The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-04-26

but Wnere 10 gO5 WA1o io'A w 0'''>o' 4AAi
the villages OF Alsace and Lorraine are filled
with Germans, the routes covered with can
non and conveys. Not barrack, not even a
barn is Free"
Happily Jean Merlin arrived the next day
early. He had delivered our reply to the
Oberforesfer, he had moved his furniture to
Felsburg, and Margredel his mother was al.
ready sitting near the fire in the house Of
Uncle Daniel. The sight of his cheerful face
gave me hope again and as I complained Of
cold, smoke, and our uncomfortable night, he
exclaimed,
eyes, I understand all that, Brigadier. I
thought so, and came off as quick as could.
1t is hard to leave familiar places, and live
among strangers at your age, 1t will break
your heart. In such hours one must charge
his thoughts. Here is the key of my barrack
and the copy of estimates. You have also
your register and seal. Well, do you know
what would do in your place? Iwould carry
all to our Inspector, since the Oberforest-
er could reclaim them and compel you
to give them up. Once deposited with
M. Laroche, no one will have any
thing to say to you. While you are
away Marie Rose will wash the windows and,
floor. CALAIS can 60 for the wood, potatoes
and fodder with starch, and will arrange
the furniture and put everything in ORDER"
He spoke so sensibly that I followed his adj
vice. 1t was my last journey in the country
on business.
The pond of Fromuhe was covered with
ice. The saw mill and grist mill had ceased
running. No one since the previous evening
had followed in my path. All seemed desc
late. For three hours never saw a soul.
About ten o'clock mounted the stairway
of the old fort, abandoned since the war,
then descending Faubourg street entered
the house of the Inspector. But the door
at the left of the vestibule, was closed. I
rang, and tried to open it. No one answered.
was going out to ask of neighbor what
had become of M. Laroche, if he had been
compelled to leave, when door up stairs
opened, and the Inspector himself appeared
at the head of the stairs in his dressing gown.
w uO Is uC CdilCus AOo lSSoSohiGih5
me at first under my great cap.
SIT is I, Monsieur Inspector" l replied.
"Ah is that you Father Frederic" said he,
"glad to see you. Well, well, come up, come
up. All my house have left, 1 am alone
They bring me my meals from the inn. Come
in /! come imp
We entered then into little chamber in
the first story, very neat, with a good fire
burning in the stove. Giving me chair. he
said,
''Take a seat Father Frederic" and seated
himself near table covered with books.
| sat down and we began to talk of our affairs.
| recounted to him our visit to the Oberforestel
He knew all about it and much else beside.
81 am glad to know that all our guards, save
the poor Hepp, father Of six children. have
done their duty. 1t is great satisfaction to
| me, as for you and your son-in-law, Jean
Merlin, never had the least doubt of you"
Then he inquired into our condition, re-
ceived the register and seal, placed them in
closet, saying that his papers had already
gone, that these would be sent also. He in
quired if we had enough for our present needs.
told him that there still remained to me 300
francs, that had saved to buy piece Of
meadow by the side of the orchard, which
would without doubt be sufficient.
swell then, so much the better, you know
that my purse is at your service. 1t is no
very full to-day. Each one is obliged to man
age carefully his resources, for God only
knows how long time this campaign will last
but if you have need of any funds"-I thanked
him again, and we talked together as real
| friends. [ remember that he said to me
afterwards, that all was not finished, that
| without doubt our regular armies were sur
rendered en- masse and that all the officers,
marshals, generals, even to the simple corpo-
rails had fallen in this way into the power of
the enemy,-a thing which had never hap
pened since the beginning of French history.
But after that he said that Paris was strong,
| that the great people of Paris had never
shown so much courage and care Of country,
that a great and solid army although young
| had been formed near Orleans, and that he
expected much from it; that the Republic had
been proclaimed alter Sedan, as the peasants
60 after physician when the sick person is
dying; and yet this Republic had had the
courage to take all the burdens and risks of
which she was not the cause, while those who
had threw us into the war withdrew into a
foreign land; that man very energetic, Gam
BETA, member of the provisional government
and that he called to his side all Frenchmen
without distinction of opinion, able to carry
arms, &c. What Monsieur Laroche said to
me awakened my hopes. He promised also
to manage my retirement as soon as possible,
and towards one o'clock, left him full Of
confidence. He shook hands with me at the
door, saying,
''Keep up brave heart, Father Frederic, We
shall see happy days yetF