The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-01-10

all the preparations for the voyage; he
even lent hand in the work. The as
cension, which was really superb, put
the finishing touch on his astonishment
and delight.
Two or three times after that had
the luck to run across my man, who
took his late passenger without making
too much difficulty. The balloon peo-
pie got to know him; M. GODDARD thank
ed him again and again for his skillful
and active assistance.
Toward the end of December. about
o'clock in the morning, in a wolfish
cold, was pushing toward the Orleans
station, when, by happy chance, my
coachy recognized me and pulled up his
horse with jerk.
"We are going to the balloon, ain It
we, bourgeois? l have two gentlemen
inside to leave four steps off; if you like
to come up here on the seat we will
head for down there in minute"
On the pretense that my hackman
had taken another passenger on the
way, the insider haggled over the fare.
and paid him but shabbily; he shrugged
his shoulders without saying a word.
was greatly surprised at this sudden
sweetness OF temper, and to get at the
explanation of the phenomenon stayed
on the seat with the old fellow. He
carefully covered my knees with the
robes.
"Coco is a brave horse," said l, by
way of ingratiating myself.
"Yes, sir; you're just right there.
Twelve years he has been at the trade.
He has little to eat; he doesn't sleep on
feathers, but he has blood in him, and
if you knew how intelligent he is! Co.
co would recognize every one of the
family"
"Ah! You have children?'
1.-TWO little girls, sir. A five-year-
old, that is Jeanette; a good little
club, fat and merry. The other is only
three; she is weaker, but so sweet-and
she is merry one, too. Before the
siege they went with their mother to
their grandparents, who live at Saint
Malo, and since then I haven't heard a
word from them. The dear babies,
what has become of themP The older
one knew already all the songs of my
regiment-for l, too, bourgeois, 1 have
been soldier. The little one used to
come in at the chorus. At night, when l
came to dinner, Jeanette would say
Take care, Tony'-my name is Antoine
-'the soup is hot, and you are going to
burn your mouth. Then the little one
would say: Papa, Tony's going to
burn his mouth Possibly all that was
not pleasant! The poor brats will for
get me; children have such short men,
ories, you know. If you liked, bour-
geois, you could do me great service. -
"What is that2''
"I should like to send little pres
ent to my little folks. I have bought
two dolls for their New Years, and if
you could, with your influence at head
quarters, get my parcel carried along
"The devil! That's easier said than
done; but We'll see what we can do"
When we got to the station, 1 sought
out the sailor to make the trip. He was
sleeping quietly in a corner, wrapped in
a woolen blanket. There was courage
for you! A man who in another quar-
ter of an hour will be exposed, in mid
air, to the winter storm, to Prussian
bullets, the risk of being dashed to
pieces-and here he is, sleeping as
TRANQUILITY as child. I have some diff
ficulty, indeed, in waking him up. But
at length l present papa Tony who ex-
plains his business.
"Hand over thy package" said the
sailor, concisely.
Antoine gave him the little pasteboard
box containing the two cheap dolls for
Mrs. Jeanette and Lucie, and bunch
of violets for their mama. The two
men squeezed each others hands. Tears
were rolling down papa Tony's face
two great drops glistened on the brown
cheeks of the sailor; | myself, professed
stole as am, turned away and transact
ed little private business with my
handkerchief.
The sailor put the little box in his
knapsack, and tied the bouquet in the
top of the boat; then, at a signal from
M. GODDARD, the balloon shot up into the
night.
/ learned afterward the end of this
history. Dec 80, at 10 o'clock in the
morning, the balloon landed, without a
jar, some kilometers from Saint Malo
At noon Mother Antoine was crying
over her violets, and the babies were
hugging their dolls.
If any more beautiful presents were
made in France that New Years, l did
not happen to know of them.
Opium.Eating Boys.