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

, |
You can imagine the delight of our gur
ners at seeing this massacre. Tney lifted q
their spoDGes and shouted, "Vive pEmpereur!
The soldiers shouted back from the oovere
ways. aud the air was filled with their cries.
Oar sergeant, with his thirty men, thei
guns on their shoulders, quietly reached th
glao's The barrier was quickly opened TO
them, but the two companies descended to
postern.
Twas waiting for them above.
.b When onr ..nn nse!geant came nPI took bin IT, si
am to see you ont Of danger ~
| WANTED to embrace him. He laughed and
| SO uet zed my band
Then you oaw the engagement, Father
We have shown them what stuff the Fifth ia
made of"
"0h, yes, yes! you have made me tremble "
"BahP" said he, you will q good deal
more oft; it is q mall affair"
The two companies reformed against the
wall of the chemin de Ronde, and the whole
city shouted. "Vive ! Empereurr
midst of the crowd. kept near orr sergeant.
As the detachment was tarHing our corner,
Sorle Zefen, and ssfel called out from the
windows: !" Hnrrah for the veterans Hurrah
The sergeant saw them and made a little
sign to them with his head. As was going
in said to him, " Sergeant, don't forget your
glass of errybrsndy."
Don't worry, Father Noses" said he.
The detachment went on to break ranks at
the Place d'Armes az usual, and 1 went up
home at a quarter to four. / was scarcely in
the room before .ifen, Sorle. and Safel threw
their arms round me as if 1 had come back
from the war little David ofang to my knee
and they oil wanted TO know the news.
l had to tell them about the attack, tho
the routing of the Cosssc'Ss. But
the table was ready. had not had my break
fast, and said, " Let US sit down. You shall
hear the rest by-and- by. Let me take breath"
and set the butt.end of his musket on the floor.
We were going to meet him when We saw @
tuft of red hair on the point of his baycnet,
that made tremble.
her face.
He knew nothing aboat it, and looked to see.
much surprised.
{" That !" said he. +" Oh lit is the beard of
not much Of anything"
He took the musket OF once to his own room;
but we were all horror-stricken, and Zeffen |
,ould not recover herself. Whom the sergeant |
wi tn both her hands before her face.
Ah, Madame Zetfen," said he sadly, " now |
7ou are going to detest mei'
l thought, too, that Zsffen would be afraid |
u him, but women always like these men who |
isk their lives at random. l have seen it q |
,undred times. And Zsffen smiled as she an
wereu No, sergeant, no !; these Cossacks |
'ughe to stay at home and not come and trou bic |
lsl You protect us-we love you very much!'
l persuaded him to break fast with US, and |
ended by his opening window, and calling
mt to some soldiers passing by to give notice
It the cantine that Sergeant Trubert was not |
coming to bre1 kfast.
So we were all calmed down, and seated our
elves at the table. Sorle went down TO get q
'ottle of good wine, and we began to eat our
breakfast.
We had coffee, too, and Zeffen wanted to
'our it out herself for tho sergeant. He was
delighted - Madame Il fen, SAID he, you load
ne with kindness" !"
While he was taking his cherry brandy, the
ergeant told US all about the attack in the
light; the way in which the Wurtemburg
roops had stationed themselves at La Roulette,
low it had been necessary to disodge them
q they were forcing open the two large gates,
he arrival of the Cossacks at day break, and
md tho sending ont two companies to fire at
hem.
He told all this so we'll that we could almost
hink wesaw it. But about eleven o'clock, as
took up the bottle to pour ont another glass
oil. he wiped his mou stache and said, as he rose:
No, Father Moses we have something to do
'esides taking our ease and enjoying oursel yes;
O. morrow or next day the shell will be COM
ng it is time to 20 and screen the garrett"
We all became sober at these words.
I" Let us see" said he; 81 have seen in your
ourt some long logs OF wood which have not
'een sawed, and there are three or four large
eams against the wall. Are we two strong
nough to carry them upH Let us tryi"
He wac going to take off his cap at once
ut as the beams were very heavy, told him
0 wait and would run for the two Car abins,
licolas, who was called the Greyhound, and
faiths, the wood sawyer. They came at once.
eing used to heavy work, they carried
p the timber. They had brought their saws
nd axes with them; the sergeant made them
aw the beams, so as to cross them above in the
hape of D sentry-box. He worked himself
ike regular carpenter, and Sorle, Zeffsn, and
looked on. AS 1t took some time, my wife
nd daughter went down to prepare supper,
nd went down with them, to get o lar tern
or the workingmen.
l was going up again very quietly. never
linking of danger, when suddenly, riHhtful
oise. kind of terrible rumbling, passed
lorg the roof, and almost made me drop my
Antern.
The two Carabus turned pale and looked at
aoh other.
1t is q ball " said the sergeAnt.
At the same time D lond sound Of cannon
u the distance as heard in the darkness
lhad a terrible feeling in my stomach, and l
hopght to myself, "Sinoe one ball has passed,
here may be two, three, four!"
My strength was all gone. The etwo Carabins
doubtless thought the same, for they took down
It once their waistcoats, which were hanging
IN the gable to go away.
Wait + said the sergeynt. at ia nothing
4et us keep at our Hork-it is going on we'll.
& will he done in Au hour more"