The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-01-24

TO have been able to dispense Instead {
oreaktastng on boiled milk and potatoes,
took little bread and wine This regime
restored certain degree of firmness which
cannot ascribe 10 my own personal character
4 but OF which L took advantage without DELAY
n had well considered the means Of execution
o before.
y Oh, my dear grandfather when you laugh
b. me, In front Of your house, 20 transport q heav
e BODY by the employment ct rollers, we itt
: thought that l should apply your lessons on s,
sad an occasion as this. The remembrance o
i that you then told me was completely refresh
ed IN my memory l could hear the sound o
/ your voice, in Imagination. and when the flu
neral burden nodded its head, as if in sign 0
appreciation, was SO overcome that I turnec
my eyes away, like person who breads t,
look over the brink Of precipice.
| The way was smOothed; the body Was sool
beside the grave. The most easy way woulC
have been to let it fall in; but could not make
up my mind to treat it with so little reverence
Every difficulty being vanquishcd at last, wha
} then remained to be done gave ME but little un
easlness | could freely give way 10 my grief
Seated on the mound which ! had raised with
my own hand, | wept abundantly by the side
OF that open grave. | could not resolve Il
throw in the first shovelfu OF earth without
performing some sort Of funeral service ]
knelt and searched my memory for passages
OF Scripture suitable to the occasion | took
the Bible, being sufficiently acquainted with il
to lind fitting portions, and such as my grand
father would have pointed out. While reading
aloud ii appeared to me rs il had Quilted my
solitude. The holy volume responded to my
emotion. AT last / atopped, through exhaus-
hon; collected my thoughts, and 10 longer
deferred wha etemained to tie done In short
- # thn 4
he rest OF the day in carving with the point
OF my knife the following inscription on a small
tablet OF maple woed:
Here rests the body Of Louis Lopraz, who
died in the night of the 7th--Sth Of January, in
the arms Of his grandson, Louis Lopraz, who
buried him with his own hands"
| nailed the tablet o stake, which plant
ed on The mound over the grave; after which |
closed the door and returned to the kitchen,
where BIanchette Is my only company. New
IeItheiess, although l feel more at ease now the
body is no longer laying on the bed find
that some remains Of weakness still lnger in
my mind. combat them by paying frequent
visits TO the grave and always without light
had resolved te Say my prayers there night
and morning.
! January l5-Yes, my position is greatly
changed, become III re and more aware o! it
every day. | had n friend and companion, and
yet dared TO complaint God is Furnishing me
for my former discomfort. | am left aione-all
alone! This thought pursues me ;he whole day
long.
January l6.I cannot shake off my weak
ness. left my bed in a state O langour and
discouiage which continues l write
merely for writings sake. il I told the whole
trouth this joulralswould now be filed with
melancholy picture Of dispair. ] have hsrdlv
the energy 70 guide my pen. My fist dis
tres whe.i we were made prisoners here, my
! fright When the wolves threatened to ,lpvour
Us, AID the sad scenes Of my grandtalhe :
death and burial. were as rothlng coHipard
with the piostratinn ofstrength into which
had fallen. l had no conception OF this Kind
of suffering.
January 24.-Pfoy ence, TO drag me out of
the WEAKNESS Of enn j, has sent new source
Of disquietuie. The goat Yields Il smaller
quantity of milk. 81 thought observed it sew,
etal days ago; d present, | cannot doubt the
fact.
January 25.-My grandfather certainly fore
saw the possibility of my being detained here
all by myself, and gave me several hints how
| should act under such circumstances One
day he said, ''Wnat should we 90 if Bianchette
were 10 go d'y? 1t would be absolutely nec~
essary to pluck up our resolution 10 kill her,
and live on her flesh as best we could, l." He
followed this up with explanation how we
should have TO manage, to preserve her flesh,
Am | to be reduced to this cruel extremity?
January 25.-It matters do not grow worse,
| may set my mind at ease. Banchetfe still
gives enough milk for my susteinance. have
several cheeses in store. | have examined the
remainder OF my stock. and have spent the day
in calculating how long il would last, If had
nothing else. 1t Hou!d not carry me through
a fortnight.
January 27.-Tie yield Of milk decreases,
and the goat fattsns in proportion. Conse-
quently, in case Of her milk failing the poo
creature is preparing to sustain my life with
her own substance! am now haunted by one
horrid idea: shall be driven to the necessity
Of turning butcheI? Shall | be obliged, in or
der to prolong my own existnnce, 10 cut the
throat Of the animal which has fed me up to
the present? / have now only a half ration of
milk
february IL have tried every expcdient -
Once | got little more milk by giving her
triple allowance Of salt, which made her drink
more. But It was impossible to 90 on so; be-
cause l shall require all my salt, if-Poor
B!auchette! Lave heard that hens too fat
and we'll fel do not lay so abundanty as lean
ones: 50 | thought would try the effect of
giving my goat asmaller quantity Of hay Bat
il did NOT answer She Yielded still less milk,
and had the vcxation of hearing her bleat
half the day. 1t is now not worth while milk
ing her twice Il day; so l have waited till the
evening. in order to get little more. But lie
will hardly let me go pear her. have hurt
her tit by pressing it 100 hard
February 81 will confess my weakness;
shed tears to day when tried in ain to milk
Blanchette for the last time. When she saw
that | gave up the task, she gazed at me dis,
ttustfully, as putting herself on her gnaid
against fresh attempt. Ipuahed the basin
on one side, and sat down by the poor creature.
l threw my arms around her, and wept bitter
ly.
She went on eating all the same, beatng oc-
casionally, and LOOKING at me affectionately
They say that goats do not Distinguish persons,
and that they never manifest the Jealous and
devoted attachments of dogs; never thelcss
Blanchette is fond Of her companions, and
shows confidence IN them She looks to me
for food and the necessary attentions 10 which
have accustomed her; and n ust put knife
into her throat! Inexperienced / am in
such task, can scarcely avoid causing her
great and prolonged suffering
God has given the animals to man for food:
know ii; but it is showing no ingratitude for
his bounty it we become attached to those
which have rendered US benefits, and which
of gentle and afectionate disposition, l will
therefore delay the cruel sacrifice up TO the last
possible moment / have still few victuals
left, and will economist them as closely as l
can.
| Februayy 12.-With SO many sorrows press
ing on me- 1t impossible to keep my journal
with strict regularity, My provisions are all
but fnished Blanchette grows fatter than ever
| 1t goes to my heart every time earess her
l have broken Up the floor in several places, tc
try and discover, if possible, some hidden store
of provision. All have gained by this violent
exercise, is TO excite my appetite. The idea
that | have scarcely morsel left to eat, makes
me, believe, all the hungrier
February 13.-Since yesterday the frost has
become so sharp at night, that am obliged to
keep up a constant fire. Certainly if this
weather lasted, l should have no hesitation in
shutting up my poor victims flesh in the stable,
where it freezes hard without any further pres
paration. But the weather may change
must decide upon something without delay, l
have only just enough salt left for my butcher
ing purposes!
FEBRUARY 1.-THE cold is intense; it recalls
the visit of the wolves to mind: There is