The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-03-28
(For the Morning Star and Catholic Messenger.J
THE MORROW OF THE BATTLE,
OR, BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.
BFF. n.
Chaptsr I.

In the outskirts of the picturesque village of
B., in the beginning of the Revolution of 1888,
nesting at the foot of the hill that rose almost
perpendicularly, aspretty cottage might have
been seen. One could hardly pass it by I'M
noticed, for its rose-embowered porch, its clean
and genteef aPpcura1ce; flowers
the pretty garden mingled with and cast some
of thor own beauty over the homelier vege-
Tables; the pots of iainls- and gersIsiuHs that
filled every window--all gave an unmista kable
air of comfort and responsibility that would
attract the nl0st casual observer, and eoniure
thoughts of contentment and happiness. Nor
was such a conclusion erroneous for in it
bloonIed two of che fairest village flowers.
Marie and Eustace st. ESienne. The mother
was the widow of respectable bourgeois, who
though not wealthy, bad at his death left them
moderate competence. They had continued
to live quietly, all in all to each other. Eustace
had, at the time of which l speak, but just
completed his twenty first year, and Marie was
two years younger. Tall and handsome, there
was strong resemblance between brother and
sister, and the strongest ties of affection
united them. Many were the sly chances that
beset them as hand in hand, they wendell their
way TO the village church, or strolled through
the neighboring fields, but no one had get been
able TO win an answering glance.
1t was thus they had reached tho time when
the storm, whose thunder afterwards shook
Europe to its very centre, was then heard only
as distant growl, and the cloud which over
cast the sky of France for many n long and
weary day, was but a specl upon the horizon.
One evening Eustace came bounding into the
house, exelaiming, p" Mother, Marie, what think
youi Orders have been received to levy con-
scripts, and Tomorrow is the day for the con-
scription. Oh may it be my fate to be among
these who viii be enrolled beneath orr flag !
Happy is hey-indeed, who bleeds for his coun-
tryle
Glorious, it may be, my son" answered his
mother sofrowfuliy but consider the dak1ger
TO which we will be exposed-xliIe you areab-
sent. And should yor never return, wholw viii
replace you near us 81 ~
- Away with such forebodings |, said Eustace
gaily, "all soldiers do not die"
: You are right, Eustaco--we will not antici-
pate evil You are still with u.s. and should it
please Heaven to.haye ypu 90, shall not muir
mur. place my trust in God and our Lady.
May they keep you In their charged
"A pious "amenP from brother and sister was
an that was said, and soon tho whole family
mad sought their peaceful beds.
. Inc morning dawhed serene. All hurried to
the public square TO learn their fate. Eustace
%, E1enne was among tho foremost, and TO
nus great joy he drew the fatal bean that has
80 often caused woe and desoiation. But to
nun u conveyed thoughts of glory and renoyyn,
OF dashtng epaulettes won by glorious deeds,
and he pictures the time when be, tho poor
oonscripts should return TO his native village
Mlth eaptain'a eommission.-for nothing less
than that, he felt sure, would content him.