Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-03-12
MISC LII A N Y
The Little Hussar /,

! Or. FRENCH MILITARI FERvoR FIFTY YEARS
AGO.
The place Beauvau, in 1901, was rugged
plain, through when vehicles passed with dif1-
Guilty. and when the rains had soened the sill
and almost liquifed the mud which spread treacll-
erously over the many deep holes and RUS, the
place became series of traps in which the uawa-
ry passengers often h1undered most ahsurdly, and
even dangerously, as upon the quicksands of an
unknown shore.
| II was after two days storm in the month of No
vembeI of that year, that senderly young man
threaded the dubious path Of this slough, evncing
the greatest caution in picking his dainty steps,
as he directed his course toward the boulevards.
| The Youth seemed scarce beyond the age Of
childhuod. So small ard delicate was his figure. sn
! fair aud smooth his cheek, and might have been
we'll taken for frulicksome young girl, in mas
ouerade, from his slender waist, tiny feet and
hands, and his long. fair curling locks.
He was habi,uated someS hat foppishly in the
uniorm of the Royal Hussars, and displayed great
arility, as well 40 extraordinary care, IN leapng
| from stune to stone, clearing each muddy rlvulei,
and tipping daiutily over the dry intervals OF
Ground, when his attention was distracted by a
burst of loud laughter, and lie perceived four gren
a liers Of the Guard watching his gymnastics with
mocking glee.
Although indignant at their insulting conduct,
the young gentleman continued his route until The
grenadiers directly addressed him.
.'Look out iDr that hole, SIR" cried one, SIT is
six inches deep-yuu may drown IN it,"
! "Hold yuur tongue" said the second, "dnn'!
YOU see that is young girl you don't know how
TO address lady: Mademoselle, we are going to
the Barriere to drink sume famous wine shall
we have the honor of your charming company ?'
bah !" sneered the third sodier, lit is only a
little boy running away from his father to play
,ruant for awhile. Go home Immediately, you
young scamp do you hear me ?''
The youth Slapped, half surprised and angry.
"Why do you annoy me, sirs % asked he.
"Why ?-because you amuse us"
II have nothing To say to you; let me pass on
my way"
"Well, then" said the young hussar, mildly.
what do you want?'
"Let us see-oh, tell us truly, if you are not
young lady -
You wish to laugh at, me comrades"
"Ha ha! he calls MS comrades" Because
his mamma has dressed MIN in uniform 10 make
him look pretty he thinks he is q soldier. What
fancy dress is that you wear child Z"
Il, is no fancy Dress" replied the youth; sit
is the uniform oi my regiment"
$50 to, boy We do not swallow such fables As
that 90 back to your school my lad"
II am very young, il is true, gentlemen, but
am, nevertheless, cayae! OF the hrSt regiment
OF Hussars."
"A fiue regiment, truly" grinned the soldier,
"ifit is composed ot chitS Of your feaiher!"
"It is brave regiment and gnOd regiment"
returned the youth. losing patience. 'of which
| all lhp m
adiers of the Guard"
90 no you are getting angry, are you 9"
s'Because you torment ne"
"Ah YOU call yourself trooper and ynu beard
the veterans of the Guard, do you This SHALL
not pass. Sir Maapert; you shall prove your tile
| TO enrolm in brave corps
"Phat is you wish me To fight? Very well.-
| Although you are four 10 one, and have all joined
| IN Insulting me. | will not haulk you sirsl
'.Oh, we will will not be hard on you shall let
you ulf with scratch the word o a matre d
! armesp"
DON'T be too confident. Sir Fencer; | under
stand how To handle sabre somewhat"
That we will prove immediately. Strip my
| child. and take your position"
The noise ot this alteration had, by this time,
attracted a number Of spectators shop keepers In
the neIghborhOud. and chance paSsers by and
they formed circle around lhe dlSpulant', get
ting dpnser every momeut and all eager To he
hold The result. aud to see fair play.
The little Hussar aud the maitre d'armes took
| off the mantes, and unshealhiug their sabres be
Gan the combat The grenadier sOnn perceived
| he had no novice tn deal with; but as he had
Dragged of his skill of fence, and announced the
nature OF the wuuud he would deal upon his an
laqonist, he fought with This sole object in view
Ia k,,l 80
ceiving the youth's sword through his heart.
The boy-victor leaned calmly on his bloody
weapon, as if he had not yet flushed,
! I he companions Of the fallen grepadier. finding
their comrade perfectly dead, left si,n the sud
aud turning to the Hussar one of them said -
You have fought bravely. young man. and
,bu,uh YOU have killed the best swordsman Of
the Guard, it was fairly dune therefore, 60 quick
ly in safety"
"Not 50 spon as you think" replied the little
he.o. .Yuu have each insuied me ); | intend Ia
pass YOU each in reyiew-that is uur way in the
cavaly!"
"What! you will fight again % cried the sol
der. amazed.
Precisely So"
"Come on. then, will avenge our poor Caret,"
cried tue grenadier, and new combat began.-
| This tine the aSSailant regarded neither the
! youth nor the apparent weakness OF the tlle
Hussar, but fought with all his skill and strength,
and the blows became fast and fierce. But the
great agility Of the youth deied all his fury and
: in us short time nearly as before, he ripped a
CHASTITY wound in the stomach of the burly soldier
which laid him dying, near his comrads,
The crowd buzzed in excited applause and
wonder.
.'Nuw for the third" cried the victor, in his
boyish voice,
The third grenadier STRIDE forward He was
gigantic in size, and the great lrnglh OF his arm
! bindered all the little Hussar's efforts to get
within reach of his huge carcass for long time
| But the boy. evading with great dexterity all his
| savage thrusts aud fierce blows, beset him sl
constantly and actly-ly qp every side, springing-
ing here and there Ike a "saltiq qbaqqqe," aud
carsing the great bulk Of his adversary to make
~ st tIresaue esIrs n guarding his quick as
saulls that the glan, failing irom very wearGess,
and dropping his guard tor a single second sealed
his doom. In that secund the HnSsar's sabre
drank his life hlood and he fell beside his brother
in arms; while alniust in the same moment,
without pause, the relentless youth cried, ''Iel
me me see the last one; must fiuish the play
speedily"
The spectators could no longer restrain thcif
| ,usa uithin tho ltritc c,f,, T,I,a