The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-02-24

but that is soon over-they only neeo 10 Reb
Then be went bed, aud everybody in tn
house, except myself, went to sleep.
| The Rpssians did not fire after ten o'clocl
| that night they had only tried one or w.
field d-pieces, to warn of what they had Ii
| store.
All this, Fritz was bat the beginning Of th
blockade; you are going to hear now OF th
miseries we endured for three months
| The city was joyful the next day, uotwith
| standing the firing in the night. number o.
men who came from the ramparts about seven
O'Clock, came down our street shouting: " They
seen in the direction Of Q tarte-Vtn;s nor be.
hind the barracks of the Bois de- Cnenes! Tirt
PEmpere,r"
Every body ran to the bastions.
had opened one of the windows and leaned
ont in my night cap. 1t was thawing, the
snow was sliding from the roofs, and that in
the streets was melting in the mud. Sorle,
who was turning up orr bed called to me:
cold from the draughti"
But did not listen. laughed as thought:
The rascals have had enough of my old bars
aud rusty nails they have found out that they
fly a good way /; experience is a good thing %
could have stayed there till night to hear
the neig ghbors talk about the clearing away of
the Russians, and those who came from the
ramparts declaring that there was not one to
be seen in the whole region. Some said that
they might come back, but that seemed to me
contrary to reason. 1t was clear that the viii
laips would not quit the country at once, that
they wonid still for long time pillsge the viii
lages, and live on the peasants bnt to believe
that the oncers would excite their men to
take our city, or that the soldiers would be
foolish enough to obey them, never entered my
head.
At last Zeffen came into our room to dress
the children, and shut the window. A good
fire roared III the stove. SorIe made ready our
foat Ia IaffA had har tt1n "
drAs in q basin of warm water.
'Ah, now, If could only hear from Baruch,
it would all be WE'LL" said she.
Little David played on the 1oor with ssfel,
and thanked the Lord for having delivered
us from the scoundrels.
While We we're at breakfast, said to my
wife: ''It has all gone well ! We shall be
shut up for o while until the Emperor has car.
ried the day, but they will not fire upon ms.
they will be satisfied with blockading MS and
bread, wine, meats, and brandiee, will grow
learer. 1t is the right time for us to sell, or
'lse we mig hit fare like the people of Ssmsris
when Ben Hadad besieged their city. There
was great famine, so that the head of ap ASS |
sold for four.score pieces OF silver, and the |
fourth part of cab of doVe's-dung for five
pieces. 1t was good price but still the
merchants were holding back, when q noise of
'hariots aud horses and of great host camo
rom heaven, and made the Syrians escape
W ith Ben Hadad, and after the people had pill
aged their camp, measure of fine flour sold
or only q shekel and two measures of barley
or shekel. So let US try to sell while things
're at reasonable price we must begin in
,ood season."
Sorle assented, and after breakfast / went
Town to the cellar TO go on with the mixing.
Many of the mechanics had gone back to
heir work KlipfePs hammer sounded on his
uvil. Chanoine put back his rolls into his
and Tribolin, the druggist, his bot.
les of red and blue water behind his panes
Confidence was restored everywhere. The
tizen. gunneIs had takeu/off. their uniforms
md the fn fnia
counter the noise of the saw and plane filled |
he house.
Everybody was glad to return to his own
business, for war brings nothing but harm /;
he sooner it il over the better.
AS carried my jugs from onr tun to an
ther, in the cellar, saw the passers-by stop
'efore onr old shop, and heard them say to
sch other, "Moses is going to make his for
une with the brandy these rascals of jews
fways have good scent while we have bsen
elling this mouth past, he has been buying.
ow that we are shut up he can sell at any
rice he pleases."
You can judge whether that was not pleas
mt to hear mans greatest happiness is
o succeed in his business; everybody is oblig-
d to say This man has neither army, nor
nor cannon, he has nothing but his
wn wit, like evory body else; when he suo-
eeds he owes it to himself, and not to the
ourege of others. And then he ruins no one
e does not rob, or steal, or kill while, in
Ear, the strongest crushes the weakest and
ften the best"
30 worked on with great zeal, and would
ave kept on till night if little Safel had not
ONE to call me to dinner. 1 was hungry, and
as going mp stairs, glad in the thought of
lifting down in the midst of my children,
Ehen the call-beat began on the Place d
Armes, before the town-house. Daring o
blockade court martial sits continually at
he mayoralty to try those who do no. answer
o the call. Some of my neighbors were
'lready leaving their houses with their mas
Iets on their shoulders. / had to 20 up very
hastily, aud swallow q little soup, morsel of
neat, aud glass of wine
was very pale. Sorle, Zsffen, and the chil-
rem said not word. The drum corps con-
inned the call to arms it came down the
main street and stopped at last before our
iouse, on the little sqnare. Then 1 ran for
ny cartridge box and musket.
All" said Sorle. "we thought we were 60
ng to have quiet time, and now it is all be-
ginning again"
fen did not speak, but burst into tears.
at that moment old Heymann came in, with
lis old martin skin cap drawn down to the
lape of his neck
For heaven's sake let the women and chill
iren hurry TO the easements! An envoy has
:ome threatening to burn the whole city if the |
ly!'
Imauine he cries { tl, 20, L-: