The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-04-08
StIett MCistellaup.
The
Or
THE MOTHERS GRAVE.

THE MOTHERS GRAVE
In 1909, there was, in the 18th regi
ment of tho line, then garrisoned il
Strasburg, serjeant called Pierre Pi
tois, who came from that half-wild, half
civilized portion of Burgundy known BY
the name of Mervan, and who was nick
named by his comrades Avale- tout cru
He was brave in every sense of the word
and as they said in the regiment, ;
slough customer" Ever the first ant
the last exposed to the enemy's fire, i
was believed that he only loved TIVE
things in the world-the smell of gun
powder and the whizziug of cannon balls
Those who had seen him in the battle
field, as with eager eye, fierce moustache
| and distended nostrils, he rushed to tht
thickcst of the fight, were wont to say
that slaughter was Pierre'a favorite pass
time.
One day our friend Pierre addressed
a letter to his colonel. in which he asked
for leave to go and nurse his old mother
who was dangerously i'll. He added
that his father, who was seventy eight
years old, and paralytic, was unable tc
attend in the least to the wants of MS
poor wife. lie promised to return as
soon as the old woman's health was re-
established
The colonel, in reply, sent word to
Pierre Pitois, that as the regiment
might receive orders to enter the field
at any moment, leave of absence was not
to be hoped for.
Pierre Pitois made no complaint.
A fortnight elapsed-the colonel re.
ceived second letter.
Pierre informed him that his mother
had died of grief, in consequence of net
having had her son at her side; as q
good and tender parent, she would have
wished to bestow her last blessing upon
him. Pierre again solicited months
leave of absence. He stated that he
could not make known the motive of his
request-it was a family secret. He
earnestly implored his colonel not to re.
fuse him this favor.
Pierre's second letter had no more
success than the first; only the poor fel.
lows captain said to him
"Pierre, the colonel has received thy
epistle. He is sorry that thy aged
mother is dead, but he cannot grant
thee the permission thou hast asked, for
tomorrow the regiment quits Stars
burg"
"Ha! the regiment leaves Starsburg
and pray captain, whittier it is going pr
"Into Austria; we are going to Wen.
ma, my brave Pitois. We arc going to
fight the Austrians. Art thou not glad
of this? I know thou art; there thou
wilt be in thy element, my fine fellow. "
Pierre Pitois made no answer; he
seemed absorbed in deep meditation
The captain, taking his hand and shak-
ing. it vigorously, said-"I say, art deaf
to-day? I tell thee that within week
thou wilt have the good fortune to fight
the Austrians, and thou dost not ever
thank me for the good news-l And
thou pretendest not to hea- me-"
"Oh, yes, captain, I have heard you
perfectly, and thank you heartily for
these tidings, which I think excellent. y
"That's right"
"And so, captain, there is no means
of obtaining that leave of absence ?"
cart thou mad Leave on the eve
of battle ?"
"I forgot that we are
on the eve of battle At such time no
leave is granted"
"No; nor even asked for"
"True =. =. No one even
asks for it; it would look like cowardice
thsrefere,I shall forbear askipg for it
again; I shall d without it."
"That will be well.
The next day the 18th regiment en-
tered Germany. The following day
Pierre Pitois deserted
Three months after, while the 18th
regiment, after having reaped on the
plains of Wagram rich harvest of glo-
ry, made its triumphal entry into Stars
burg, Pierre Pitois was ignominiously
brought back to his corps, by brigade
of gendarmerie.