Litchfield enquirer., 1861-06-20

JUNE 20, 1861.
 court demands of you for it would gladly hav it in its power, if not to acquit you-which i ought not, perhaps either to do or to desire-a least to recommend you to the Emperor's mercy l On the oth CT side stood the accused, who an swered:
 I have deserted without any reason, withou any motive do not repent. If it were to dt again, would do it again. I deserve death pass sentence
 | And then came some witnesses who deposed
 Pierre Pitois is a deserter. We know it is fact, but we do not believe it.
 And others avered
 Pierre Pitois is mad the court cannot con demn madnan. He must be sentenced, then not to death, but to the lunatic asylum
 This alternative had very nearly been adopt ed, for there was not one person in the cour who did not consider the desertion of Pierre Pitois as one of those singular occurrence be yond the range of human possibilities, which while every one is forced to admit as fact nc one can account for or comprehend. The ac cused, however, pleaded guilty most positively and was most pertinaeous in his demand for the just penalty of the law to be inflicted on him He so boldly and fearlessly avowed his crime continually repeating that he did not regret it that at length his frmness assumed the charac. ter of bravado, and left no room for clemency Sentence of death was therefore pronounced. Pierre Pitois heard his sentence read with the most unfinching gaze. They warmly urged him to plead for mercy, but he refused. As every one guessed that at the bottom of this affair there was some strange mystery, it was deter mined that the execution of Pierre should be delayed.
 He was carried back to his military prison, and it was announced to him, as mark of special favor, he had three days given him to press for no reply.
 In the middle of the night on which was to dawn the day fixed for the execution, the door of Piemes dungeon turned softly on it's hinges and a subaltern officer advanced to the side of the campbed in which the condemned was tran qully sleeping, and after gazing on hlm some time in silence, awoke him.
 Pierre opened his eyes, and staring about him said :-
 The hour, then, is it at last come
 No, Pierre replied the officer, it is not yet the hour, but it will soon come And what do you want with me until then 7 'Dost thou not know me, Pierre? No mat ter know thee we'll l saw thee at Austerliz, and braveIy didst thou bear myself. From that day, Pierre, have had for thee regard no less warm than sincere. Yesterday. on my arrival at Strasburg, learned thy crime, and condemn ation. have prevailed on the jailor who is a relation of mne to allow me to see thee. And now that have come, would say to thee, Pier re, it is often sad thought for man to die that he has not friend near him to whom he might open his heart, and ntrust some sacred commission to discharge when he should be no more. If thou wilt accept me, will be to thee that friend
 I thank you, comrade,' replied Pierre. Why, hast thou nothing to say to me?' Nothing
 What not one word of adieu to thy sweet heart ?-thy sister?'
 A sweetheart? a sister? I never had eth err
 'To thy father?'
 He is no more. Two months ago he died in my arms
 TO thy mother, then?'
 My mother !'-said Pierre, whose voice sud denly and totally changed He repeated my mother! An. comrade, do no utter that name for have never heard that name-I have never said it in my heart-without feeling melted like a child and even now, methinks if I were to speak of her
 'What then?'
 'The tears would come-and tears does not become man. * Tearsn continued he tears, when have but few hours to live An !-there would not be much courage in that 1! Thou art too stern, comlade. 1 think have thank God, as much courage as other people and yet l would not be ashamed of weeping were I to speak of nay mother
 Are you serious? said Pierre, eagerly seiz ing the officers hand. You. man and sol dier, and not ashamed to weep?' 'When speaking of my mother? Certainly not. My mother is so good so kind. She loves me much, and too, love her dearly 'She loves you and you love her. Oh then I may, indeed, tell you all Ny heart is full-it must have vent; and, however strange my feel ings appear to you, am sure you will not laugh at them. Listen, then; for what you said just now is quite true. A man is glad, when about to die, to have heart into which he can pou1 his own. Will you listen to me, and not laugh at me ?
 Surely will listen, Pierre. A dying man must ever excite compassionate sympathy You must know that since came into this world, never loved but one being-that being was my mother. But her l loved as none loved with all that was in me of life and energy While yet babe, used to read her eyes, as she read mine guessed her thoughts, and she knew | liiIlt ioHe was lhe Hedrt Oi ny Hcdrt dIlu Iue heart of hers. have never had either sweet heart or wife 1 never had friend; my mother was everything to me. We'll, was summoned to take up arms and when they told me must leave her, in paroxysm of despair declared they might drag me limb from limb, but never 1 should they take me from her alive. With one word spoken in her holy fortitude and strong courage, she changed my whole purpose.
 Pierre said she, you must go-it is my wish
 I knelt before and said, I will go mother Pierre she added, thou hast been goot son, and I thank God for it; but the duties of son are not the only ones man has to fluff l Every citizen owes himself to his country; i calls thee-obey! Thou art going to be sol dier. From this moment thy life is no longe thine own; it is thy country's. If it's interest demand it, lay it down cheerfully. If it be th, will of God that thou shouldst die before me- should weep for thee my hearts tears; but would say, :" He gave, and he hast taken away blessed be the name of the Lord!" Go, now and if thou love thy mother, do your duty.' Oh how precious those holy words! have neye forgotten them. Do your duty,'' she sa;d-- Now the duty of soldier was always, and in al things to obey; and in all things, and always obeyed. It was to go straight forward--to fac, danger without hesitation--without second thought; and went straight forward -facet danger without hesitation without secon, thought. Those who saw me, thus, as it wer, seek to meet the bullets, said, There is a bravt felloW!" They might have better said, Thert :. is a man who loves his motherr' < One day a letter brought me the tidings tha T | L T 1 k-