The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-03-24

1
him and csressng his cheeks. Then be waE'eu
to hold Esdras also. We looked en- IN Silence; silence
Il am going to leave you, Father Moses,
said he, 81 am going to pack my bag. In1ndef
and lightningI am sorry to leave your
"And we are sorry, too, sergeant" said sorie;;
monrnfully; "but If You will live with us--
"It ia impossible
"Then you remain in the servioef"
Service of whom-of what =" said he; "ot
Louis XVIII Mol no! 1 know no one but
my General-but that makes it hard to go
when man has done his duty
He started up, aud shouted in piercing
voice: Vire EEmpereur !"
We trembled. We did not know why.
reached out my hand to him, and rose; we
embraced each other like brothers.
"Good-by, Father Moses" said he, good-by
for long while"
You know, sergeant, that You will always
have friends here; You will come and see u.s.
Yes, Yes yes yes, knew L. you are true friends
excellent peopieT
He shook my hand vehemently.
Then he took up his rousket. and we were
all following him, expressing our good wishes;
when he turned, with tears in his eyes, and
| embraced my wife. saying:
must embrace you too there is no nafn
in it, is there, Madame SorleF
family, and I will embrace Zeffen for your
He went cut at once, excl. ming in hearse
| voice. "Good-by FarewellW
saw him go into his room at tho end OF tae
| little passage.
Twenty i've years of service, eight wounds.
and no bread in his old age! My heart bled
at the thought of it,
t-Abeat-a t-a-auarter- of hour after, the ser
geant came down with his musket. MeetinS 8
safel on the stairs be said to him, "stay, that
1t was the portrait of the land wehr's wife
and children. Safel brought it to me at onco.
took the poor DEVILS gift, ard looked at it for
q long time, very sadly; then shut it up IL
| +, he closet with the letter.
1t was noon, and as the gates were about to
be opened, and abundance of provisions were
| to come, we sat down before a large piece of
boiled beet, with dish of potatoes, and open
| ed good bottle of wine.
We were still eating when we heard shouts
in the street. safel got up to look out
| "a wounded soldier that they are carrying
to the hospital |" said ne.
| Then he exclaimed, " 1t is our sergeant I"
| Four marine gunners were carrying the
litter by on thoir shoulders; children we're run
ming behiad.
At the first glance recognized the sergeant;
his face perfectly white and his breast covered
low had gone from our house to the bsstion,
and had been, it was supposed, accidentally
shot.
l went up So soLoVerwhelmed, 80 sad and sor
rowful, that Icould scarcely stand.
Sorle Ygs waiting for me IN great agitation.
| "Our/poor sergeant is killed." said 1 and
Stating down, l could not help bursting into
/ tears
|
1t is said with truth that msfortunes never
| come singly; one brings another in its train.
The death OF our good scrgeant was, however,
| the last.
That same day the enemy withdrew his out,
posts to six hundred yards from the city, the
white flag was raised on the church, and the
| gates were opened.
! Now, Fritz, you know about cur blockade
Should tell you, in addition, about Baruch's
coming, of Zeffen's crios, and the groanings OF
rs ALL when we had tc say to the good man
"Our little David is dead-thoa wilt reyer see
him againW
No, it is enough! If we were to speak of al
tie miseries of war, and all their consequence
in after years, there woold be no end!
i l would rather tell you of my sons Itzg
and Fl ome, and of my Safel, wIo has gone tc
join them IN America.
If should tell yoa OF all the wealth they
haze scqnIed in that great country of free
men, of the lsnCs theg have bought tie money
thaY have laid up. the number of grandchil:
dCen they have given me, and all the blees
iugs they have heapcd upon Sorle and myself
, Sou would be fcll of astonishment aud admi
, ration.
Taey have never allowed me- t, want fo
anything TIE greatest pleasure ] can giv'
them is TO wish for something; each Of then
wants to send it 10 me!