Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-12-21
30 ii sWATERTOWN WIS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 81. 1860

/ I1t0lS IS utseFter.- " Know 1t q.
| fact, we do not believe it s
And others:
Pierre Pitois is mad; the eoart canno
condemn madman. He must 10 sen
fenced, then not to death, but to the lu
matte asylum. .sra as
This alternative had very nearly beer
adopted, for there was not person in the
court who did not consider the desertion O
Pierre Pitois as one Of those singular oc
currences beyond the range of human pos
sibilities which while every one is forced
to admit as a fact, no one can account fo1
or comprehend, The accused, however
pleaded guilty most positively, and was
most pertinacious in his demand for the
just penalty of the law to be inflicted OF
him. He SO boldly and fearlessly asserted
his crime, continually repeating that be
did not regret it, that at length his firm
ness assumed the character of bravado
and left no room for clemency. Sentence
of death was therefore pronounced.
Pierre Pitois heard his sentence rea6
with the most unHinching gaze They
warmly urged him to plead for mercy, but
he refused. As every one guessed that al
the bottom Of this affair there was some
mystery, it was determined that the execu,
tion of Pierre should be delayed.
He was carried back to the military pris-
on, and it was announced to him that, as a
mark of favor, he had three DAYS given
him, to press for pardon. He shrugged
his shoulders but made no reply. ,'--r
In the middle of the night on Which was
TO dawn the day fixed for the execution,
the door of Pierre's dungeon turned softly
On its hinges, and asubaltern officer ad-
vanced to the side of the campbell in
which the condemned was TRANQUILITY sleep
ing, and after gazing on him, awoke him
Pierre opened his eyes, and staring
about him, said -
The hour, them is come. as $3.50 .sa
No, replied the officer, not yet, but. it
soon will come. -
And what do you want with ne until
then?
DOst thou not know me, Pierre? No
matter; I know thee we'll I saw thee at
Austerlitz, and bravely didst thou bear
thysef. From that day, Pierre, I have
had for thee a regard no less warm than
sincere. Yesterday, on my arrival at
Strasburg, learned thy crime and con-
demnation. have prevailed On the jail
er, who is a relation of mine, to allow me
to see thee. And now that | have come,
I would say to thee Pierre, it is bad
thought for one about to die, that he has
not a friend near him to whom he might
open his heart, and intrust with some sa-
cred commission to discharge when he
should be no more. If thou wilt except
me | will be to thee that friend
/ thank you, said be.
Hast thou nothing to say?
Nothing.
Not one word of adieu to thy sweetheart?
to thy sister?
[ nevor had either.
To thy father?
He is no more. He died two months
ago, in my arms
Thy mother, then?
My mother land Pierre, whose voice
suddenly and totally changed, repeated
my mother All, comrade, do not utter
that name, for [ have never heard that
name-I have never said it in my heart
without feeling like child and even now,
methinks, if [ were to speak---
What then?
The tears would come and tears do not
become a man. . Tears! contin-
ued he, tears. when have but few hours
70 Il h fbo-o r1-o,,1l ho ,,,1ob
courage in that .....
Thou art too stern. I think l have as
much courage as other people: and yet
would not be ashamed to weep, were [ to
speak of my mother
Are you serious? said Pierre, eagerly
seiz1ng his hand. You soldier and not
ashamed to week
When speaking of my mother My
mother is so good. She loves me and 7,
to, love her dearly.
She loves you? and you love her? Oh!
then | may indeed tell you all. My heart
is full-it must have vent and, however
strange my feelings appear to you, | am
sure you will not laugh at me. Listen, then,
for what you said is true. A man is glad,
when about to die, to have a heart into
which he can pour out his own VIII you
listen to me and not laugh at me?
Surely will. A dying man must ever
excite sympathy.
You must know that since | came into
this world, | never loved but one person
that person was my mother. But her |
loved as none loved-with all that was in
me of life and energy. While yet q babe,
| used to read her eyes as she read mine !;
| guessed her thoughts and she read mine.
She was the heart of my heart, and | was
the heart of hers. [ have never had ell
ther sweetheart or wife | never had a
friend my mother was everything to me.
WE'LL I was summoned to take up arms !;
and when they told me I must leave her,
in paroxism of despair I declared they
might drag me limb from limb, but never
should take me from her alive With one
word spoken in her holy fortitude and
strong courage, she changed my whole pur-
pose.
Pierre, said she, you must go-it is my
wish.
knelt before her and said, mother |
will 90.
Pierre, she added, thou hast been good
son, and | thank God for it; but the du-
ties Of son are not the only ones man
has to fulfil. Every citizen owes himself
to his country: if it call thee-obey F.