Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-03-15

loaueu IL, ana prepared 10 take aim. IN
doing this l made some noise which
alarmed the thief, he started, listened,
rose from his knees and looked around,
but saw nothing. Not satisfied with that
he walked right round the heap where l
lay, at only few yards dist ,nce. You
may swear did not make any noise
then. l even breathed as lightly as 1
could. He saw-he heard nothing, so
with his confidence restored, he went
back to finish his work. With that
lifted my musket-but il you should try
to lift your muskst to your shoulder to
take aim with your left arm shattered,
yeu will find it very awSward thing to
do.
"Instinct-tho instinct Of a veteran, SEQ
you-told me that, so did not try, but
rested my musket on the body of dead
comrade, and took good aim--very good
you may be sure, for my life depended
on it-fred- when, bang! his battles
were all over, as the Captain had said OF
himself; he leaped up flung out his arms,
and tell dead.
This raised my spirts-it somehow
seemed a good omen to mo that sheuld
escape. But how9 Ali! | did not SEQ
that. | returned to where | had buried
tho Captain in the snow-dug him out
tried all could to lift him again on to
my shoulder, but could not do because Of
my broken arm. While l was endeav-
oring to raise him, my pulling him about
revived him. AT first he did not under
stand how things were, but soon recol-
lecting himself, he said with as strong n
veice as he could, though that was very
weak:
80 What, corporal, you here stil9 Am
I then not to be obeycdY Did not tell
YET to leave me and join your company?
Why, if these things are allowed, there
will soon be no dicpline in the army! IF
l live. you shall be soundly punished
you shall, on the word Of Captain Tetu."
"This porsistency of his ispeased me,
so replied to him more sharply than l
should:
ma )oi! captain, if you are going to
be so obstinate, Manchot will initiate
you, or he is not Il corporal in tho Grand
Army. lfyou stay here, he stays too, so
say no moro about it; what have said
| W i'll do
"'He looked offended, but said nothing
poor fellow, he could not not, for he soon
became insensibe again. Night was now
fast coming on, so went and gathered ns
many cloaks as | could-alasi there was
no scarcity Of them and wrapped him in
them.
at was well haG finished Off the Cos.
sack. for found on him flask of BRAN
dy, which he had evidently taken from
ono of our officers, and some bread.
Returning to ihe captain. poured n
little Of the spirits down his throat, which
revived him; then made him eat and
drink. and took come bread and brandy
myself. twas now dark, and thcrs was
nothing for il but to wait till morning, to
sac what chat would bring forth. knew
the rear guard Of the army was not pass
ed, and had some hopes that we IN light be
picked up by them.
Never shall forget the fearful hor-
ror Of that night. 1t never ceased to
snow. The cold seemed to pierce into
ones very vitals, and freeze up the mar
row in our bones, and tho blood in the
heart. Nothing was to be heard but the
growing of the wolves and the gnashing
of their jaws as they gorged themselves
on the plentiful banquet which lay around
l felt that the frost was gradually master,
ing me, and that il would soon numb all
my limbs. / was certain that could
not hold out much longer, SO, recalling
the few simple old prayers which l had
learnt from the good cure when | was a
boy, fell Oh my knees and repeated
them. This seemed to give me new
strength.
depend upon it, children, there is
nothing " Ill SO revive man as prayer.
What, young wiseacro, you are sneering
at that, are your You think | am very
feo lish, do you? VOL, wait till you have
gone through as much as l have. and
faced death and danger as often, and per-
haps you will think as do. By the
time had finished my prayers morning
began to dawn. The snow had ceased
for little. Through tho dimness OF the
early dawn / saw group Of French Off
GERS at little distance. To draw their
attention l shouted as loudly as l could
and jumped up. They drew near.
"'Hallol how is this? Why are you
not with the army2 said short, deter
mined looking man, dressed in light
gray overcJat lined with fur.
"Yes young hope Of your country, it
,Oas the Emperor, and do not expect
France will ever again give you such a
General to Eight under. 1t WcS the En-
peror, but did not know it. He was the
last man l shou Id have expected to see
there. SO | replied:
"'Why am l not with tho army!
Look ers'-pointing to the Captain and
my arm-'with this more, and this less,
how could be? / wish with al my
heart was there instead OF here
"Sire'-Ah! then knew it was the
Emperor, that bravest ofthe brave, that
truest Of the true, that wisest of the wise.
| did not know what to do or say, SO l
gave him the salute as well as my be-
numbed and stiffened limbs would allow
Sire said one of the suite, Il saw this
man yesterday carrying an officer on his
back