Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-01-22

70 y rev PAGES uistancef Uut soon rctufncli uceu-
less Of his friends unkiud treatment. All he did
now was to look forgiveness and lick the soldiers
hands
Bc quiet, will YOU? And take yourself OF, y
said Firmn harshly, as he threatened him with
the butt Of his gun to drive him away. Capuchin,
finding he could do no good, pnwillingly made up
his mind 20 depart He arrived just in time to 60
on board with the last detachment Of the corps
At four o'clock he began to lose patience. Dis
cipinc forbade his quitting his post but hunger,
which drives the wolf ont Of the wood. compelled
him to forget the code militarie He left his sta
ron, and went TO the guarl-hou muttering to
himself, ''lf any body deserves TO be shot for
this il Is not l. but the corporal, who doesn't
know his business and keeps a sentinel on guard
six hours AZ a tmen
In the guard house, not a crcasre The only
suppositon he could form was that tho regiment
had pons 90 occupy another part Of the island.
He shouldered his gun and stalked of across the
country in search Of the regiment On the way
he fell in with a farmer plowing a field ''Can
you tell me" he asked him A." in which direction
the French have marchedY'
"Thcy arr gone away was the startling reply.
"'Dhey embArked at two this morning, stepping
lightly and without utterng word, in conse-
quence Of an order received from the emperor"
Gone away, leaving me behind / shall be
reported az a descrter. Confound that corporal :;
he has been my ruin. now understand what
much as the disgrace.n
Don't take on in that way said the farmer.
in con>oatory tone OF voice Shriekng new
set broken bone. STAY here, and make the
best Of a ba1 business If the French come back
again, can prove that il was no fault Of yours
Ny good man, you don't know the severity Of
our rules
They will not punish you for crime you have
not committed Meanwhile, YOU cannot live on
mir. You probably we're brought up iu the coun-
try, and are accustomed 70 do country work ?n
Certainly | can plow, for instince.'
"rhe very thing for me. can offer you good
board aud lodging, with small weekly payment
can do under the circumstances The soldier
heaved heavy sigh, and slowly gazed all round
the horizon 20 see whether any OF the ships we're
still visible. Beholdng nothing, he said at last
81 thankfully accept your offer
Good!7 said the farmer, Peter Baxen.
d" Come and breakfast at once. We will go on
with the plowing afterwards
At Baxen's farm the soldier-powmln had plenty
Of opportunities of proving his capacity He
found such favor in the farmers ewes and in 9TH
er peoples too--that Baxen determined to try and
keep him for good and all.
"My worthy fellow" he said, one day, II look
upon YOU almost SOM
"ll my poor old tather,n Firmin answered,
were not anNiously awaiting my return to France
would willingly remain in Rugen.n
You can bring him back with you the next
time YOU 90 to France. But what | want to say
to you concerns my daughter"
Firmin colored up to the eyes.
Unless ! am much mistaken, you and she are
very good friends
Firmin uttered few unintellgible words.
The neghbors even say you are in love with
herr
- assure you never uttered word which
could lead her to suppose that
know it; and for that very reason | took
upon myself to tell her that, if you had no objec
ton, she might have you for a husbandn
"And she said--2n
- Not a word; but she threw her arms round
my neck and kissed me for quarter of an hour
A fortnight afterwards Firmin Bonard was marri
ed to the fair-haired Clarissa, Peter Baxens only
daughter.
Four years then elapsed, pretty equally divided
between love and labor. His thoughts OCCASION
ally reverted 10 France but he had almost forgot
ten his compulsory desertion- The past soon fades
from our memory when the present is satisfactory
and the future promising.
One morning, the lookout man in the town of
Rugen sgnalled fleet Of ships in the oing.
They were men-o -ot-war, carrying the French flag
" The French eoming.n people shouted to
each other. They going to laudln
tiruln Bonard heard IL. The French are
comingl' rang in his ears like the boom of an
ah.rm-gun. 1t told him that he was lost man.
Nevertheless a thought struck him which relieved
his heart by n glimmer OF hope
lie ran home. put on his uniform, seized his
arms, and mounted guard on the very spot where,
five years before he had been. unintentionally
abandoned. Meanwhile. boats full of soldiers
rowed towards the hllock. In the fore-part OF
one OF the boats was black and white poodle.
As ii approached the beach, the creature barked
with joy In spite OF his anxiety, Firnin's eyes
filled with tears he recognized his old friend
Z hg lie tn utasf tfnu
tience, jumped into the aud swan to shore.
As soon as the boats had come within ear shot,
Firnin made ready and shouted at the top of
his voice, "Qai viveY
"Qui yiye, yourself!n said the occupants OF the
first boat which was filed with officers composing
Marshal Davlust's staff. Who are YOU? And
what are you doing here!n
. avn a sentinel keeping guard
"A pretty sentlnell How long have you been
on guard ~
" Five years"
1t is time to come down, then" shouted the
officers. laughing.
When Firnin descended from his hill Capuchin
ran to meet him halfway, barking with JOY, and
jumping into his arms.
Poor Car uchinl Have it all your own way
this time. DO whatever you like. Dirty me-
tear my clothes | shant send you away. lought
to have made better return for your attempt to
serve me-
Followed by the faithful dog, Firmin joined his
foriuer comrades lie gave a plain account Of
what had happened. BY lucky chance, the cor
poral, who had forgotten him, AN who had since
been promoted belonged to Marshal Davousts
staff. lie received his old comrade with open
arlus. Firmin, in return invited his countrymen
10 the farm, where he entertained them with hber-
al hospitality, The adventure reached Marshal
Diyoust's ears. He laughed at Firmins strata
gem, and presented him with discharge drawn
up in due form. - should not like the brave
fellow" he said, to appear before aoourt-martial,
after having kept guard SO long
Firmin continued farmer. lie had a large
family. who at present ill the highest aud most
important offices in the island. They are com
monty known as The Sentnels Family When the
French finally left Rugen, Uapnchin remained.
devoted himself eScusivel, to farming.
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