The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-21
miscellaneous.

: The following naif and graphic story is taken
from that admirable periodical the United Service
interest and amusement
DAYBREAK AND PEEP OF DAY
FRENCH GUARDHousE LEGEND.
In those days the grenadiers were all six feet
high, and the kings daughter used to stand at the
window 10 look at them as they marched by in
front of the palace with their drums and flies play
ing before them, To see them as they advanced
you would have thought it was a solid wall of he
roes, moving along in single piece. There was
not one pigtail among them hairs breadth longer
than another, and the buttons of their CATERS were
as even as the lines of book. And no wonder II
should have been so for the recruiting sergeants
used to pick out the finest men from every province
TO form these companies, Just a body might pick
out the handsomest flowers in garden 10 make
nosegay for his sweetheart. In fact II was out of
the veteran remains of troops like these, that in
later days, marshals Of France were taken from the
ranks by dozens
Now, of all the grenadiers of the various corps,
those Of the kings regiment were out and out the
finest Superb fellows and then their uniform
II was splendid white, with azure blue facings,
and orange lace If you had them on
view day, fresh shaved and powdered, you would
have taken the soldiers for officers and the officers
for generals.
The kings regiment was then in garrison at
Nancy, in Lorraine, the prettiest town in France,
with It's streets all ranged as regularly as battalion
under arms. A likeable place 1t is, and pleasant
quarters for the soldier barring that wine rather
dear there. Now, as have said, the grenadiers
OF this regiment had not their fellows in the
whole army; and among these same grenndiers
the handsomest and dashingest chap was Deseil-
lets, who went by the name of Daybreak. He was
a strapping lad from Languedoc, and prime sam
pie of the breed of the provnce-as brazen-faced
as page, brave sabre, ready at a lie a
quack doctor, up to all of fun, capital dan
Ger, neat hand at the fife, and 6rs-rate swords
man. He would tell stories TO keep the guard
house awake all night and as for singing, when
he was in the humour, he could keep at it from
now till Tomorrow without even singing the same
thing twice over. leave you to guess if Day
break not admired by his comrades, esteemed
by his officers, and favorably regarded by the girls
of Nancy. So finding the service quite to his lik
ing, and thinking there was nothing finer in the
world than to be grenader in the kings regi-
ment, he made his younger brother, Jean Deseil-
lets, join the corps and become grenadier like
himself
He was handsome fellow too, was young
Des9ets; but he was, may be, quarter of an
inch shorter than his brother. He got the name of
Peep Of Day Nothing could exceed the polite
attentions shown him by his comrades; and
with the help of their obliging irttructons, he
promised TO become, in short while, an honor to
the regiment like his elder brother.
Unfortunately for Peep of Day, the goodwill
shown him by his comrades was the surest of all
means to make him detested by his commanding
officer, Major Lerpiniere, who, after all was only
a soldier of fortune. Nobody liked the major, for
he was an ll-conditioned, brutal tyrant, and the
marks of friendship lavshed on raw recruit ex-
cited his mean jealousy to the highest pitch Don't
ask me to explain to you how it is that, in certain
malignant dispositions, the smallest little pique inn
sginabe goes on fostering until II becomes great
venomous hatred; try, if, you can, to comprehend
the inhuman rascality that take delight in
low, sneaking, treacherous vengence; these
things can't pretend to explain to you; God for
bid
Nothing was easier for major than to send gre
nader to prison. Peep Of Day spent the best part
of his time in the strong room of the barracks, and
his name was never out of the black list Things
came at length to such pass that the company
could hardly stand II any longer, and they COM
bined together 10 help Peep Of Day in his duty, so
as TO obtain proof If possible, of the injustice with
which he was treated. Daybreak at the head
of this league; but all Its and wachfulness
for long while unavaillng.
You don't any Of you happen to know the bar
racks at Nancy for that matter II would not sig
Nifty much one way the other even if you did;
for the barracks am now talking of were the old
ones which were destroyed long ago. The armorer
Of the regiment worked IN little building one story
high the end of the yard, and 1t was IN front OF
that building thai the company every day in
spected by the major al eleven o'clock. The grena-
diers were drawn up into line, and If you know any
thing of the old strictness of military ienue, you
will readily suppose that the first company Of the
kings regiment was in general fauitiess. From
their lily-white cockades TO the jet black heels Of
their shoes, the brave fellows looked every day as
a they had just stepped out Of a box.
The major with his cane in his hand, passed
slowly along the front and the of the line,
stopping opposite each motionless grenadier, and
examining them one by one, with eyes endowed
for the moment with the power Of a magnIfying
glass
Now, every day when he stopped behind Peep
Of Day, whose heart thumped against his ribs dur
ing that moment Of suspense, the major stopped
down in silence and laying the forefnger Of his
left hand on some part of the young soldiers uni
form, uttered two words in croaking half wins.
per; "A spot"
The sergeant knew what that meant, and marked
down twenty-four hours confinement IN has book
opposite Peep of Days name.
When parade was over the grenadlers gathered
round the unlucky culprit, and sure enough they
saw but too plainly the black spot his snow
white uniform.
Poor Peep Of Day used to begin furnishing up
his clothes and Announcements at dawn, and sweat
AT il all the morning. His comrades invariably put
him through preliminary inspection before parade,
but all TO no purpose. The majors finger was sure
10 poupce upon the Incomprebenslble spot, which
changed place but not color, and always found
means 10 FIX itself on some part Of the uniform.
One morning, Daybreak having twisted his bay,
onet in his iron grPe, went 70 have Il repaired by
the armorer during the hour Of parade and, whilst
the armorer was Strengthening the weapon, Day
break moved softly To the window, whence he
could see the company drawn up in a line, with
their backs towards him, and the major alternately
hating and striding forward with his heavy step
When he came TO Peep Of Day, the major STOPPED
a. usual, and--and Daybreak, turning suddenly
20 the armorer, with his face as pale as a ghosts
asked If he happened to have loaded musket by
him. As the armorer naturally expressed surprise
at the question, Daybreak fortunately recovered his
self-possession, and seemed TO think better Of the
matter.
Guess what Daybreak had seen. He had seer
how Major Lerpiniere, as he walked along the {, NJ
of the line, rubbed his finger silly on the blaekin.
of his shoe, then laid it on Peep Of Days uniform
and so made the spot he pretended 70 discover.
ade Dayhreek told his bro