Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-02-05

encamped along the scissors railway.
This time, though the large fellow COM
menced his fearful story, they would
not let him pass. AS he was lamenting
an old sergeant, white and wrinkled,
and who looked like old Father Stenne,
came out of the post guards cabin.
"Well little ones don't cry any more!"
said he to the children, eve will let you
90 after your potatoes, but before you
leave come in and warm yourselves
little. He looks frozen, that small
boy there"
Alas! 1t was not with cold that little
Stenne ,trembled, it was from fear,
from shame. In the post house
they found some soldiers rourd
small fire, real winters fire by whose
blaze they were thawiDg their biscuits
on the ends Of their bayonets. They
crowded close together so as to make
room for the children. they gave them
a drop of wine and a little coffee. While
they were drinking an officer came to
the door and called the sergeant, spoke
to him in a low voice, and then quickly
went away. Boys" said the sergeant,
as he came back radiant, "there will be
tobacco tonight. We have found
out the Prdssian's pass word. think
this time we will take back from them
that d Bourget!"
Then there followed an explosion of
braves and laughter. They danced and
swung their sabres in the air. Profting
by the tumult, the children disappear
ed. Having passed the breastwork,
nothing remained to be crossed but the
plain, at the end of which was. a long
white wall, filled with loop-holes.f They
directed their steps toward this, stop
ping every now and then, and making
believe to look for potatoes.
LET us return. Don't go any far
ther," little Stenne said all the while,
but the large one shrugged his shout
ders and went on. Suddenly they heard
the click of q gun being aimed at
them.
Gle down." said the large boy, throw
ing himself on the ground. When he
was down he whistled, and another
whistle answered him over the snow,
and they went on, climbing on their
hands and knees. In front of the wall,
and even with the ground, two yellow
moustaches under greasy caps appear
ed, and the large boy leaped into the
ditch beside the Prussians.
"That is my brother" said he, point
ing to his companion. He was SO small,
little Stenne, that on seeing him, the
Prussians began to laugh, and one of
them was obliged to take him in
his arms, ia order to lift him over the
breach.
On the other side of TIE wall were
large breastworks, fallen trees and black
holes in the snow, and in each one of
these was the same yellow moustache
and greasy cap, and there was great
laughing as the soldiers saw the child
pass by.
In a corner was a gardeners house,
casemated with the trunks of trees, the
lower part of which was full of soldiers,
who were playing cards and making
SOUP over clear, bright fire. How good
the cabbages and the bacon smelt, and
what difference to the sharp-shooters'
bivouac Up stairs were the officers,
and they heard them playing on the
piano and opening champagne bottles.
When the Parisians entered the room a
hurrah of joy greeted them. They gave
up their newspapers and the officers
gave them som ething to drink and made
them talk. They all had proud, hard
look, but the large boy amused them
with his Partisan gayety and his gamin
slang.
Little Stenne, too, would have liked
to have talked and to prove that he was
not stupid, but something embarrassed
him. Opposite to him, sitting apart, was
Prussian, older and more serious than
the others, who was reading, or rather
seemed to read, for he never took his
eyes off little Stenne, and there was in
his glance both tenderness and reproach,
as though this man might have had q
child of little Stenne's age at home. and
as if he was saying to himself, Il would
rather die than see my son doing such a
thing" and as he looked at little Stenne,
the boy felt as if hand were clutching
at his heart and keeping it from beat
ing. To escape the anguish he began to
drink, and soon everything turned
around him.
He heard vaguely amid loud laughs
his comrades making fun of the nation
al guards, of their way of going through
their drill, he initiated an assault of
arms in the Marais, and q surprise at
night on the ramparts. Then the large
boy lowered his voice, the officers ap-
preached nearer TO him and their faces
grew more solemn. The miserable fell
low was telling them about that nights
premeditated attack, of which the sharp
shooters had spoken. Then Stenne
rose, furious and completely sobered !;
"Dont tell that, fellow, l won't have
YOU" But the other only laughed, and
continued; but before he had finished
the officers were all on their feet. and
one of them showing the door to the
children, told them to "begone," and
they began to talk hurriedly together in
German. The large boy left the room
as proud as q dodge, clinking his
money. Little Stenne followed him,
holding down his head, and as he was
passing the Prussian whose look so dis
turbed him. he heard sad voice saying
to him: mot nice that: not NICE" and
the tears came to his eyes. Once more
in the plain, the childl en- began to run
aud return toward Paris quickly. Their
sacks were filled with potatoes which
the Prussians had given them, and with
these they passed the sharpshootera' en-
campment without any trouble. They
were preparing for the night attack
Troops were arriving silently and were
massed behind the wall. The old ser.
geant was there, busily engaged arrang
ing his men with such happy look
| When the ohiLrr ron nsssed near him he