Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-08

house they were in, and bring them TO the
! hospital prepared for them, which | had just
left. On my arrival presented my card to the
Chief man iD the town, who was the tlaire and
notary as WELL and told him my mission. He
said he would speak to the doctor of the place,
and that they would see if they could manage it
the next day for me; but of course, they must
have a debate about it first.
Now was very 10th to wait until this good
Frcnchman had got Il sufficient number of his
countrymen together, and had time to name a
president, &C., and as il was but eleven o'clock,
| felt very much inclined to get back by night to
the place from which had started. therefore
merely bowed to the maire's decision and left.
remounted my black horse and rode to the
nearest Prussian bivouc, which ! previously
passed here found company of Uhlans
dismounted and touching my cap to the officer,
asked him ii he would give me couple ofuhlans
TO help me make some acquisitions; at the same
time | showed him what my GRAND was. lie
was delightful fellow; he had as handsome
face aud figure as could be desired his little
black moustache was twisted tiercely upward,
and he looked thorough soldier from top to
toe.
''Ah you are EnglishP he said. "My dear
mother is English, so we must shake hands.
Come, sit down, AID we will have breakfast TO-
gethcr. Karlofsli, bring us something to eat,
and tell inter otfzier Hummer want him."
The under officer made his appearance
TEL off two men for acquisitions. Let them
have their horses saddled directly"
KarlofsRi now made his appearance with some
sausage and bread, and Il bottle of wine, old
Burgundy,
"Ahi' said my companion, 81 have treat for
you in this wine. required ii yesterday at Il
gentleman's chateau. The butler, of course,
said he had nothing; but we have not been in
France for ten weeks without knowing that a
French no. and a German yes, mean some
thing about the same thing, so l said to him,
my friend, let me look into your cellar The
,,1.4.,
lit candle and showed me into vault The
vault certainly had as clean a conscience of hav-
ing anything to drink in it as at that moment
had, but noticed peculiar look the good but
Ter gave at an apparently newly built WALL so
calling out for Karofski | told him to bring
something to knock a wall down with. To
make long story short we found as good a
stock of wine in this soidisant empty cellar ms
any of us have ever tasted, and this is part of
the contents" he ad led, as he held up to the
light bumper of Burgundy.
After we had finished the repast, and had
taken down each Others names and addresses,
and had exchanged eternal vows of friendship,
! remounted my horse, and, with the two Uhlans
at my side, started TO make my FIRST requistiou.
1t was glorious trot we had before we arrived
at a village some eight miles off. As the women
and children saw us they ran into their houses;
they don't like the look of those long lances
with the dirty little black and white flag. The
few men who were lounging about cast glances
Of the btterest hate at us. The uhlans take no
notice OF sour looks, except now and then they
give little dersive laugh. | now tapped with
the handle of my riding-whip at n villagers
door. A thin, sour-lOoking Frenchman came to
answer my summons.
"My friend" | said, 81 have come to require
your horse and cart, to transport some wounded
from the houses they are now in to a military
hospital"
"NIonseur," said the Frenchman, wringing
bic moi RI do Il tput thp
Prussians have stolen all that had
repeated this to the uhlans,
"Achi herr, never believe Frenchman," said
one of the uhlans
Thereupon | insisted upon having the key of
the clubhouse in order to look for myself but
my Frenchman declined to let me have it. So
gave a uhlan the order to break the door open.
There was a cart; and, in going through a door
found two horses quietly munching oats. |
LETT the uhlans to see the Harvesting done to
their satisfaction, and went back to the house
to tell the man that, although no doubt he did
not know it, stray cart and two horses had
singularly enough found their way into his sta
bleS. He received this piece of good news in
gloomy silence. said, "Should you wish these
strange horses to come back into your stables
tomorrow, you will either drive them to the
place | want them to 90 to yourself or you will
send some one with them, for you may rest as
sured friends, the uhlans wont trouble them
selves about seeing that you get the cart and
animals back" The FUenchman saw the JUS
tice of my remark, called Il hump-backed son,
and told him to drive the cart where the brig
andS wanted it, and then slammed the door in
my face. | took no notice. The poor French
have enough to try them.
| had made beginning. | then went to the
next most likely person in the village, and tapped
at the door.
"We monsieur" said, as he opened it, 81
suppose, at this uncture of affairs, You, like all
other Frenchmen, have got rieu de tout, de tout,
de tout"
Now, the Frenchman seemed highly delighted
at finding foreigner use the very words that he
meant to have used himself and he repeated
them, slowly and deliberately.
/ suggested, "Not even a cart and horse"
He raised his eyes to heaven, "Mais non, mon
sieur2 Les PrussiensP
Unlucklly for him, Just at that moment his
horse in the barn neighed, and prevented him
adding the other half of what might be termed
slight perversion of the truth. He forthwith
drew the bolt of his stable door, and, as if he
had expected our coming, there was horse,
and also cart, quite ready, with a sack of oats
inside it. That grain the owner wanted to re-
move, but uhan assured him twas not neces-
sary.
A third cart was given in such a different
spirit that l must certainly record the fact. A
poor old peasant, with white hair, was standing
by his door, when ! asked him if he could let me
have his cart to transport some wounded.
certainly, sir. An, les pauVreS blesseS, les
pauyres blessesI This is frightful war, sir.
Shall drive the cart myselfT
said, "Have you no son?
ayes, sir, l have two; but they are francs
tireuTs, and | almost think they must be dead
now, sir. One did say he meant to join the
army of Lyons; but since they left home, after
the news of the battle of Sedan, have not
heard a word of them"
said, Can you stay out from home till noon
Tomorrow
eyes, sir. l must tell my wife, though, and
put on my great-coat."
had now three carts, and at the next village
got four mora, and then started to fetch the
wounded.
1t was now past one, and l had long way to
go; however, at four reached the little town.
and having straw put into each cart, the wound.
ed were, one after another brought out and
placed on it. How thankful the poor fellows
were to get away from that fever-stricken town |
They gulphed down the fresh air, and seemed to
think that their recovery was certain now.-AH
the Yo1J Round