Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-09-28
An Incident Of the War In Ger
m00V.

A reserve of thirty thousand men were
stationed in and around Leipsic during the
late war. Aa
| my dear wife, a soldier quartered on
US How on earth shall we support
him p
so said poor mechanic, who, with q
large family, inhabited small room in
the fifth story Of house in the Hahn
street. The good woman cleaned out a
small garret room, which served her as
her store room, and with bed, chair and
table, made it fit to live in.
The soldier quartered on them arrived
--one of the Prussian Reserves. The
citizen led him to his room, and begged
him TO make himself at home.
y know that it's only garret, and it
looks out on The roof; but we ourselves
have nothing better. When you arc
ready dinner will be ready"
To the delight Of the citizen, who was
IN some anxiety on the subject, the beard
ed soldier was satisfied witlr everything.
and with lighter heart, the host returned
to his expectant wife.
Dinner was ready, and the soldier en-
tered the family room. A great number
OF the little children were seated around
table, on which was placed large pot of
hot coffee, and a great loaf of freshly
baked bread. But for the soldier himself
the good wife brought large broiled
sausage and plate of fresh salad, beg
ging him to cut the loaf. 1t is super
stition in Germany that it brings peace
and good luck into family when guest
slices loaf.
And the militia man did SO. He cut
slice by slice from the loaf, gave out
slice Of sausage with each piece, and SO
divided it out with the children and pa
rents But the more pleased the children
became, the more serious was the face OF
the mother, until, like a true housewife in
trouble, she exclaimed:
All! see what we give isn't good
enough for you, but we have the will to
do our very best-and we have done it,"
My dear woman, you altogether mis-
unde, stand me. The simplest food tastes
deliciously to a man Of my habits when /
can see smiling faces around me. You
will soon be convinced of that"
And then he ate the remains of the
sausage and salad with evident relish,
chatting with the family, while the great
black coffee pot was put on active duty.
We need not say that the husband and
wife congratulated themselves ON having
such a model and modest guest Bu.
they had not seen the best of him. To-
wards evening a conDaisstonaire bearing
very large basket, came painting up tho
stairs, knocked on the door of the mechan-
ic and set down his burden On opening
it, il was found to be filed with ham
hard sausages, butter, cheese, bread, and
all d+lieaties familiar those rho study
the windows of sirtualng shops.
''Bnt what is to be dine ?" cried the
good wife. We hay'nt ordered these
things. Why. all we own wouldn't pay
for them. Surely, you've made a mis-
take"
: No, it's all right; number, name,
placc--it's all light And the Prussian
soldier who paid for them said he would
soon be here himself' a
There, now, that's what call mol
est, decent, gentlemanly man There's
enough there for lords kitchen. Good
ness knows what we're to do with it all y
While the good woman went on with
these CONNECTS the soldier returned.
GOOD folks" said he, don't feel hurt
! beg, because have ventured to give a
helping hand to the house-keeper. saw
to-day at dinner that it was hard times
with you, and yet you bought me the very
best that you could afford. SO just lei
me take my turn, if you please, at being
provider and doing the marketing. Here
Is enough to last for one while, and II ]
don't return to dine or sup. you must help
yourself all the same. As long as I'm
quartered here the supply shall bs kept
up, and lest you should be afraid that l
can't afford it, l beg you, my dear landla-
dy, to look into my treasury
Saying this, he opened his portemon-
naie and showed the astonished woman so
many gold pieces that she started will,
amazement. Then the soldier explained
that though only a private in the ranks.
he had been civilian; that he was no.
bieman and wealthy landed proprietor.
This is an agreeable little by sketch
taken during the wartime, when SO many
abounded which are anything but pleasing
to contemplate-but the best of it is ths,
it is true.