National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-01-31

soldiers hands.
BE quiet, will you, and take your
self Off said Firmin, harshly, as he
! threatened him with the butt of his
gun, to drive him away. Capucin,
/ finding he could do no good, unwill-
ingiy made up his mind to depart.
He arrived just i'll time to go on
board with the last detachment of
| the corps.
AT four O'clock Firmin began to
/ lose patience. Discipline forbade
his quitting the post but hunger,
which drives the wolf out of the
wood compelled him to forget the
code militaire. He left his station,
and went to the guard house. mnt
tering to himself, If anybody de
serves to be shot for this, it is not |,
but the corporal, who dosent know
his business, and keeps a sentinel
on guard SIX hours at time
In the guard house not a creature! q!
The only supposition Nc could form
was, that the regiment had gone TO
occupy another part Of the island.
! He shOuldered his gun and walked
/ off across the country in search of
the regiment. On the way, he fell
in with a farmer ploughing a field.
/ Can YOU tell me- he asked him, 'ln
which direction the French have
marched p
They are away was the startling
reply. They embarked at two this
morning, stepping lightly and with
out saying a word. in consequence
of an order received from the En-
pelorr
Gone away, leaving me behind!
| shall be reported rs a deseTter!
Coniound thatcorporal; he has been
nay ruin. | now understand what
poor Capucin meant; it is not the
death I fear. so much as the disgrace
'Dou't take on in that way said
the farmer. in a c0nSolatory tone OF
voice. 'Shriekingneyer set broken
bone. Stay here, and make the
best Of a bad business. If the
French come back again, | can
prove that it was no fault OF yours
My good man, YOU don't know the
severity Of our rules
They viii not punish You for
crime YOU have not committed.--
Meanwhile, You can't live on air
/ You probably were brought up in
the country, and are accustomed to
do country work Z
Certainly, ! can plough ter in
sauce
.The very thing for uc, can offer
Won rood board and lodging with a
small weekly payIHen into the bar
gain; it will be the best thing you
can do. under the circumstances.
The soldier heaVed n heavy sig
and slowly eazcd all around the horl-
zon 70 see whether any OF the ships
were still visible. Beholding Moth
ing. he sal at last, j thankfully ac-
ccpt your Offer
! 'Goodr said the farmer, Peter
/ BaNcu. Come and breakfast at
once: we Will 20 On with the plough
inc aftcrward'
At BaXen's farm the soldier plow.
:, man had plenty of opportunities Of
proving his capacity. He found
such favor in the farmers eyes, and
in other peoples too-that BaXen
determined to try and keep him for
good and all
My worthy fellow he said one
day, i look upon you almost as a
+ SON.
i, If my poor old father Ermin an.
SwcreL. were not anNiously awaiting
my return to France | would willing,
lyrcmain in Rugen,'
'You can bring him back with you,
the next time YOU go to France; bat
what ! want to say to YOU now con
Germs my daughter
Firmiu colored up to the eyes.
Unless | am much mistaken, you
and she are very good friends
I'irmin uttered few unintelligi
bic words,
The ueighborS even say YOU are
', in love with her
: Il aSSlre YOU | never uttered
;, word which could lead her to sup
:. pose that-'
= Il know it: and for that very rca
" son took upon myself 10 tell he
=! that if YOU had no objection, sh
u might have You for n husband
u And she said -
n 'Not a word but She threw he
. arms round my neck and kissed m
:. for a quarter of m hour A fort
i night afterwards, Firman Bonar
m was married TO the lir haired Clari'
"a sa, Peter BaXen's Only daughter.
i Fom years then elapsed, mett
# equally divided between love an
" labor. His thoughts OCCASIONAL
reverted to France, but he had Il
ID most forgotten his compulsory desc
~ ton. The past soon fades from on
memory when the present is sati
II. factory and the future promising.
ro one morning the look out man /
10 the town OF Rugcn signalled ilc,
nj of ships in the oiling. They wei
men Of war, carry the French ilal
n. The people are coming! poop
re shouted TO each other. 'They III
n. going to landp
he Firmin Bonard heard it--"Tl
nd French are comingr rang in h
". ears like the boom of an alarm gul
cc II told him that he was lost ma
- Nevertheless % thotght struck hi
If. which relieved his heart by a Gin
~ mer of hope.
M. He ran home, put on his uniforr