The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-03-20

1t IS cold here. Lead the way"
goP"
"To be sure WILL
this?'
Not without your consent"
"Then follow me-"
Thus speaking the youth turned and
started on.
"Are you acquainted with this
roadP' the old man asked.
Every inch of it," was the reply.
Then go ahead and pick out the
best path, and can get along faster"
At the end of about twenty minutes
they topped a little hill, and the lights
could be seen in the village of St. Ger
vais; but before they reached the vii
lage the guide turned off to the right
into narrow lane, and finally came to
small hut which the youth said
was his home. He opened the door
and went in, and the old man fol-
lowed him. There was only one room,
and that had a floor of clay. In the
fire place burned few faggots, while
close by were heaped q lot more
boughs, twigs and stuff such as might
be dragged out of the swamp close by.
In an old arm chair sat an elderly
female with her hands folded in her
lap, and close by her was cat. The
woman's face could be seen by the
glimmer of the fire, and it was thin
haggard and pale. She looked up as
her boy entered and in a feeble tone
asked:
"Did We find it, PierreP''
81 hope so mother. A kind soldier
has come home with me and he will
help u.s."
The old lady started up and gazed
around. She saw the stranger and
look of.hope rested upon her features.
Haven't We lightP" asked the
stranger.
No-only the fire." answered the
boy.
"Then We'll have a better one," the
soldier said. Give a candle in my
haversack, and bit of food, too"
As he spoke he sat down in chair,
the only other one in the room, and
having unslung his haversack he over
hauled the contents until he came to
the candle. This he gave to Pierre and
babe him light it. An old wooden can
dlestick was found and the candle was
soon burning. The soldier could now
see the faces of his hostess and her son
more plainly. The former was mild
looking, full-browed woman, with a
prayerful cast of countenance, and must
have once been extremely beautiful.
She was certainly fifty years of age, for
her hair was very gray and time had
been busy with its indelible touches.
Her son was not over nineteen, and was
q handsome youth. He was pale and
wan now; but his brow was full, his
eyes large, dark and brilliant.
"You suffer muchp" said the soldier,
addressing the hostess.
every much" she returned. 81
have been very sick, but l am getting
better now. Yet my sickness has eaten
up everything we had, and my noble
boy has sacrificed 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 a rich man to beg,
and he was kicked"
claimed the youth, quickly. &C. He did
not dare to do that. He said he would
kick me if came there again"
"But are there not others who would
help your" asked the old man.
"They might" returned Pierre; "but
the sou-prefect of police swore that he
would send me off if he caught me beg
cling again. What could do. STRIP
"But the sou-prefect is a villain!
What does he mean?"
"He is angry with me. He wanted
me in the harvest time to work for him
for five sous day, and wouldn't. be-
cause q better man gave me fifteen
SOUS"
"He is perfect villain. But come
we'll eat something. My old haversack
has something else in it besides candles.
don't travel without something to
guard against the danger of being be-
nighted in the wood"
As he spoke he pulled a loaf of bread
and piece of cold boiled beef from his
old provision bag, and then made the
mother and son eat. He assured them
that he had eaten hearty supper, and
that he had money to buy more, so with
out further ceremony they began the
meal-the first they had eaten since the
morning of the day before, save the lit.
tie milk which they were able to get
from one old goat which they yet re-
tanned.
Tears stood in the old soldiers eyes
as he sat and saw the boy and his moth
er eat, and when they were done they
turned and blessed him. The woman
seemed much revived, and as her son
put some more faggots upon the fire,
she turned and spoke to her guest. Her
voice trembled as she spoke, and tears
were in her eyes.
"You are soldierp" she said.
EYES," the old man replied, turning
his gaze upon the fire instead of upon
his questioner.
"Have you been long in the armyp"
Eighteen years"
Perhaps you have been in African"
81 have"
"Whom did you serve underP"
Colonel Pelissier."
"Then you may have known Fran
co.'s Cholletp"
And as the woman said this she wiped
her eyes with her apron.
Corporal Cholletp To be sure l