Sharp County record., 1878-01-11

we, bOurgeOiSP | have TWO SehIlellleh
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. l
was greatly surprised at this sudden
sweetness of temper, and to get at the
explanation of the phenomenon L stayed
on the seat with the old fellow. He
carefully covered my knees with the
robes.
"Coco is brave horse" said l, by
way ofingratiating myself.
dyes, 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?"
"Two little girls, sir. A tive-year-
old, that lis Jeanette; a good little
club, fat and merry. The other is only
three: she is weaker, but 50 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 | haven't heard a
word from them. The dear babies,
what has become of them? The older
one knew already all the songs of my
regiment-for |, too, bourgeois, | have
been soldier. The little one used to
come in at the chorus. At night, when [
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
cet me; children have such short mem
cries, you know. If you liked, bour-
geois. you could do me great service" "
"What is that?n
81 should like to send a little pres
ent to my little folks. [ have bought
two dolls for their New Years, and if
you could, with your influence at head
quarters, get my parcel carried along"
1.-The devil! That's easier said than
done; but we'll see what we can do"
When we got to the station, [ sought
out the sailor to make the trip. He was
sleeping quietly in corner, wrapped in
woolen blanket. There was courage
for youl 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 here he is, sleeping as
/ TRANQUILITY as child. l have some diff
fculty, 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. Jeannette 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.
I The sailor put the little box in his
knapsack, and tied the bouquet in the
top OF the boat then, at signal from
NJ, 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, did
not happen to know of them.