazette had been published that people knew who had fallen and who had survived。
The war proceeded。 The volunteering which went on at the time gave quite a military aspect to the city。 I remember how odd it appeared to me to see some well…known faces and figures metamorphosed into soldiers It was considered a test of loyalty as well as of patriotism； to give time； money； and leisure to take up the arms of defence； and to practise daily in military uniform in the Meadows or on Bruntsfield Links。 Windows were thrown up to hear the bands playing at the head of the troops； and crowds of boys； full of military ardour； went； as usual； hand to hand in front of the drums and fifes。 The most interesting part of the procession to my mind was the pioneers in front； with their leather aprons； their axes and saws； and their big hairy caps and beards。 They were to me so suggestive of clearing the way through hedges and forests； and of what war was in its actual progress。
Every victory was followed by the importation of large numbers of French prisoners。 Many of them were sent to Edinburgh Castle。 They were permitted to relieve the tedium of their confinement by manufacturing and selling toys； workboxes； brooches； and carved work of different kinds。 In the construction of these they exhibited great skill； taste； and judgment。 They carved them out of bits of bone and wood。 The patterns were most beautiful； and they were ingeniously and tastefully ornamented。 The articles were to be had for a mere trifle； although fit to be placed with the most choice objects of artistic skill。
These poor prisoners of war were allowed to work at their tasteful handicrafts in small sheds or temporary workshops at the Castle； behind the palisades which separated them from their free customers outside。 There was just room between the bars of the palisades for them to hand through their exquisite works； and to receive in return the modest prices which they charged。 The front of these palisades became a favourite resort for the inhabitants of Edinburgh； and especially for the young folks。 I well remember being impressed with the contrast between the almost savage aspect of these dark…haired foreigners； and the neat and delicate produce of their skilful fingers。
At the peace of 1814； which followed the siege of Paris； great rejoicings and illuminations took place； in the belief that the war was at an end。 The French prisoners were sent back to their own country； alas！ to appear again before us at Waterloo。 The liberation of those confined in Edinburgh Castle was accompanied by an extraordinary scene。 The French prisoners marched down to the transport ships at Leith by torchlight。 All the town was out to see them。 They passed in military procession through the principal streets； singing as they marched along their revolutionary airs； 〃Ca lra〃 and 〃The Marseillaise。〃 The wild enthusiasm of these haggard…looking men； lit up by torchlight and accompanied by the cheers of the dense crowd which lined the streets and filled the windows； made an impression on my mind that I can never forget。
A year passed。 Napoleon returned from Elba； and was rejoined by nearly all his old fighting…men。 I well remember； young as I was； an assembly of the inhabitants of Edinburgh in Charlotte Square； to bid farewell to the troops and officers then in garrison。 It was a fine summer evening when this sad meeting took place。 The bands were playing as their last performance； 〃Go where glory waits thee！〃 The air brought tears to many eyes； for many who were in the ranks might never return。 After many a hand…shaking； the troops marched to the Castle； previous to their early embarkation for the Low Countries on the following morning。
Then came Waterloo and the victory！ The Castle guns boomed forth again； and the streets were filled with people anxious to hear the news。 At last came the Gazette filled with the details of the killed and wounded。 Many a heart was broken； many a fireside was made desolate。 It was indeed a sad time。 The terrible anxiety that pervaded so many families； the dreadful sacrifice of lives on so many battlefields； and the enormously increased taxation； which caused so many families to stint themselves to even the barest necessaries of life；such was the inglorious side of war。
But there was also the glory； which almost compensated for the sorrow。 I cannot resist narrating the entry of the Forty…second Regiment into Edinburgh shortly after the battle of Waterloo。 The old 〃Black Watch〃 is a regiment dear to every Scottish heart。 It has fought and struggled when resistance was almost certain death。 At Quatre Bras two flank companies were cut to pieces by Pire's cavalry。 The rest of the regiment was assailed by Reille's furious cannonade； and suffered severely。 The French were beaten back； and the remnant of the Forty…second retired to Waterloo； where they formed part of the brigade under Major…General Pack。 At the first grand charge of the French； Picton fell and many were killed。 Then the charge of the Greys took place； and the Highland regiments rushed forward； with cries of 〃Scotland for ever！〃 Only a remnant of the Forty…second survived。 They were however recruited； and marched into France with the rest of the army。
Towards the end of the year the Forty…Second returned to England； and in the beginning of 1816 they set out on their march towards Edinburgh。 They were everywhere welcomed with enthusiasm。 Crowds turned out to meet them and cheer them。 When the first division of the regiment approached Edinburgh； almost the entire population turned out to welcome them。 At Musselburgh； six miles off； the road was thronged with people。 When the soldiers reached Piershill； two miles off； the road was so crowded that it took them two hours to reach the Castle。 I was on a balcony in the upper part of the High Street； and my father； mother； and sisters were with me。 We had waited very long； but at last we heard the distant sound of the cheers； which came on and on； louder and louder。
The High Street was wedged with people excited and anxious。 There seemed scarcely room for a regiment to march through them。 The house…tops and windows were crowded with spectators。 It was a grand sight。 The high…gabled houses reaching as far as the eye could see； St。 Giles' with its mural crown； the Tron Kirk in the distance； and the picturesque details of the buildings； all added to the effectiveness of the scene。
At last the head of the gallant band appeared。 The red coats gradually wedged their way through the crowd； amidst the ringing of bells and the cheers of the spectators。 Every window was in a wave
