The daily gazette., 1879-11-21
The Song Of the Pear Tree.
rRon TIE rHrxcn OF PAUL vERA1.

There stood at the end Of the village
large pear tree In the spring-tims IL be-
came beautiful mass Of flowers. The
house of the farmer vas on the side Of
the road 1t had . portal Of stone simi-
lar to that of q chateau. The daughter
Of the sarmer was called Perrne.
We we're good friends. Since whom ?
All who knows ?-for sm ignorant.
She was sixteen. What a dear little
heart beat under her blue bodice, en-
broidered with black velvstl What
roses on her cheekl How brilliant her
laughing eyes, when from her window
she sang to me
meeting under the pear, to talk VI our
ma riage.
Under the pear tree there was Aresn
grass. In no other place could you find
grass so sweet and fine 70 sigh Oh,
and repeat those words that are said
hundred times, yet are always new.
she laughed with Ill her heart. "Per-
rine, my PerIine, when will you marry
me-"
Everything about her laughed-h"r
caressing haIr whi.h played with the
wind, her round waist, the little red
shoe which peeped forth from its hiding
place, her hands which lowered the
pendant brauch Of hawthorn to inhale
the perfume of Its flowers, her pure and
joyous face, her pear-like teeth between
her red lips.
"Ah. how loved her!
When the conscription come / burned
awax taper to the Virgin. The thought
Of leaving Perrine, Of going far away
from her, perchance never to return,
stilled my heart. Praise be to Ste. Ma
rie! l drew the highest number. But
Jean, my foster brother, fell = victim to
fate.
found him weeping, saying: "My
mother! my poor mother!"
"Console thyself, Jean; am an or
phan." He would not believe me when !
said TO him. 81 will 60 for thee. "Perrine
came under the pear tree; her eyes were
wet; never before had l seen her weep:
but her tears were more lovely than her
smiles.
She gave me her cheek to kiss, and
whispered softly: "Go, my Pierre, l will
wait for you."
Right, left, right, left, drums beating
For~ ard, march. Thus we went lo
Wagram. Pierre, be firm! There is the
enemy! A line OF fire Is visible-five
hundred cannon speak at the same tiine
smoke oppresses the lungs, and the feel
slip on bloOd-staiLed ground. was
afraid and thought Of the past.
The past was France, the village and
the pear tree, on which the flowers were
now fruit. l shut my eyes and saw
Perrlne praying for me. Prase be Il
God! l am brave again! Forwarc
march! right, left! Fire! Charge bayo-
n is! All, ah, how well he does, the con
script!
Young man, what is thy name?"
'Sire, am called PIERRE"
"Pierre, make you Lieutenant"
Perrine, oh, my Perriuei Lieutenant
IL Is FEAST lay OF battles To rise In al
army is but to put one foot before th'
other. Right, left.
ais 1t still thou, Pierre?'
Eyes, your Majesty"
Take an epaule.te."
There were plenty on the shoulders o
the dead.
"Sirs, thank youl' And now for
ward to Moscow-but not further
through great plai MS Of snow is rout'
marked by corpses; here tho river, ther'
the enemy-on both sides death
"Who placed In line the first bridge7
~, sire"
always thou, Captain"
He gave me the cross Of . cheva
lier.
Perrine, my Perrine, thou will b.
proud Of me. The campaign Is finished
have my leave. Sound the chimes. tb'
bells for our marriag-l The road y
long, but hope travels fast. Already
see the country; behind that moantain n 1
the valley. l recogn,zs the bell ringer
He is ringing.
He is iinging. But the pear tree.
The month OF flow ers is here, but SCI
not the fragrant mass. Bef,re it wa
visible from afar. They had cut 1owI
he tree of our young tendern-ss L
had lis flowers, it, flowers SO gay, bu
its branches were Btrewn about the
grass.
"Why do you ring, MathieuY"
"For a wedding, captain"
Matthew no longer rememb bers me.
A ~e1dinl! He spoke truly. The col
pie came down the steps of the church
The biide was Perrine; my Perrlne
irughlng, and mere lovely than ever.
Jean, my brother, was the bride
groom.
Around me the good people said: The!
love each other.
"But Pierre?" a. ked.
"What Pierre?" they answered me.
They hal forgotten.
L threw myself on my knees in the
church. l prayed ter Perrine and pray
ed for Jean-all tina t had loved. tn
mass finished, picked up flower frou
he pear tree, "A poor, dead flower, an'
retraced my route without looking be
hind me.
Praise be to God! they love each 9th
er, they Will be- happy.
"You have returned, Pierrs?"
"Yes, Sire"
"You are twenty-five years Of age, 20,
are commander and chevalier. II 20
wish, will give you as your wife
countess of my court"
Pierre pulled from his breast the dea
flower picked from the felled pear tree
"Sire, my heart If like that. 1 wish
post in the advance guard that l may di
bravely."
He had a position In the advanc
guard. Praise be to Godl At the end ,
, Of the village there is tomb Of cole
: mel, dead at twenty-five years, on da