22 More Tales of the Birds 



Bill's mother met him at the door with a 

 curtsey and a pale face. 



"It's his own writing," said the parson, "so 

 don't be frightened. Shall I read it you ? " 

 And he opened and read the letter ; here is a 

 faithful copy of it 



"BRUSSLES OSPITLE, June 22. 



" DEAR MOTHER, We ave won a glorous 

 Victry, and old Bony and all of em they run 

 away at last. I see em a runnin just as I got 

 nocked over my dear mother I did for some on 

 em but don't know how many twas, them cavalry 

 chaps mostly twas as I nocked over I be rather 

 smartish badly hit dear mother the Doctor ave 

 took off my rite Leg but I feels as if twur thur 

 still it do hurt so tell passon I found a Lark's 

 nestie as I didn't never take none of the eggs on 

 twur a marvelous wunder as they warn't scruncht 

 with them Frenchies a gallopin over the place 

 and our fellows wen they sent em a runnin tell 

 passon as the Lord do love me I partly thinks 

 I carn't rite no more dear mother but I'm a 

 comin ome soon as I'm better so no more now 

 from y r affexnit son " BILL " 



