The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1877-04-27

EnRlSH verse
The following was told by my Uncle
Louis to my elder brothers, dazed school
boys. To me he said, in his gentlest voice,
go and play, child" thinking me too lit,
tie to understand. But listened, and nv
uncle said g
IA battle? Bah! do you know what
it is?
Smoke. You rise at dawn and lie down
at dusk. I'll tell you about one. This bat
tt was called called IEzy IEzjylasEH IasEH. think 7 2
captain, and wore the cross. Yes, was
captain. After all, in war one man is a
shadow, and hardly counts. Eylau, then
is place in Prussia wood, fields, water,
everywhere winter and sleet. The regi-
ment encamped near ruined wall. You
saw an old belry surrounded by tombs.-
Berigssen only knew enough to approach
and retreat; but the emperor disdained
this mannuvre. The plains were all white
with snow. Napoleon passed, his field
glass in his hand. The grenadiers said
at will be tomorrow" At night we built
fires, and the colonelappeared. He said
"Hugo 2"
"Here."
GLOW many ment
"A hundred and twenty
"Good; take your whole company and
get killed"
"Where?"
ain the cemetery"
] answered him-"That's the place"
had my gourd. He drank and l drank.
A bitter wind was blowing. He said
death is not far off, captain. ! love
life, life is sure thing, but nobody knows
20 we'll how to DIE as good livers. l give
my heart, but sell my hide. Health to the
fair! Drink. You've got the very worst
post"-for our colonel was joker. He
continued
"Climb the wall, cross the ditch, and
stay there-this point is threatened, rather.
Hold
Good"
"Get some trusses of straw"
"There are none"
"Sleep on the ground, then"
"We'll sleep there"
"Ts your drummer brave ?"
GAS Barra."
"Good let him beat the charge at ran
dom in the shade. We must have noise
when we haven't numbers"
And l said to the boy-"Do you hear,
bOy2"
"Yes, captain" answered the child, al
most buried in the snow, and laughing.
"The BATTLE" continued the colonel,
"will be q cannonade. For my part, |
love the cold steel and blame the abuse of
those savage and cowardly shells. The
sword is hero--the she'll traitor. But
let the emperor alone. Adieu, time pres
seS, Stay here tomorrow without finch
ing, Don't leave till six o'clock in the
evening"
The colonel left, | said-"File right !"
and we all entered narrow enclosure
grass, wall around it, church in the
centre, and, in the shadow, God above the
tombs. A dark cemetery, with white bill
lows. Reminds one somewhat of the sea.
We notched the wall. gave my orders
and established an ambulance at the foot
ofthe cruciGx.
LET us sup and sleep," said I.
The snow hid the grass. Our overcoats
were in rags. That's splendid, if you
please, but rather hard in bad weather. |
took grave for pillow. Ny feet were
frozen, for / had no soles to my boots, and
soon, pell-mell, captain and soldiers, we
we're motionless sleeping above the dead.
Soldiers will sleep; they have neither re-
morse, nor fear, nor pity, being irresponsi-
Ole; and, frozen by snow, and scorched By
sand, they sleep, and, besides, fighting
makes them merry. | called out good
night" to them, and closed my eyes.
10 war we have no t1ne for fourishes.--
lA' sky was frowning, it was showing, and
we slept. We had picked up lot of
farming tools and made a great fire of
'aem. Ny drummer,hoy famed il, and
'oen came to sleep beside me. The little
man was great soldier, my sons. Devil
ase me # can tell how long We slept in
qs Vayl we slept well. To sleep IS to
make trial of death. That's a good thing
Il war ! was cold, very cold at first;
slen ! dreamed and saw skeletons and
epscIres wearing large epauIettes. BY de-