The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-04-17

"Did ye find it, Pierre2
81 hope so, mother. A kind soldier has
come with me, and he will help us"
The old lady started up and gazed around
She saw the stranger, and look of hope
rested upon her features.
"Haven'tye lighl2' asked the stranger.
"No-only the FIRE, answered the boy
"Then we'll have better one" the sol
dier said. Il have candle ia my hayer-
sack, aud bit Of food, too"
As he spoke he sat down 10 a chair the
only other one 10 the room, and having
unsluug his hayersack he oYerhauled the
contents until he came to the candle.
This he gave to Pierre and bade him light
it, An old wooden candlestick was found
aud the candle was soon burning. The
soldier could now see the faces Of his host.
Oss and her son more plainly. The former
was mild-Iookiug, full.browed woman,
with prayerful cast of countenance, and
must have once been extremely beautiful.
She was certainly fifty years of age, for
her hair was very gray, aud time had been
busy with its indelibe touches. Her son
was not over nineteen, and was a hand.
some youth. He was pale and wan now
but his brow was full, his eyes, large, dark
and brilliant.
"You suffer much r. said the soldier ad.
dressing the hostess.
Every much, she returned. 81 have
been very sick, but am getting better
now. Yet my sickness has eaten up every
thing we had, and my noble boy has sub
scribed all his earnings; and worse than
all else, he can't find work now to do.
The crops are all garnered and the barns
closed. Yesterday he went to the house
Of rich man to beg, and he was Kicked
"No, no, mother-not kickedW ex-
claimed the youth, quickly. ale did not
dare do that lie said he would kick mc
IL came there again"
"But are there no Others who would help
you2" asked the old man.
"They might" returned Pierre, but the
sou prefeet Of police swore he would have
me sent of if he caught me begging again.
What could do, sir?"
"But the sou. project is villain What
does he mean p
sic is angry with me. He wanted me
10 the harvest time 10 work for him for
Eve sous a day, because a better man gave
me fifteen sous,
"He is perfect villain. But come
wen eat something. My old haversack
has something else in il besides candles
| don't travel without something to guard
against the danger of being benightcd iu
the woods"
As he spoke he pulled loaf Of bread
aud piece Of cold boiled beef from biz
old provision bag, and then made the
mother and son eat He assured then
that he had eaten hearty supper, aud h'
had money TO buy more, so without furthel
ceremony they began the mcal--the frs
they had eaten since the morning Of til,
day before, save the milk which they wer,
able to get from one old goat which the,
had retained.
Tears stood 10 the old soldiers eyes a
he sat aud saw tho boy aud his mother eat
aud when they were done they turned aD'
blessed him. The woman seemed much re
yived, aud us her son put some more fag
gots upon the FIRE, she turned aud spoke
to her guest. Her voice trembled as shi
spoke, and tears were 10 her eyes.
"You are soldier ?" she said.
ayes the old man replied, turning BIZ
gaze upon the fire instead Of upon hi
questioner.
"Have you been long in the army?"
Eighteen years"
Perhaps you have been in Africa y
IL have.
"Whom did you serve uGlcr?"
Colonel Pelissier."
"Then you may have known Francoi
Chollet ?"
And as the woman said this, she wipet
her eyes with her apron.
Corporal Ci.ollet2 To be sure knew
him. Aye-and n fine fellow he was, too
Did you ever know him?'
"Yes, sir. IIe--he-p aud here a pas
sionate food Of tears interrupted her; bu
finally she concluded-"he was my hus
band"
"Ah--was he2 Poor Francois Hi
was sad fate r.
The woman started aud laid one Of he
hands upon the soldiers arm. The tear,
ceased flowing aud her lips were closed.
"Thcn he is dead ?" she whispered.
"No-I guess not"
"Not dead Francois alive. Do VOL
know this2" she cried.
II am sure il. He was sadly wound
ed and lost leg--as | have done. II,
was taken prisoner aud kept long while
too, and that Is the reason why he di,
not come home with his regiment. Blu
how long since have you seen him r.
Fifteen years, sir, He sailed iron
Marsailles with the first that went TO AL
giers. But where is he now? Wher
did you soc him last y
"lle landed at Toulon with me"
80 God bless you, sir! And he viii
como to me soon. Did you leave hin
thereg''
"No. He started on with me.
"Started on 2 But wherc--where al,
you leave him y
"The last | saw him was in small hu
where he had called to pass tho night
But, you see, have come OF with hi
crutch and staff, so should't wonder
he had to stop where be is, for some time.
"0--how could you, sir But you di,
not know that he had waiting, weepiu,
vile to whom he would 20 p
| "Simply because we were ono aud san,
person.
"0ne--both--you--n
~ am Francois Chollct."
The woman started to her feet and hay
ing gazed one moment into the soldier
face, she sank upon his bosom and wept
Pierre was upon his legs 10 an instant, ap,
on the next was BY his fathers side. HI
forgot for the moment his expedition upol
the highway, and only realized that hi
father had returned Ho remembere,
well when that father took him upon hi
knees fifteen years before and kissed him
and be remembered, too, how long the bi,
tears had rolled down fathers cheeks.
But the husband and the father was a
home once more, and If he had returne,
With his body maimcd, he had brough
1 n. n. a