Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-09-04

4
fellow knew the way. and would take
short cuts over the fields in order To cs'
cape the outposts. But suddenly they
| came upon large body of fsharpshootcrs
| too late to escape them. They were in
| their little cabins, hidden In ditch half
full of water, and cncamped along the
scissors railway. This time, though
| the. large fellow recommended his tear
tul story, they would not let him pass.
| AS he was lamenting, an old sergeant,
white and wrinkled, and who looked
| like old Father Stenne, came out of the
| post guards cabin.
"Well, little ones, don't cry any
more" said he TO the children, "we will
/ let you go after your potatoes, but before
/ you leave. come in and warm yourselves
/ n little. He looks frozen that
smallboy thcrcm
Alas! II was not with cold that little
/ Stcnnc trembled il was from fear, from
shame. In the post-house they
| found some soldiers gathered round n
small fire, a real widows fire, by whose
blaze they were thawing their biscuits
on the end of :her bayonets. They
crowded close together so as to make
room for the children. They gave them
n drop of wine and little coffee.
, While they were drinking, nm officer
came TO the door. called the sergeant,
spoke to him in IA low voice, and then
quickly went away. "BoysW said the
sergeant. rs hc came back radiant,
"thcre will be tobacco tonight.
We have found out the Prussians' pass
word. think this time we will take
back from them that Bourgct.n
Then there followed an explosion OF
braves and laughter. They danced and
sang and swung their sabcrs in the air.
Protiting by the tumult, the children
disappeared. Having passed the breast
work nothing remained to be crossed but
the plain, ut the end of which was
long white wall filled with loop-holcs.
They directed their steps toward this,
stopping every now and then and max
ing believe to look for potatoes Let
Us return; don't 20 any further" little
Stcnnc said all the while, hut the large
one only shrugged his shoulders and
went on. Suddenly they heard the
click of a gun being aimed ut them. "L Lie
down. said the large boy. throwing
himself on the ground. When he was
down lie whistled and another
whistle answered him over the snow,
and they went on, climbing on their
hands and knees. In front OF the wall.
and even with the ground two yellow
mustaches under greasy caps appeared.
and the large boy leapcd into the ditch
beside the PruSsians. THAT is my
brother said he. pointing to his com.
panion. He was so small-little Stcnnc
that on seeing him the Prussians began
TO laugh. and one of them was Obliged
To take him in his arms in order 10 lii
him over the breach.
On the other side of the wall were
large hrCastwurks. fallen trees and black
holes in the snow, and in each one of
these was the same yellow mustachc
and greasy cap, and there was great
laughing - the soldiers saw the chi .drcn
pass hy.
In a corner was a gardeners house.
cascmatcd with the trunks Of trees. the
lower part Of which was full of soldiers,
who were playing cards and making
soup over clear. bright fire. How
good the cabhagcs and the bacon smcit.
and what a difference To the sharp
shooters bivouac! Up stairs were the
officers, and they heard them playing
on the piano and opening champagne
bottles. When the Parisians entered the
room a hurrah of JOY greeted them.
They gave up their newspapers, and the
officers gave them something to drink
and made them talk. They all had
proud. hard look. but the large boy
amused them with his Parisian gaycty
and his gamin slang. They laughed and
repeated his words after him. and seemed
to wallow with delight in the Partisan
mud he brought them.
Little Stennc, too. would have liked
TO have talked and to have proved that
lac was not stupid, but something en-
barra-sed him. Opposite to him, sit
ting apart, was n PTussian, older and
more serious than the others. who was
reading. or rather seeming to read. for
he never took his eyes off little Stcnno /
and there was in his glance both tender I
ness and rcproach. as though this man
might have had a child Of little Stcnne's
age at home, and n If he were Aing to
himself: would rather die -
my son doing such n thing" and
looked at little Stenne the boy fclTas IL
n hand was clutching at his heart and /.
keeping il from beating. To escape the |
anguish he began to drink, and soon
everything turned around him. He
heard vaguely, amid loud laughs. his !
comrade making fun of the National /.
Guards, of their way of going through
their drill. he initiated an assault Of
arms in the Marais, and n surprise Mt
night on the ramparts. Then the large
boy lowered his voice, the officers APP
preached nearer to him and their faces /
grew more solemn. The miserable fcl- !
low was telling them about that nights T.
prcmeditated attack. of which the sharp .
shooters had spoken. Then little Stennp /
rose, furious and completely sobered:
Don't tell that fellow. | won't have /
you"
But the other only laughed and con-
tinued; but before he had finished the |
officers were all on their feet. and one
of them, showing the door TO the chill /
dren, told them to Bcgone" and they
began TO talk hurriedly together in Ger |
man. The large boy left the room as
proud ~ n doge, clinking his money
Little Stenne followed him. holding
down his head. and as he was passing
the Prussian whose look had so dis
turbed him:
Not nice that, not nice,n and the
tears came into his eyes.
Once more IN the plain the children
began to run and return toward Paris
quickly. Their sacks were filled with