The Portland daily press., 1875-05-10
The Story of a Erenchmnn Hunted by the
Germans.
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
The path of the exile is long, George, and
the first steps we take on the road are very
heavy. He who said that we cannot carry our
country in the soles of our shoes knew human
suffering. And when you leave behind you
your child; when you think you hear still as
you go grandmother saying to you, adieu !;
when from the top of the mountain which
sheltered you from the wind and covered you
with its shadow, to the last turn in the path
before the descent, you turn and look at the
valley and the little house and orchard, think
ing you will never see it again, it seems then,
George, as if the earth held you, as if the
trees stretched out their arms to you, as if
the child cries in the distance, and grand
mother is calling you back in the name of
God! Yes, I felt all that on the Berlingen
mountain, and tremble still. TO think that
such worms as we dare to impose such suffer-
ings ON their fellows May the Almighty God
have pity on them. The hour of justice will
come!
l went down the mountain with bowed
head and the dear country faded slowly in
the distance. Oh what / suffered, what
forgotten thoughts came back! The woods,
the fir plantations, the old saw mills passed
out of sight.
drew near Schoenbourg and began to
descend the second slope, absorbed in my
dreams and despair, when suddenly a man
not fifty steps from me, his gun in his belt,
came out of the forest and stood watching
me. The sight of him withdrew me from
my sad thoughts and looked up. 1t wa
Kepp, the old brigadier HON the Prussians
had hired, andwho alone of us all had taken
the Prussian oath.
CLAP said he much surprised, sis that
you, Father FREDERICK"
eyes," l answered, sit is r.
'But where ale YOU going so early this
morning, your bundle on your shoulder?'
81 go where God wills. The Germans
Danish me. I am going TO earn my living
elsewhere"
He turned pale. stopped moment to
breathe.
''Howv' said he, ''they Danish you at your
agel you, an old forester, a good chief, an
honest man who never wronged any oner'
eyes, they will not have me in the coun-
try. They give me twenty-four hours to
quit old Alsace, and am on my way"
"And Marie Rose-and grandmother ?"
"They are at Graufthal, at the house Of
Ykel, and mother is dying. Other people
must bury herr'
Kepp, his head bowed and his eyes on the
ground, raised his hand murmuring, 'What
misery! What misfortuneH'
1 did not reply, bat wiped my face covered
with perspiration. A moment after, with
out looking at me, he said, giving little
cough,
"Ab, if l had been alone with my wife !!
But have six children. / am their father.
must not leave them to die of hunger.
You have saved something. I, had not
single cent"
Then, seeing this man in Office, for he was
German brigadier forester, seeing this man
excusng himself before an unfortunate exile
as 1, knew not what to answer. said,
"God sees-each has his own burden. Well,
well. Au revor." He would have been
glad to shake hands with me, bat 1 turned
away continuing my journey, thinking,
"This man, Frederic, is more unfortunate,
is still more miserable than you. His cha
grin is terrible, he has sold his conscience TO
the Prussians for morsel of black bread you
at least,you can look all the world in the face;
you can say in spite of your misery, am an
honest man! and he did not dare to look at
his old comraGe. He blushed and dropped
his eyes! They have taken advantage of him
because he had six children" Thinking
thus, took little courage. / had done
right in spite of everything, and in Hepp's
place should have hung myself doubtless
somewhere in the woods. What will you?
we are content to have chosen the better part
when we had only the choice of greater mis-
cry.
/ must tell you that in all the villages, and
even in all the smallest hamlets where l
passed the poor people seeing me en- route at
my age with my bundle on my shoulder re-
eeived me kindly. They understood that 1
was one whom the Germans had banished be-
cause loved France. The women at the
doors with their infants in their arms, said
with feeling "May God take care of you."
In the little inns where hailed from time
to time to rest, at Lutze.bourg, Dabo, Viche,
they were not willing to receive any pay. As
soon as l said, Il am an old brigadier fores-
ter. The Germans have banished me because
would not serve in their ranks.' 1 had the
respect of every one. Naturally did not ac-
cept their kind offers. / paid, for in these
times of forced levies no one had ANYTHING
to spare.
All this country was loyal to the Republic,
and the farther l advanced towards the High
Vosges the more they talked Gambetta, of
Chanzy and Fadherbe; but the acquisitions
were larger and the villages infested with
ldndpher. At Schirneck where 1 arrived the
same day towards eight O'Clock in the eve
ming saw on entering the aubefge felde-
Uebet, preceptor and a commissary who
drank and smoked surrounded by number
Of their men sitting at the table with them.
They all turned their heads, and began TO in
spect me as asked for nights lodging. The
commissary ordered me to show my papers.