‘“But half in his arms, and half at his stirrup, he bore me right
forth,
And pitched me among my old comrades: before I could tell south from
north,
He caught my hand up, and kissed it! Don’t ever let any man speak
A word against Frenchmen, I near him! I can’t find his name, tho’ I
seek.
But French, and a General, surely he was, and, God bless him! thro’
him
I’ve learnt to love a whole nation.”’ The ancient man paused, winking
dim.