Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-03-03
EVENING STAR.
THE LITTLE HUSsAR:
Or, French Military Feryor Fifty We


the soil and almost liquifed the mud which
spread treacherously over the many deep holes
and ruts the place became q series Of traps in
which the unwary passengers often founded
most absurdly, and even dangerously, as upon
the quicksands of an unknown shore.
1t was after two days storm in the month of
November of last year, that a slender young
| man threaded the dubious path of this slough,
eVlnclng the greatest caution in picking his
dainty steps, as he directed his course toward
the boulevards
The youth seemed scarce beyond the age of
childhood, so small and delicate was his figure
so fair and smooth his cheek, and might have
been we'll taken for a frolicksome young girl
in masquerade, from his slender waist. tipy
| locks.
He was habituated somewhat foppishly in
the uniform of the Royal Hussars, and dis
played great agility, as we'll as extraordinary
care, In leaping from stone TO stone, clearing
each muddy rivulet, and tipping dainty over
the dry intervals Of ground, when his atten-
tion was distracted by burst of loud laugh
ter, and he preceived four grenadiers of the
Guard watching his gymnastics with mocking
glee.
Although indignant at their insulting con-
duct, the young gentleman continued his route
until the grenadiers directly addressed him
Look out for that hole, SIR" cried one, "it
is six inches deep-you may drown in it
Hold your tongue" said the second,
"don't you see that it is young girl, you
don know how to address a lady Mademoi.
selle, we are going to the Barriere to drink
some famous wine; shall we have the honor
of your charming company 20
"Bah 10 sneered the third soldier, " il is
only little boy running away from his father
to play truant for awhile. 60 home immed:-
ately, you young scamp; do 20 hear me ?'
The youth stopped, half surprised, and an
cry:
"Why do yeu annoy me, sirs?" asked be.
why '-because you amuse us"
81 have nothing to say to you; let me pass
on my way"
|" Not without chatting a little first"
"Well, then" said the young hussar, mild
ly, 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. be calls US comrades, Because
his mamma has dressed him in uniform to
make him leok pretty, he thinks he is sol.
der: What fancy dress is that you wear,
child ?"
at is no fancy Dress" replied the youth
1t is the uniform of my regiment
"Go to, boy '" We do not swallow such fa-
bles as that; 60 back to your school, my lad"
am very young, it is true, gentlemen,
a VI
regiment of Hussars."
" A fine regiment, truly" grinned the SOL
der, III 1t Is composed Of chits of your
feather"
ct is brave regiment and good regi-
ment," returned the youth, losing patience,
- OF which the poorest soldier is worth all the
impudent grenadiers of the Guard"
80 ho. you are getting angry, are you ?''
because you torment me, !"
" All you call yourself trooper, and you
beard the veterans of the Guard, do Won
This shall not pass, Sir Malapert: you shall
prove your title to enrolment in a brave
corpse +"
That is, you wish me to fight Very well.
Although you are four to one, and have all
joined In insulting me, will not baulk you,
sirs,'
ooh, we will not be hard on you 1 shall
let you off with scratch, on the word Of
maitre darmes -
"Don't be too confident, Sir Fencer: I un.
derstand how to handle a sabre somewhat"
That We will prove Immediately. Strip,
my child, and take your position"
The noise Of this alteration had, by this
time, attracted number OF spectators-shop-
keepers in the neigh ghborhood, and chance
passers-by-and they formed a circle around
the disputants, getting denser every moment,
and all eager TO behold the result, and to see
fair play.
The little Uussar and the maitre d 'armes
took of the mantles, and, unsheathing their
sabres, began the combat. The grenadier soon
perceived that he had no novice to deal with
but as be had Dragged of his skill of fence,
and announced the nature of the wound he
would deal upon his young antagonist, he |
fought with this sole object in view-a method
which ended in five minutes by his receiving
the youths sword through his heart.
The boy-victor leaned calmly on his bloody
weapon, as if he had not yet finished.
The companions of the fallen grenadier,
finding their comrade perfectly dead, left him |
on the sod, and, turning to the Hussar, one
of them said: "You have fought bravely, |
young man, and though you have killed the |
best swordsman of the Guard, it WAS fairly |
done; therefore, 90 quickly in safety"
Not so soon as you think, replied the |
little hero. "You have each insulted me; |
intend to pass you each in review-that is our |
way in the caval.y !"
dwhat you will fight again ?" cried the |
soldier, amazed.
Precisely so
"Come on, tLen, will avenge our poor |
Charet," cried the grenadier, and a new com
bat began. This time the assailant regarded |
neither the youth nor the apparent weakness |
of the little Hussar, but fought with all his /
skill and strength, and the blows became fast /
and fierce But the great agility of the youth |
defed all his fury; and in as short a time |
nearly as before, he ripped q CHASTITY wound |
in the stomach Of the burly soldier, which |
laid him, dying, near his cOmrade.
"The crowd buzzed in excited applause
and wonder.
"Now for the third ~ cried the victor, in
his boyish voice
The third grenadier strobe forward He |
was g gantic in size, and the great length Of |
his arm hindered all the little Hussar's efforts
to get within the reach Of his huge carcass |
for a long time. But the boy, evading with |
great dexterity all his savage thrusts and /
fierce blows, beset him SO constantly and ac-
lively on every side, springing here and there
like " saltinbanque," and causing the great
bulk of his adversary to make most tiresome
efforts in guarding his quick assaults, that the
giant failing from very weariness, and drol
ping his guard for a single second sealed has
doom In that second, the Hussar's sabre
drank his life blood, and he fell beside his |
brother in arms; while almost in the same
moment, without pause, the relentless youth /
cried, "let me see the last one; / must flush |
the play speedily"
The spectators could no longer restrain THAR