Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1844-12-26
THE RORGET-ME-NoT.
TRANsz.ATED JaoaCi1azE FRENCH, III RORERr .
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Iis THE FORGET-ME-NoT.. ..z 81.
TRANszATED 1a0aGiTazE FRENcE, N RORERr n
In the year 1909, in the 12th regiment of tn,
line, then stationed at Strasburg, there was ser
tive Of that half savage, half civilized part Of Bur
gundy, known by the name of MOvUGn, who was
called by his comrades Pierre ssCGlEOsc-rGsC. Hi
was brave fellow, in every sense of the word and
his comrades said, q fellow hard to be cooked
Always the first ON the field OF battle and the las,
to leave it, he was supposed to care for only two
things; the smell Of powder and the whistling Of
balls Those who had seen him on the field Of
battle, when with ardent eyes, dstended nostrils
and brisling nOssfGche, he plunged into the thick
est of the fight, were accustomed to say that
slaughter was the pastime of Pierre ssoGlEOsCy0,c
But one fine day, our friend Pierre sent letter
! to his colonel, in which he requested permission
to leave for short time, that he might go and
nurse his old mother, who was dangerous i'll. He
added that his poor father, seventy eight years old
had received paralytic stroke and was utterly in
capable of taking care of his poor wife, He prom
ised to return as soon as his mothers health was
restored.
The colonel sent word to Pierre Pitois that he
hourly expected the regiment to be ordered away,
and that he could expect no furlough.
Pierre Pitois did not appeal from this decision.
About a fortnight elapsed, a second letter found
its way to the colonel. Pierre announced that his
mother had died of sorrow on account of not hav-
ing seen him once more; she had wished, like a
kind and afecsionate parent, to give him her last
blessing Pierre solicited earnestly this time for
leave Of absence for single month. 1t was fam
lily secret. He begged his colonel not to refuse
him this favor. ri '-,al .-.
Pierre's second letter was not more successful
than the first, only the captain said to him: "Pi-
ere, the colonel has received your letter; he is
vnrv that vnr,P Vnofhor 70 AaoI b,,t
he cannot give you the furlough you have asked
for; our regiment leaves Strasburg tomorrow"
Indeed! the regiment leaves Strasburg, and
where is it going. if you please 20
ITO Austria: We are going to Vienna, my
brave Pitois We are going to fight with the
Austrians -. don't that please you! There you'll
have fan, my fine fellow!"
Pierre Pitois answered nothing to all this. He
seemed plunged into deep thought. The captain
took his hand and shaking it vigorously, said
"Come, wake up! are you deafto-day! / am tell
ing you that before week we will have the pleas
ure Of fighting with the Austrians, and you don't
even thank me for the good news! Why, you are
not listening to me!'' =.
"Yes, Captain" replied Pitois, "I have heard
every word, am much obliged to you for your
news; it is very good"
"Ah! 40 you have recovered Your senses at last"
"And SO, captain, there is no means of obtain
ing that furlough'" ...-..-... .......
Are you really mad '-furloush, indeed, on the
day before battle?"
''Oh, was not thinking; so we are on the eve
Of battle, are we! At such time, Of course,
absence is not permitted"
alt should not even be asked for!''
"True, il should not be asked for,-one would
seem to be a coward Besides, the one that was
requesting, no longer want, will do without it."
s.And You will do cell ;" replied the captain.
The following day the 18th regiment Of ti,e air.~
entered Germany. On the same day, Pierre Pltois
surnamed s,cGlIOtCrGsC, deserted.
Three months afterwards, while the 18th reg..
ment, after having gathered in full harvest OF
glory and honor on the field of Wagram, was max
ing its triumphant entry into Strasburg, Pierre p
tots was ANONYMOUSLY dragged before his colonel
by brigade Of gendarmeS
Ere long council Of war was assembled. Pier
re Pitos was accused of having deserted just before
his regiment was to have been brought to face the
enemy.
This council Of war presented singular specta-
cle On one side there was the accuser who was
saving: Pierre Pitos, you, one Of the bravest
soldiers Of the army; you, on whose breast shines
the cross of honor; you, who have never deserved
either punishment or reproach from your superb
ors Won could not have left your regiment, and es-
pecally have left it the eve of battle, without
having had powerful inducement. The council
wishes to know your motive, for it desires, not to
acouit YOU, for it neither ought to; but at
least to recommend you to the clemency Of the en-
pcror" On the other hand, the accused replied
81 I have deserted without any motive, without
any reason, but do not regret having done so If
If was to be repeated. would do it again. j have
merited death, condemn me =" Then witnesses
came forward and said: I" Pierre Ptois has deser-
ted, we know II, yet we cannot believe IT." 9TH
ers again: Pierre Ptois 10 mad; the council can
not condemn mailman it is not to the gallows'
it is 10 the hospital he should be sent"
Little was wanting for this last plan to be adop-
ted for there was nobody in the whole council who
did not consider the deserton Of .dDdte .fcuf-eru
as one of those human impossibilities which every
body acknowledges. but nobody understands Yet
the accused appeared to be simple and logical in
his in claiming the sentence OF death
he proclaimed his crime with such bold frankness,
repeating continually that he did not regret it the
firmness which he showed looked so much ike
bravado, that clemency could not be exercised TO-
wards him. Sentence of death was pronounced.
When his sentence was read to him, Pierre Pitols
did not tremble He was advised to plead for mer-
cy-he refused.
As everybody saw plainly that beneath all this
indifference was concealed some strange mystery,
il was decided that the execution Of Pierre Ptois
should be deferred. The condemned man was led
to fine military prison. and was told that, by spe-
ca favor he had four days to think on the subject
and ask for pardon; he shrugged his shoulders and
| did not answer. .s-
execution the door Of his prison swung on its him
ges, an officer Of the imperial guard advanced to
| the side Of the bed on which the condemned man
was sleeping, and having examined him attentive
IL BY the light of the lantern which he held IN ms
hand, awoke him. Pierre opened his eyes, and
looking around: f" All" said he, the hour has
:. No. Pierre" replied the officer. the hour ha.