The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-06-23

Z6rth With Csthariue apdsA
Int 70 the town square, VIII
In sn the shops, dossa1
=, eeenters, weeping md sineinES35
~. OtheS In the inns embrSsed, S04
~ bit still they sang. Twe or three. mgs!<
teufsl, Rossslkasten. and Gsoege Adam-hed
arrived, and their pieces thundered in terrible
and heart-rending strains.
Catharine squeezed my arm. Aunt Gredel
Opposite the guard-house saw the peddler
Pinacle afsr of, his pack opened ON little
sa;sSas. and beside it long pole asassd With
IA, Cripple, halt Come here; I have . lib.
e ys1 p1 %s's nsv'
81 waved . long Sl.o1 ribbon .boze hi.
ssS Pale q TIE ~ss Bss
eon.olip 1;s just dssa..dias; i. wss xiipfsi,
the smith of the French gate; he had drawn
number eight, and shouted, "The black fanl
pom"
,r He was s.s gloomy, ba. he langhs 3D. Hl
No No.. no. S jacob not tks, - e
want now. We a !
our SS 9T ?. n .e9;ns y -
! was better sell b1 * LEI 4
on his has than epS dSax1
through the crowt lie. IN
town house and in cill16k lEhs old oak stars
swarms; r the. great hellsabove, the gem
as well as he could, and IN the ounoii-c6amber
Justice with her eyes blindfolded, we heard
them calling of the numbers. From time to
time conscript came ont with flushed face,
fastening bis number to his cap aud passing
with bowed head through the crowd, like .
furious bull who cannot see clearly and who
the walls, Others, on the contrary, passed as
pale as death, The windows of the town
house were open, and without we heard six OF
seven pieces playing together. 1t was horrible
I pressed Catharine's hand, and we. passed
slowly through the crowd to the ball where
Monsieur the Sub-Prefeot, the Mayors and the
Secretaries were seated on their tribune, call
tssos Of deas IN aons. Of astios fer 'e ali
these numbers were really sentences of death.
We waited 0 long time.
1t seemed as If there was no longer o drop of
blood in my veins, when at last my nanre was
called.
stepped up, seeing and hearing nothing
put my hand in the box and drew a number.
Monsieur the Sub-Prefect cried out 'Number
seventeen"
Then left without speaking, Catharino and
her mother behind me-. We went out into the
square, and tho air reviying me, remem bered
that had drawn number seventeen.
Aunt Gredel seemed confounded.
And put something into your pocket, too"
you i'll luck"
At the same time she drew from my coat
pocket the end of cord. Great drops of
sweat rolled down my forehead; Catharine
Monsieur Goulden's.
What number did you draw, Joseph 2" he
asked, rs soon as he saw us.
Seventeen" replied Aunt Gredel, sitting
down with her hands upon her knees.
Monsieur Goulden seemed troubled for a mo-
ment, but he said instantly, zone is as good as
filled. But it don't matter for Joseph will
go and see Monsieur the Mayor and Monsieur
the CommandaRt. 1t will be telling no lie to
say that Joseph is lamei all the town knows
that; but among SO many they may overlook
anxious"
These words of good Monsieur Goulden re-
assured Aunt Gredel and Catharine, who re-
tarned to tsuatre-Yents full of hope; but they
did not affect me, for from that moment had
not 2 moment Of rest day or night.
The Emperor had good custom he did not
allow the conscripts to languish at home Soon
as the drawing was complete, the council of
revision met, and few days after came the
orders of march. He did not do like those
tooth. pullers who first show you their pincers
and hooks and gaze for an hour into your
mouth, so that you feel half dead before they
make up their minds to begin work. He pro-
ceeded without loss Of time
A week after the drawing, the council of re-
vision sat at the town.hall, with all the mayors
and few notables of the country to give ad-
vice In case Of need.
The day before Monsieur Goulden. had put on
his brown Grest-coat and his best wig to 20 to
wind mp Monsieur the Mayor's clock and that
of the Commandant. He returned laughing |
and said, .Al goes we'll, Joseph. Monsieur the |
Mayor and Monsieur the Commsndant know |
that you are lame; that Is enough to be seen. |
They replied at once, Eth, Monsieur Goulden, |
the young man 10 lame why speak Of him 2 |
Do not be uneasy we do not want the infirm
We want soldiers"
These words poured balm on my wounds |
and that night slept like one of the blessed. |
But the next day fear again assailed me; re-
mnembered suddenly how many men full Of de-
feets had gone ali the same, and how many
others had invented defects to- deceive the
council; for instance, swallowing INJURIOUS
substances to mako them pale tying up their
!eRs 20 give themselves swollen veins; or play
ing deaf, blind or foolish. Thinking over all
these things, trembled at not being lame
enough, and determined that would appear
suttolcntly forlorn. had heard that vinegar
would mako one sick, and, without telling
Monsieur Goulden, in my fear swallowed ali
the vinegar in his bottle. Then dressed nv
self, thinking that 1 looked like dead man,
for the vinegar was very strong; but when l.
entered Monsieur Goulden's rooai he cried ont,