Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-04-14


, and replied, scratching my head: "'Tis all the
same, wish to be soldier"
The good Cure could not stand that, SO open.
/ ing the door to its full extent, with saddened
air, ho pointed to the high road. understood
f his panomime and went out. In his place,
certainly should have done the samc. think
so now, but did not think so then. So | drew
my cotton cap over my right ear, raised the
collar ofmy blouse, took my stick and went
straight to a little wine-shop on the Versailles
avenue, without saying goodbye to anybody
In the little cabaret found three heroes in
a white uniform red facings, with gold-laced
hats, moustaches died black, and hair powder
ed like hoar-frost, who spoke as fast as noun
tebanks at a fair These honest fellows form
ed a recruiting party They told me had but
to seat .myscly at table with them, in order to
have a just idea of the perfect happiness which
was eternally enjoyed in the Royal Auvergne.
We dined on chicken, venison, and young part
ridges, with Bordeaux and champage wines
and excellent coffee for drinks; they swore, on
their honor, should always live thus in the
Royal Auvergne. | saw, afterwards, how truly
they had spoken. They also swore to me, for
they swore infinitely that the most delightful
freedom was enjoyed in the Royal Auvergnei
that the privates there were incomparably bet
ter off than the Captains in other corps; that
| their social circle was composed ofvery agreea-
BILE men and beautiful women; that music was
much cultivated, and, above all, those who
played on the piano were highly appreciated
This last circumstance decided me- Well, the
next day had the honor of being soldier in
the Royal Auvergne. II was t0lerably fine
corps, certainly, but no longer saw Pierrette
nor the old Cure. ordered chicken for din
ner, and got that agreeable compound of po-
tatoes mutton and bread which was called, is
called, and undoubtedly always will be called
la rafatoniile. learned the position ofthe SOL
dier without arms with such perfection that
afterwards served as model to the draughts-
man who made the ordinance plates of 1901,
which, you know, Captain, are masterpiece
of precision. was taught the school of the
soldier and the school of the platoon, so as to
execute charges in twelve times, the precipi-
tate charge, and the charge at will, counting
or without counting the movements, as per-
fectly as the most rigid of the Corporals of
Frederic the Great whose memory isstill cheer
| shed by the old with the tenderness Of people
who love those who beat them. | was honor
ed with a promise that if behaved well
should finally be admitted into the first COM
pany of the Grenadiers. l soon had a powder
a.. 1. g. Il
enough, but no longer saw Perrette, nor her
mother, nor the Cure of Montrcuil and never
practised music.
One fine day had been consigned to these
same barracks in which we now are, for hav-
ing committed three faults in the handling of
my arms. was placed in the position Of those
who fire in the front rank, with one knee on
the pavement, bright and dazzlingsun which
was forced to aim at, full in my face, and re-
quired to maintain the most perfect immobili-
ty. was encouraged to sustain my weapon
, by the presence of an honest corporal, who,
from time TO time, when my bayonet dropped
knocked it up with his stick. This was q
slight punishment invented by NJ. de Saint Ger
main.
For twenty minutes had been endeavoring
to attain to the highest possible degree of pct
rifaction in this attitude when saw at the
end of my gun the mild and peaceful counten-
| ance of my good friend Michel, the stonecut-
ter.
"You come very apropos, my friend" said
|, " you would render me great service, if,
without being perceived you would for mo-
ment pIace your cane under my bayonet My
arms would be all the better for it, and your
cane none the worse"
aAhl lsathurin, my friend said he, "are
YOU not wed, punished for having left Montreuil?
You no longer have the counsels and the lec-
lures of the good Cure, and you will entirely
forget the music you loved so much, for which
that of the parade is but a poor indemnifca-
tionn
otis all the same said I; raising the muz-
zle of my gun, and dsengaging it from hiscane,
through pride; ''tis all the same-one has his
idea !"
"You will no Longer cultivate espaliers and
the fine peaches of Montreuil with your Pier
rette, who is as fresh as they, and whose lip
bears like them a soft down"
"'Tis all the same said again; ~ have
my idea"
"You will pass a. long time on your knees
shooting at nothing, before becoming simple
corporal"
..'Tis all the same," said again. "lf ad-
| vance slowly, still shall certainly advances
he who can wait is sure to succeed, as the pro-
verb goes, and when l shall be sergeant
shall be something, and shall marry Pierrette.
A sergeant is seiguaur' and to such all hon
orr
Michel sighed.
| HAhl Mathurin ~ said he ''you are not wise
and YOU have too much pride and ambition
my friend would you notprefer to be replaced
il some one would pay for you? You could
then marry your little Pierrette."
HMichel Michel" said I. you have become
greatly spoiled in the wosld; know not wha
YOU are dsing, though you no longer seem tc
be II mason, since your coat is of black taiteta
vet YOU would not have said that in the time
when yon were constantly repeating 'Eacf
must shape his own destiny For myself,
am not willing to marry Pierrette with othe
peoples money, and so, rs you see, shape m.
deEtiny myself. Besides, it was the Queol
who put this into my head, and the Queen can
not be deceived in Judging what is proper t.