The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-10-25
OBEIiNG ORDERS.
4 Tale Of the Invasion of Russia,

\ French veteran with one arm was
seated before the door of his pleasant cot
tagc in July. lie was surrounded by sew.
cral village lads, who, with one voice, en-.
treated him to commence his promised
story. The old man took his Pipe from
lis mouth, and wiped his lips with his re-
naming hand, and began thus:
In nay time, boys, Frcnchmcn would
have scorned to have fought with French
men in the streets as they do now. No.
no; whom are fought, ii for tho ho.ivr
Of France, and against her foreign enc.
mics.
Well, my story commences on the 9th
Of November, 1912, short time after the
bate Of Wanna. We were beating q
retreat, not before the Russians, for they
kept at II respectable distance from our
cantonmcutS but before the biting cod of
their dctestable country, more terrible to
us than Russians, Auslrians. and Bavari-
ans put together. For the last few days
our officers had been telling US that we
would soon be to Smocn,ko, whc,c c
should he certain of finding food, frc and
shoes; but in the meantime We were per.
isting in the Ice, ard pe'pctually hanas,ed
by the CosSacks.
We had marched about six hours. with
out rausng TO draw breath, for we knew
that rcpose was certain death. A bitter
wind hurled snow.i flakes against our faces,
and now and then We stumbled over the
corpses Of our frozen companions. No
singing or talking them Even the grum-
blers ceased to complain, and that was a
bad sign. | walked behind my captain;
he was Il short man, strongl y built, rugged
and severe, but brave and true--as true as
his own sword blade We called him
Captain Positive; for when he once said
a thing, SO ii was-no appcal-hc never
changed lis mind. lie had been wound
cd al Wanna, and his unusually red face,
was now qui c 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 drunken man and at last he
fell down like a block
"MavJleau.' captain" said I, bending
over him, "you can't lie there"
"You see that | can, because | do," re.
piled he, pointing to his limbs.
"Captain," said |, "you mustn't die
thus" and raising him in my arms, man
aged 10 place him on his feet. He lean.
ed on me and tried to walk but in vain;
he fell once more dragging me with him.
'John," said he, "'tis all over. Just
leave me here and join your column as
quickly as possible. One word before YOU
join your column at Norcppe, near Gre
noble, lives a good woman eighty years Of
age-my--mv mother. Go to her, sec
her, embrace Der, and tell her lhat--that
tell her whatever you like, but give her
this purse and my golden cross. That is
ALL"
as that all, captain!"
81 said so. Good.by."
"Boys, / don't know how it was, but !
felt two large tears freezing on my check.
"No, captain" said !, 81 wont leave
you; either you shall come with me, or |
will stay with you.'
al forbid you staying"
"Captain, you might as well forbid a
woman's talking
81 "If l escape | will punish you severe
ly."
You may put me under arrest, but just
now ycu must let me do as | please" E"
"You'rc an insolent fellow"
"Very likely, captain; but you must
come with me-
He bit his lip with anger, but said no
more. l raised him, and placed his BODY
across my shoulders like sack. You may
asily imagine that while bearing such a
burden | could not move as quickly as my
comrads. Indeed, | soon loos sight Of
their columns, aud could perceive nothing
but the white silent plain around me. /
moved on, and presently there appeared
band Of Cossacks galloping towards me,
their lances in rest, and their fendish war
cry.
The captain was by this time in a state
Of total unconsciousness, and resolved,
cost what it might, not 10 abaLdon him