Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-01-04

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Ia 1909 there was, Ia The l2lh reei
( mcnt Of the line, tno.. in garrison ut
Strasbgrg, Sergeant OF The name Of
Pierre Pil"is, who was one Of that por-
lion OF half savage, half civilized Bur-
gognia, known by the name Of Morvan.
II Pierre was "a brave man according 10
his own accePtation Of the woid and.
as it was usually said in the regiment.
he was as tough as leather. He was
always the first and the last in skirni-
ish he was said to love only y two ,I.ines
! tile smell of powder and Tie Kissing
Of bulls. Those who had seen him on
the field of baitle-his eye flashing, his
mouslache bristling, and his nos.rils
dilated, and throwing himselfinto tho
ihckest Of the iight--were wont to say
that carnage was fancy ball for Pierre.
Il Now, one fine day our friend Pierre
took it into his head to address a letter
to his Colonel, asking rsate Of absence.
to 60 and take care Of his old mother,
who was dangerously sick ; he added
that his father, wLo was about 10 ,ears
old, and para ytc, could afford no as
sistance to tho old lady. He PROMISED
TO return as soon as tho health Of his
mother should be restored. =. :.
The Colonel replied to Pierre Riiois,
that the regiment expected every iho-.
Inent to receive ordcrs 20 join the army. :
and consequently that there was no
hope of dismissal or leave of absence. .
rierre Pi,ois made no complaint.
a fortnight passed away, and tho
! Colonel received another letter. /.
II Pierre announced to his Colonel that .
his mother had died without the sa; -
faction Of having seen her son. Sss
nad desired, as a good and tender moth
er to bestow upon him her dying bless
ing. Pierre this time solicited leave Of
absence for u month. lie professed
his earnest solicitude to obtain his leave
OF absence-it was family secret
But he most earnestly supplicated his
Colonel not to refuse this favor.
The second letter Of Pierre was as
has received your letter he is sorry
} for the death Of your old mother, but he
cannot grant you the favor that you
seek, - tomorrow the regimen, will
quit Strasburg'
'Ah, the regiment quits Strasburg
and where is it going, if you please p
TO Austria. We are going TO visit
Vienna, my brave Pitois. We nre
going TO fight with the Austrians -
There's some comfort in that, is'n
there That's where we are going.
my brave fellows.
L Pierre Pitois made no answer llo
seemed 10 be plunged into deep rove
rie. The Captain took him by the
hand and shook him soundly-'What's
the matter /; Are you deaf to-day .
tell you, that, within a week, you are
g to have the pleasure of fighting the
!, Austrians, and you do not thank mo
for my good news. Surely, you Gid
not hear me-.
'Yes did, Captain. | understood
y you perfectly. thank You heartily ior
> your intelligence, which is really god
news
How now y
Really. Captain, then there, il no
means of obtaining this loaye OF ab-
sence =
Are you mad, Pierre a leave Of
absence on the eve of marching y
Il did not think Of that. We arc
then going to join the army. Al such
a moment they do not grant leave Of
absence y
They don't ask leave Of absence ut
3 such timc.'
That's right They do mol ask IT,
II would look cowurdly Very we'll,
won, ask il again. give it all up
That's right, my dnc fellow.
\ The next day the i-Ih regiment Of
the line entered Germany. Tho next
+ day Pierre Pnois DESLKrLD. Three
| a.. II. LII. Al
ment ofIhe line, after having gathered
an ample harvest Of glory, was making
a triumphant entry into Sirasburg.
Pierre Pitois was ienomiDiously dragged
4 TO his corps by n brigade oigens d'Slmes.
Soon afterwards council of war wus
assembled, aud Pierre Piiois wss. nc