The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-01-08

OF the windows of that house were
closed. / was still in doubt, notwith-
standing the expectations and PRESENT.
ments of the preceding days, whether
the affair would take serious turn or
not.
Nearer and nearer were heard the
drums. From morning the streets had
resounded with peculiar three.fold
beat-le rappel-by which the National
Guard was assembled. And, at once,
slowly swaying and stretching out like
long black worm, appeared, about
900 steps from the left side of the barri-
cade, a column Of citizen soldiers :;
above it, like fine sparkling needles,
glistened the bayonets; the officers
rode in advance.
The column reached the opposite side
of the boulevard, and, occupying it en-
tirely, wheeled in front of the barricaae
and halted, ever increasing in numbers
and becoming more consolidated. Not
withstanding the arrival of SO many
troops, everything became more still !;
voices were lowered ut rarer intervals
resounded the former laugh it was as
II pail had fallen on every sound.
An empty space between the line of
the National Guard and the barricade
was suddenly formed, over which light
ly whirled two or three small eddies
of dust, aud, glancing about, walked a
little black-dappled dog. Suddenly
from front or behind, from above or
below, was heard quick, hard sound,
resembling rather the noise of falling
iron bar than of a shot, immediately
followed by strange, death.li like still
ness. All was silent in expectation-it
seemed that the air itself pricked up it's
ears then abruptly, above
my very head, something hard cracked
and shrieked, like quickly torn linen.
X 1t was the volley of the insur-
gents bursting through the jalousies of
the windows of the upper story of
Jouvin's factory, occupied by them.
My comrade faneurs and Immediately
hurried along the boulevard U remem-
Der having had time to notice on the
empty space In front, a creeping man,
an ownerless cap with q scarlet pompon,
and black. dappled dog, covered with
dust), running we reached small lane,
and entered it. Our company was soon
enlarged by twenty others, among whom
was a young man of about twenty, who
boulevard behind us, the musketry
roGred necessarily. We entered another
street-if L mistake not Rue de PEchi-
quier. Az one end of il low barricade
was erected, and lad of about twelve
years of age jumped on its top, making
wry faces and brandishing q Turkish
sabre fat National Guardsman, whit
as q sheet, ran by, stumbling and
grooming at every step =
from the sleeve OF his uniform dropped
scarlet blood.
The tragedy had begun-its serious
ness was not to be doubted, although
scarcely any one could foretell what di-
mansions it might assume.
was not obliged to fight on either
side of the barricades / returned home.
The entire day passed in unspoakable
anxiety. The weather was hot, suffo-
eating. ! spent al day on the Boule-
ward DIES I5aliens, which was crowded
with all sorts of people. The most in
credible rumors circulated, immediate
ly followed by others still more improb-
able. Toward night one fact was
indisputable nearly one-half OF Paris
was IN the hands OF the insurgents.
]
particularly on the left side of the
Seine the army occupied the strategic
points forlorn struggle was at hand.
Next day, from early morning, the
aspect of the boulevard and the exter-
nal appearance of that part of Paris not
yet in possession of the insurgents. was
changed as if by magic. An order, is
sued by Cavaignac, the chief Of the
Partisan army, forbade the citizens
from leaving their houses. The Ma
tional Guard, Partisan as we'll as pro-
vinclal, from the sidewalks watched the
houses selected as their Headquarters
the regular army, Garde Mobile, were
on the battlefield foreigners, women,
| children, Old and infrm persons, were
locked in their houses all the windows
were ordered to be kept wide open to
prevent amhuscade. The streets were
deserted. From time to time the mail
omnibus rolled along, or the carriage
of physician, constantly stopped by
sentinels to show his pass or, with
rumbling noise, batteries hurried TO the
place of conflict. Detachments of sol
diers marched, adjutant or ordinary gal
Hoped. 1t was dreadful, anxious time
none but those who outlived il can fully
comprehend it. 1t was certainly pain
full for the Frenchmen; to imagine
their native land, society, being de-
stroyed but the anguish of a foreign
er, sentenced to involuntary inactivity,
was, if not more terrible, at least more
harassing.
Sultry heat no possibility of going
out; through the open windows unim-
peded pours the burning stream the
sun blinds you; all occupation, read
ing, writing, are out of the question.
Five times, ten times in a minute, re-
sound the cannon shots from time to
time is heard the burst of rifles, the
confused buzz of the battle.
The streets are empty as q ball
ground, the burning pavement-stones
become yellow, the dusty, red-hot air
streams in the sunbeams. Along the
sidewalks stand the immovable figures
of the National Guard-there is not one
solitary, vital sound. Deserted-but
one feels oppressed, as if in the grave
or prison. Noon beholds new spec
tacle; filters with wounded and killed
appear. Here is carried by gray
haired man, with face white as tue pill
low on which rests his head this is a
MORALLY wounded deputy = Charlton