ONE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 143, 6 April 1877, Page 7

ONE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE .

ONE OF TIIS LIGHT BRIGADE. Ijj |ji A paragraph appeared some days ago mM the Sun announcing the death of John'i}| Fitzpatrick, one of the Light Brigade, who^i die J of starvation in England. He had)!! received a pension of sixpence a diiy,'^; which, however, was withdrawn severalfj years ago, and he endeavoured to eke oufc:';i a miserable existence by riding in circus 'vpageants. Old age ant} disease unfitted!' him for this or any obhei* work"; the only 1; refuge for the disabled soldier was the ■!; alms-house, from which lie shranlc in ', horror. The verdict of the coi-oner's jury j was : "Died of starvation, and the case aiij disgrace to the War Office.." :jj Spread the news ! Spread the news 11 Spread tlxe news onward ! | •" Died of starvation," one f Of the Six Hundred ; One who his part had played Well in the Light Brigade, When through the vale of death, f. Rode the Six Hundryd. f A

Food to the right of him, lly Food to the ieffc o£ him, . j|| Food all around, yet ■ }&, | The veteran hungered — ! yji!| .He, who through sjiot and shell, "■% j Fearlessly rode and. well, ill f . And when the word was " Charge/ <ii| ! ii, Shrank not nor lingered. |! ; | ■' ' OIF to the work-house, you .!" I§l1 § 1 Back in disaiay lie drew, 'j |r Feeling he never knew, (|sf|j When cannon thundered. f|«i His not to plead nor sigh, ijjp His but to starve and die, ||f| And to a pauper's grave., M [I Sink with a soul as brave ;|| | As through the vale of death %3'i Bocle the Six Hundred. ;i |l :.;V|| Flashed a proud spirit there 'M j Up .through the man's despair., ' h 'g t i Shaming the servile there., ;A' « Scai-ing the timid, while Mi .Sordid souls wondered .; ;|v;| Then turned to face his fate ;i!|:| Calmly, with soul as great '|fc!| As when through shot and shell .:|,-,\« He rode with Six Hundred j - jji'f;| With high hope elate., 'jj? <i Laughing in face of fate— ' j;| f Rode with Six Hundred. iff] Hunger Ms mate by day, ;£f|| Sunday and working day, nilS Winter and summer day — \ffil Shame on the nation ! pij 1 ; .Struggling v.-itih might 'and inai la, if Smit 'with disease and pain, jji|; He, in "Victoria's name., M\ •' 'Die d of star vati on . " ■ jlj iWhile yet the Land with -pride ,;$ Tells of the headlong ride vMj Of the Six Hundred ; \fs While yet the -welkin rings., \&] While yet the Laureate sings., ,&| ' '' Some one has blundered,, '" ]| Let us with bated breath '!$ Tell how one starved to death Li Of the Six Hundred. ij'ji AVJiat can that horror hide !:|j Of the dread death ho died-.? jsj Well may men wonder .! '])•} One of the Liglit Brigade., :'-| One who that charge had made,, : ij| Died of sheer hunger. 'I M. M. ;$ Theroisasaroasticappropriateness showja '[I, by the author of the above poem in using „ )[l the same metre in telling of the old liero'B i\i death of starvation as that in "which Ten- ; sif nyson commemorated the charge of the -| famous brigade to which. Fitzpatrick ibe- m longed. No other metre could have ex- '>■* | pressed so "we'll thejustindignationwhichall -'\ \ generous hearts mast have :felt on reading iji of the old soldier's death, and, while com- % pl'i meriting the writer on the literary merit '$] and poetical ability evinced, we must !;.;(! likewise give our recognition, -of :the happy !; !f|i selection of the .measure. — New Y.ork Sun. ;.<'