Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-04-19
Gales ana Skettbes.
EASTER EGGS.
Continued from Yesterday

color?"
"Niolet, answered.
"Ah, sad color. She must have
guessed | was sorrowful.'
mo she did not guess it /: but think You
should write to her and tell her. Reflect
what a shock your misfortune will be to
her, to your mother. to all, if YOU do not
let them hear of il before you return home.
The Sergeant tells me you will get your
discharge very shortly. will write let
ter willingly for you, if You like. :
He consented to my proposition with a
wistful smile. and, writing materials be
ing procured, he dictated as follows. |
put down word for word what he said al
tering nothing. At our end of the long.
obscure room we were quite alone, the
other patients, with kindly tact, keeping
away from us Here is the letter of the
poor blind soldier:
MY DEAR FIFINE: | thank Won with
my whole heart for your Easter gift; it
came to me as the leaves come in May
when the sun makes a sudden Summer,
and Winter and frost vanish. For. my
dear Fiine, am very sad a great msfor
tune has befallen me. | was ut work here
on the new Notifications, when Il mine we
had made to blow up great rock ex-
ploded too soon, and and six other men
were badly hurt. Fifine, dear friend the
hurt Tell upon my eyes, and ! am blind.
The doctors say that, with care and rest.
| may see again one day; but the good of
God knows; have no hope of that myself
1 am useless now us a soldier. so nv Colo
mel has sent to Brussels for my discharge,
and it is expected every day. Fifne,
shall come home with a sad heart. because
my father is poor man, and fear | shall
he q burden to him all my life long sit
through the weary day upon my bed,
thinking and wondering what | shall do
not to be a burden. NV poor mother is
getting old and feeble | thought to help
her-l thought TO work for her; but all
that is over now, and can only say. may
the Gods will be donei
''Fifine, my dear, because | write this
to you, do not think make any claim on
you, or wish to hold You 10 that promise
You made me so long ago. No; hope |
am not SO wicked. | shall never see your
dear face again; but when you give your
self to some happier man, he will let me
take your hand and kiss your cheek, and
bless you with my whole heart And, I'M
til die, you will be my sole and only love
upon the earth There, | will not say any
more of this, because you have a kind
heart, and | should ring it if told YOU all
my heavy thoughts as brood in darkness
over my happiness gone. Fiine, when |
took your present i'll my hand. and heard
your message, | felt you still love me but
that does not hinder that we must part,
my dearest am only IA blind burden,
helpless drag-not a man who can work
for wife and bring a blessing to, his
home. If Henri Lefevre still cares for Won
| will try to take him by the hand, and
wish him and you joy. will, indeed, Fl
fine
MY dear love, will YOU 90 to my poor
mother, and break to her the news of my
blindness as gently as you can?
DO not tell mother the news all at once
relate it to her little by little, and try chief
ly to make her think of the JOY | shall
have in coming home, and being blind. |
scarcely know yet how / shall manage to
accomplish the journey. Perhaps | Shall
find comrade going nv way. who will
charge himself for little time with the
care of poor plind man.
am glad Mere Nigneron's rheumatism
Is better. Give my respects to her, and to
all friends. Present my duty to father and
mother and embrace my mother for me
on both cheeks, | am pleased Farmer
Rodiere has new cow. | send nv re-
spectful homage to all at your home. and
subscribe myself. my dear Fifine, your
devoted servant and friend.
FELIx RoUssEL."
"P. S.-Stroke Blanchette for me. Is |
the rye coming up finely this Spring? All
fifine. ! shall not help your father to reap
it as ! did two years ago. Do not grieve
abotN me doubtless things will 90 hap
PLY for me when am once more among
you all. Always thine
"FELIv."
On finishing this, babe the poor soldier
adieu, and, after posting his letter, went
straight to call on the Colonel of his repi- |
ment. From him | ascertained that Felix |
Roussel's discharge was not expected from
the authorities OF Brussels for another
week. | was glad to hear this, as it would |
give me time to 90 on to Louvain and con
clude the business had in hand there, and |
on my return would hire vehicle and
drive the poor soldier home TO Saint H. |
laire myself
My business detained me a dav or two |
longer than | expected, but still had no |
thought of being disappointed in seeing
Felix Coussel when drove up to the hos. |
pital and asked for him He has gone
sir, he left two days ago
with whom ?-how ?''
ION foot. A young woman, apparently
relative. was with him."
This was all knew. And | drove on
TO the barracks, trusting my friend. the
Flemish Sergeant, would be able to en- |
Tighten me further. But he was away on
long march, and was fain to leave
Liege in ignorance of all details respecting
the poor soldiers departure. And now.
having no longer the hope of his company.
renowned my intention of driving home
by the billy road between Leige and
Marche, but chose the pleasanter way OIL
going to Namur by railroad, and thence
up the Meuse by steamer to Dinant. At
this picturesque town, hired Il species of
tilbury, with a stout Ardennais pony. and
drove steadily on through the lovely seen
cry which lies between the Meuse and the
Ardennes.
From hill to hill, over long, straight
roads. poplarlined, went but slowl
half wearying OF my loneliness till on a
bridge. at the foot of a steep ascent. drew