Soyer's Culinary Campaign: Being Historical Reminiscences of the Late War.: With The Plain Art of Cookery for Military and Civil Institutions

abodes of wealthy merchants who reside in London during the winter. At one house, during the unloading of two or three boxes and a child’s cradle, a tidy-looking girl, who was waiting till they were taken in, had opened her letter, over which she appeared very sulky. The coachman, perceiving this, said, smiling--“Any answer, Sally?” “No!” said Sally. “Oh, yes; tell the old lady that I will not live with her any longer;” and the girl cried. “What’s the matter?” said the coachman. “She’s an old plague! there’s my Harry of the 46th has not been here these four months, and she writes to say she hears that he comes every day.” “Of course not--how could he? he’s been gone to the war with his regiment ever since last September.” Sally, crying still louder, and wiping her eyes with her apron, exclaimed, “Perhaps the poor fellow is killed by this time, and don’t care a fig about me.” “Well, well, lass, never mind that; soldiers are used to it.” “Do you think I shall ever see him again, Mr. Coachman?” “No doubt, my lass, but you must wait a little longer; and when he does come back, if he has distinguished, instead of extinguished, himself, he will have the Crimean medal, and perhaps be made a colonel--captain--general--marshal--or even a corporal; who knows? in these war times, every brave man has a chance.” “Thank you, Mr. Coachman, you make me very happy--I shan’t cry any more.” “But, Sally, am I to tell your mistress what you said?” “Oh, dear, no! because I should lose my place; they are not such bad people after all, and master is so very kind to me.” “I shall say nothing about it.” “Pray, say nothing.” “Pst, pst! now, my true blues, full speed for Virginia Water.” In twenty minutes we were before the very picturesque inn called the “Wheatsheaf;” every living soul came out to welcome us, thinking some accident had happened. There was the landlord, landlady, thin and bulky barmaids, house and kitchen maid, cook, pot and post boy, and a number of customers.