The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-05-01


"It's you Capucin. Very good. You
got tired of waiting there; and | am
terribly sleepy. You should have |
brought the corporal with you. His |
watch must have stopped. lie ought |
to sell it for old iron and buy a new
one"
Capucins answer was frenzied bark |
and Il series of mad leaps around his |
friend.
al understand" said Firmin, smiling |
"Hou arc asking me to dance to warm
myself. It's pity you are not provid- |
cd with the password and musket."
Capucin commenced to bark, running |
right and left like creature possessed.
Finding all these mannuvers useless, |
he ran up to the soldier, pulled him by
the coat, and tried hard to pull him
away, renewing his efforts with SO
much violence that he tore the soldiers |
uniform. Firmin considering this proof
of affection more troublesome than
pleasant, lost his temper and gave poor
Capucin a kick. The dog, bowling at
finding himself 50 cruelty maltreated
and misunderstood, rctrcated to few
, PAGES distant; but soon returned, heed
less of his friends unkind treatment.
All he did now was to look forgiveness
and lick the soldiers hand.
e "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 find
, ing he could do no good unwillingly
made up his mind to depart. He ar
rived just in time to go on board with
/, the last detachment of the corps.
At four o'clock he began to lose pa
ticncc. Discipline forbade his quitting
: tie post, but hunger, which drives the
wolf out of the wood, compelled him
to forget the code militaire. He left
hi, station land went to the guard-house,
muttering to himself, "If anybody de-
l. serves to be shot for this, it is not |, but
the corporal, who doesn't know his
business, and keeps a sentinel on guard
six hours at Il time"
= In the guard house not creature !!
lie The only superstition he could form was,
that the regiment had gone to occupy
: another part Of the island. He shoulder
81 od his gun aud walked off across the
country in search of his regiment. On
the way he fell in with farmer plough
ing field. "Can you tell me-" he asked
him, sin which direction the French
'y have marched?"
e, "Thcy have gone away" was the
IL startling reply. "rhey embarked a
le two this morning, stepping lightly ant
l. without uttcripga word, in consequence
d. of uu order received from the Empe
in ror,"
in "Gonc away, leaving me behind!
's shall he reported rs II deserter! Con
Is. found that corporal he has been NJ
cy ruin. understand what poor Capuci
'gs meant. 1t is not the death | fear, ;
t. much rs the disgrace"
n, "Don't take on in that way, said tn
Of farm +, in Il consOlatory tone of voice
ire "Shrirkmg never set - broken bone
cly Stay here and make the best Of ba
Cc business. ii the French come bac
nd again can prove that it was no fault {
ul yours"
" My good man, you don't know til
a. severity -four rules
cn They will not punish you for Il Grim
u you have not committed. Meanwhile
of you cannot live on air. You probabl
Fir were brought up in the country, and al
m accustomed to do country work."
'as "Ccrtainly. can plough, for il
of Staucc.'
of "Thc very thing for me. ! can off
Of you good board and lodging, with
lite small weekly payment into the ba
he gain. 1t will be the best thing you ca
ta- do under the circumstances"
uF- The soldier hcaved heavy sigh, I'm
he slowly gazcd all around the horizon,
un see whether any Of the ships We're sti
g's visible. Behoding nothing, he said,
zen last, 81 thankfully accept your offer
ort "Good," said the farmer, Peter Bake
"Come and breakfast at once. We vi
Ian go ON with the ploughing afterwards
the At BaXen's farm the soldicr-plouS
'ac. man had plenty yofOppCrunities ofpro
re- ing his capacity. He found such fav
the in the farmers cycs-and in other pc
nry ple's. too-thut BaXcn determined
h Il try and keep him for good and all.
ne "AIy worthy fellow" he said, o
ill day, ~ look upon you almost as son
g of "Ir my poor old father" Firm
ung answered, "werc not anXiously ava
who ing my return to France, | would wi
the ingly remain in Rugcn.'
had "You can bring him back with y
tc a the next time yon go to France. i
who what want to say to you now concel
line my daughter"
con- Firmin colorcd up to the eyes.
call "Unlcss am much mistaken you n
lier, she are very good friends"
be Firmin uttered IA few unintelligi
lhe words.
"Thc neghbors even say you are
nted in love with her"
eX- ~ assure you | never uttered a We
lere- VIII ich could lead her to suppose tina
two 81 know it; and for that very real
till tool, upon myself to tell her that
nave YOU had no objection, she might hi
hDer you for a husband"
Bon "And she said"
.ting "Not word but she threw her III
by around my neck and kissed me fo
his quarter Of I'm hour"
the 4 fortnight afterwards Firmin Il
hide ard wos married to the fair hal
ions. Clurissa, Peter BaXen's only daugh
owly Fou years then elapsed, pretty eql
were Is divided between love and labor.
thoughts occasionally reverted
loise. France, but he had almost forgotten
ming compulsory desertion. The past $
pre-. fades from our memory when the I
,ire." ent i, satisfactory and the future prol