The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-02-21


one room, and that had a floor of clay.
In the fireplace burned a few faggots,
while close by were heaped lot more
boughs, twigs, and stuff such as might
be dragged out Gf the swamp close by.
LII an old armchair sat an elderly female
with her hands folded IN her lap, and
close by her was cat. The woman +
face could be seen by the glimmer Of the
fire, and it was thin, haggard and pale.
She looked mp as her boy entered. and
III a feeble tone asked:
Did We find it, Pierre ?"
II hope SO, mother. 4 kind soldier
has come home with me, and he Will
help us.
The old lady started up and gazed
around. She saw the stranger, and a
look OF hope rested upon her features.
" Haven't We a light 2" asked the stran-
"No-only the fire, answered the
boy.
"Then wen have a better one" the
soldier said. =" I've candle in my hay
ersack, aud a bit OF food, too
As he spoke he sat down in a chair,
the only other one in the room, and hav-
ing unslung his haversack he overhauled
the contents until he came to the candle.
This he gave to Pierre and babe him
hight Il. An old wooden candlestick was
found aud the candle was soon burning.
The soldier could now see the faces Of
his hostess and her son more plainly.
The former was a mIld-lOOking. full
brOwed woman, with a prayerful cast Of
conntenance, 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 a handsome youth.
tie was pale and wan now, but his brow
was full, his eyes large, dark and bril-
liant
You suffer much :" SAID the soldier.
the hostess.
. Very much, she returned 4 have
been very sick, but | 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, be can't find work
now to do. The crops are all garuered
and the barns closed. Yesterday he went
to the house OF nch man to beg. and
he was Kicked"
g No, no, mother-not kicked = ex-
claimed the youth, quickly. 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 you?" asked the old man
They might, returned Pierre;
. but the sou-prefet II police swore that
he would have me sent off if he caught
me begging again. What could l DO.
sir ?"
But the sou-prefet is a villain What
does he mean"
He Is angry with me- He wanted
me III the harvest-time to work for him
for five sous day. and | wouldn't be-
cause better man gave me fifteen sous. -
: He Is a perfect villain. But come
veil eat something. My old haver8ack
has something else in il besides candles.
| don't travel without something to
guari against the danger Of being be
ulghted III the wood.
As he spoke hc pulled loaf Of bread
and a 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 q hearty supper, and
that he had money to buy more, so with
OFT further ceremony they began the
meal-the first they had eaten since the
morning 81 the day before, save the little
milk which they were able TO get from
one old goat which they yet retained
Tears stood in the old soldiers eyes as
he sat and saw the boy and his mother
eat, and whom they were done they turn
81 ail' DIesS'l MN. me woman seem
ed ln'lcn revived, ana aS uer son put
some more taggots upon the FIRE, she
turned, and spoke to her guest. Her
voice frgmhied rs she spoke, and tears
"ef1 Ia her ay@1.
10" are 7oiQlet sh" sald.
g me olG man f'Plleo' turning
~ 7 8'17 ''i''ll 'i'e llle ll'S'''''' OF upon
tlltt you peeh long III Tue army
EAGnteeh wears.
Ptrhhps You nave heen IN Africa
laVt.
" hom dId You serve under
colonel teilSSler.
~, men You may have known francois
holI9t:
ana a. ti.t Woman S,'id 'Iii7 sue "IPeo
iler eyes Win mr. u, apron
Corporal Choliet 10 he sure l
knew nm; Aye-alld a me fellow he
""7 100. l'l' You ever hi!o" nun
le9' SI. flv--lit-- ana mere n
P"sNlohat" h2od % tears lnSeII '3te't llef;
h5lt hhauE she coNcluded ne vs. my
I',9',alld.
Ava" va. NJ; "ot L I''n'o'7 JUS
~ -, " S'''' l"iS
ne woman starred tAb jalu on' % ntt