The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-05-09
LII Hl444l4t>
LORY, THE ALSkTlAN,
Translated from me French.

IronSs3VQ from ne rr0OCn
Lory, Tie back smith Of Santc- Marie
aux Mines, Vas not in good humor that
night. He WAS vexed and ill tempered.
Usually when the forge fires were out,
and the sun had set, he sat on the bench
in front OF lis door and enjoyed the pleas
ant fatigue CAUSED by honest work and
the heat OF the day. Before Diminishing
his appr, ntices he would drink with Them
long Graugh's OF cool beer, while the
factory hands passed, going from their
work. That night the Old man remained
at his forge ill 1t WIS time to take his
seat at the table, and while he fingered
no longer. he seemed to go unwilingiv.
Looking at him, his wife thought:
"What has happened to him? Perhaps he
has bad new rom the regiment, ana dare
not tell mel Perhaps Christian is il!'
She dir d not ak - hat the trouble was
but busted herse f in keeping quiet the
three little blonde heads that chartered
around the table, while munching their
radlshes and cream.
At last the blacksmith put away his
plate in anger:
"Ah. the wretches! All, the scoun-
drels!r
"What now, Aory, with whom are you
angryl'
"Wirh five or six scoundrels," lie
burst out, -" who have been going about
town since morning. in French uniforms,
and walking arn-in- arm with the Bava-
rains. Some more of those who have
what No they call it, chosen Prussia
for their country; and to think that every
H. "a.
ing. What drink did they brew ,hems'
But think, Lory, poor children; it is
not quite their tault They are sent to
such di,tance-Algeria, in Africa. They
are homesick out yonder, and what n
strong temptation it is to return to In, ir
native land and be soldiers no longer.
Lory struck the table with his clenched
nst
Hush. mother! You women don t
understand Forever living with children.
and tor them alone, you II. axe every thing
small enough to fit your babies. Now
tell you these men are scoundrels
egades-.he West of towards; aid il our
Christian were capable of such infamv,
IS sure rs my name is George Lnry. and
tina. served seven years in the Chasseurs
of Fr, ncc, would run my swold through
his bodyw
In his excitement, half raising himself
from his seat, the blacksmith pointed to
his saher hanging ON the wall above the
portrait of his son, q zouave, painted in
Africa. There was the honest Alsa-
tian face, swarthv and bronzcd by the
sun, the surroundings, whitcned ard
sottened rs brilliant coiors ara by high
light. The si:ht Gained him suddenly
and he laughed at himself.
81 am good one to worry myself in
this way-as though our Christian would
think tor moment of turning Prussian
he who brought down SO many during
the war.
His good humor being restored by this
thought, he gayiv finished his dinner and
then went to La Vile de Strasbourg, to
drain a couple OF glasses OF beer.
Now Mother Lory is alone. After hav-
ing put the babies to bed (they a'e still
heard in the next room, prattling like =
nest of young birds going to s:eep). she
gets her work and begins to mend, sitting
in the garien just outside the doorway.
Firm time 10 time she signs and thinks ::
Yes. | suppose fer they are towards
and renegades, but nevertheless their
mothers are very happy to have them re-
turn" She remembers the time when
her son, before he lett for the army. WAS
on that spot at the very same hour of the
gay. stsending to the little garden. She
looks at the we'll where he filled his water
ing pots. in his blouse, his long hair on
his shouiders-the beautiful, bright hair
that was cut off when he joined the
souaves Suddenly she starts. The door
in the Garner OF the garden wall, which
opens into the fields, is open. Still, he
who enters creeps along the wall like a
thief. and slips between the trees and
beehivss.
"Motnerr'
Her Christian stands before her, his
uniform disorierea, shamefaced. contus-
Cd, and with thick utterance. He had
returned with the Others, aud fol the past
hour had hung about the mouse waiting
for his father to 60 out before he dared
1Oventure in
6hs should scold hin, but shs cannot.