Washington telegraph., 1849-10-24
THE FIRST DUTY OF A SOLDIER.

A French veteran, with one arm, was
seated before the door of his neat cottage
one pleasant evening in July. He was
surrounded by several village lads who
with one voice, entreated him to COM
menoe his promised story. The old man
took his pipe from his mouth. wiped his
and began thus:
"In my time, boys Frenchmen would
have scorned to fight with Frenchmen in
the streets as they do nowss gNo,sno;
when qce fought, it was for the honor of
France, and against her foreign enemies.
Well. my story begins on the 9th of
November 1912. short time after the
battle of Wiazma. We were beating a
retreat, not before the Russians, for they
kept a respectable distance from our can
tonements, but before the biting cold of
their detestable country, more terrible to
us than Russians, Austrians. and Brava-
rians put together. For the last few
days, our officers had been telling us that
we were approaching Smolensko, where
we should be certain of finding food, fire,
brandy and shoes; but in the meantime
We were perishing in the ice, and per-
petually harrassed by bands of Cossack
riders.
1--WE had marched for six hours, with
out pausing to draw breath, for we knew
that repose was certain DEATH A bitter
wind hurled snow-hakes against our faces,
and now and then we stumbled over the
frozen corpses of our comrades. No sing
ing or talking then. Even the grumblers
ceased to complain, and that was bad
sign. | walked behind my Captain; he
was short man, strongly built, rugged
and severe. but brave and true as his
own sword-blade. We called him Capt.
Positive; for, once he said thing. so it
was-no appeal-he never changed his
mind. He had been wounded at Wiazma,
and his usually red face was now quite
pale; while the pieces of an old white
handkerchief which he had wrapped
round his legs were soaked with blood.
| saw him first move slowly, then stagger
like a drunken man, and at last fell down
like a block.
"Mor6teau,' captain said 1, bending
over him. "you can't lie there"
"You see l can, because | do," he re-
piled, pointing to his limbs.
captain" said 1, "you mustn't die
thus" and raising him in my arms, man
aged 10 place him on his feet. He leaned
on me and tried to walk but in vain; he
fell once more, dragging me with him.
''John," said he, "'tis all over here,
Just leave me and join your column as
quickly as you can. One word before you
60. At Voreppe, near Grenoble, lives a
good woman, eighly-two years old, my
my mother Go to see her, embrace her
and tell her that-that-tel her what
ever you like, but give her this purse and
my cross. That's all'
rs that ALL captain?"
- said so, Goodbye and make haste"
"Boys, | don't know how it was, but
l felt two tears freezing on my cheeks"
"No, captain" cried l, 81 won't leave
you; either you shall come with me, or l
will stay with you"
81 forbid your staying,"
"Captain, you might just as we'll forbid
a woman talking"
eff [ escape, I'll punish you severely"
"You may place me under arrest then,
but just now you must let me do as |
please"
"You are an insolent fellow"
"Very likely, captain; but you must
come with me-"
"He bit his lips with anger, but said
no more. l raised him and placed his
body across my shoulders like a sack.
You may easily imagine that while bear
ing such a burden | could not move as
quickly DIS my comrades. Indeed, soon
lost sight of their columns, and could
perceive nothing but the white silent
plain around me. [ moved on, and pre-
sently there appeared a band of Cossacks
galloping towards me, their lances in rest,
and shouting their fiendish warcry.
"The captain was by this time in
state of total Inconsistencies; and re-
solved, cost what it might, not to abandon
him. | laid him on the ground, covered
him with snow, and then crept under
heap of my dead comrades, leaving, how
ever. my eyes at liberty. Soon the Cos
sacks reached US, and began striking with
their lances right and left, while their
horses trampled the bodies. Presently
one of these rude beasts placed his foot
Oh my left arm and crushed it in pieces.
Boys, did not say word; [ did not
move, save TO thrust my right hand into
my mouth to keep down the cry of torture;
and in few moments the Cossacks dis
appeared.
when the last Of them had ridden off,
crept out and managed to disinter the
captain He showed few signs of life;
nevertheless l contrived with my one
hand to drag him towards rock, which
afforded sort of shelter, and then lay
down next to him, wrapping my capote
around US. Night was closing in, and
the snow continued to fall The last of