The Arkansas banner., 1847-07-26
PEER K E PKTOIS:
 OR, MOTHER AND SON.
A ToUcHINe sKErcu

In the year 1909, Pierre Pitois was ser geant in the twelfth regiment of the line, then quartered tn SsTasbuFRh He was native cf that half-savage, hali-cisilixed, part of BuTEHndy known under the name of Morvan; and his comrades never spoke of him bot as "a tough customer" Always the first and the last to fire. he had the reputation of liking but two things in the world---,he smell Of powder and the whistline of bul- lets.
 Now. one fine day, our friend Pierre took il into his head to address letter to his Colonel, in which he applied for leave of absence t0 go and see his aged mother, who vas dangerously ill- He added thas his fsthers being sesssiy-eighs ysass of age, and suffering under q paraIyiic affection, could not he of any use in narse-,ending the poor woman; and he pledged himself to return as soon as the health of his mother should be restored
 The ColoaeI's reply to Pierre's applica- ton was. 'sthaL as the regiment might al any moment be ordered to take the field, no leave of absence could be obiained.' Pierre Piiois submitted. A fortnight elapsed; second letter was received by the Colonel, in which Pierre informed him that his mother had died withou, the consolation of giving her last blessing to her only child, and in which he again solicited leave of absence, saying, that .she could not state his reasons for this request--it was family secret, ,.-bui earnestly imploriag his Colo nel not to deny him this favor. Pierre's second letter was as litsle success ful as the first The poor fellows captain. merely said, .sPieue, the Colonel has receiy- ed your letter, he is sorry for the death of your old mother, but he cannot grant the leave of absence you require, as the regiment leaves Sirasburg tomorrow @Ahl The regiment leaves Strasburg for and what place, may ask you:'' said Pitois
 ..For Austria" replied his officer aWe are to see Vienna, my brave Pliois;-we are to fight the Austrians Is not that good news for you.-Y ou will bein your element. my fine fellow i''
 Pierre Piiois made no reply; he seemed lost in deep thought The captain caught his hand, and shaking it heartily. said
 .'Why do you not speak, man; Are you deaf to-day' am telling you that in less ttan week you are 10 have the pleasure of set to with the Austrians, and you have not one word of thanks for the good news Nay. verify believe you have mol even heard me.n
 s.Indeed, Captain, have heard every word, and thank you with all my heart for your news, which consider very good newsn
 ssI thought you would,n said his officer.
 sABut, Captain, IS there no chance of oh- tainins the leave of absences"
 s.Are you madi' was the reply. s'Leave of absence;-the very day before taking the feldr'
 s1l never thought of that" said Pierre i've are then on the point of taking the held; and at such time, suppose, leave IS never given ,'
 s.ii is never even asked"
 s'lt is quite right-i, IS never even asked It would have the appearance of cowardice. We'll, then, will not press i, any more; will try and get on without ii,-
 ssAnd you will do well," replied the Cap tain.
 The next day, the twelfth regiment enter ed Germany; and the next Pierre Pitois de- serted.
 Three months after. when the twelfth re- giment, having reaped in the field of battle an abundant harvest of glory, was making its ,riumphal entry into Sirasburg, Pierre Pi,ois was ignominiously dragged hack to his corps by brigade of ihe gems d'0rmes
 4 court-marlial is immediately called Pierre Pitois is accused of having deserted al the very moment when the regiment was about 10 meet the enemy face to face. The court presented singular spectacle. On the one side stood forth ihe aeeuser, who cried,--
 "Pierre Piiois, you, one of sha bravest men ii: ihe army, you, on whose breast the star of honor glii,ers, you. who have never incurred either punishment or even censure from your officers. you could not have quilted your regiment-quiiied Il almost on the eve of hatile-wiihoui some powerful motive to impel you. This motive the court demands of you; for il would gladly have 1t in it's power--if not to acquIt you. which it ought not perhaps either to do or to desire --at leas, to recommend you 10 the Emperor's mercy"
 On the other side stood the accused, who answered, asI have deserted without sny reason, without any motive; do not repent if il were 10 do again. would do ii again--
 pass senienee."
 And then came some witnesses, who de- posed, ,-'Pierre Piiois is a deserser, we know ii is fact, but we do not believe it" And oihe,s averred, s.Plerre Pitois Is mad the eouri canno, condemn a msdna5. He must be sentenced then, not to death, but to the Lunaiic Asylum.n
 This last alternative had very nearly been adopted, for there was not one person in the court who did not consider the deseriion of Pierre Pitois as one of those singular occur rences beyond the range of human Possibili- ,ies, which while every one is forced io ad- init as fact, no one can account for, or comprehend. The accused, however; plea ded guilty most positively. and was most