Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-04-27

| uut tIdhCs yOu -
you like, I'll tell you where they're
found"
The game over. he took him to cor
ner of the square and proposed that he
should join him selling newspapers to the
Prussians. That he would make thirty
francs for every trip. At first Stenne
was very indignant, and refused, and
what was more he remained away from
the game three days. Three terrible days.
He could neither eat or sleep any more.
At night he would see great heaps Of gal
oches piled on the foot of his bed, and
fiye-franc pieces moving over it, bright
and shining. The temptation was too
strong for him. The fourth day he re-
turned TO the Chateau d'Eau. saw the
large fellow and was overcome.
=
They set out one sunny morning. linen
bag over their shoulders, and their news
papers hidden under their blouses. When
they reached the Flanders gate it was
yet hardly dawn.-The large fellow took
Stenne by the hand and approached the
sentinel-a good civilian, with red nose
and kind air-he said to him in plain
tive tone
"Let US pass, my good monsieur Our
mother is i'll and papa is dead.-We are
going to see-my little brother and /
if We can't find some potatoes to pick up
in the fields"
He cried, and S,enne, who was asham-
ed, lowered his head. The sentinel look
ed at them moment, and then giving
glance over the white deserted road. go
quickly" said he to them, moving aside,
and then they were on the road to Auber-
villiers.-How the large fellow laughed.
Confusedly. as though in a dream, lit
tie Stenne saw the manufactures trans
formed into barracks, their courts desert
ed and hung with wet rags, their tall
chinneys, which pierced the fog and seem
ed to reach the sky, freless and battered.
Now and again they would see SEN
tinel and officers W no were looking far
off through their field-glasses, and their
small tents, wet with snow, which was
melting before the dying fires The large
fellow knew the way and would take
short cuts over the fields in order to es-
cape the outposts. But suddenly they
came upon large body Of sharpshooters
too late to escape them. They were in
their little cabins, hidden in ditch half
full of water, and encamped along the
Scissors railway. This time, though the
large fellow recommended his fearful sto-
~, they would not let him pass. As he
was lamenting, an old sergent, white and
wrinkled, and who looked like old Faith
er Stenne, came out of the post-guards
cabin.
well, little ones, don't cry any more
said he to the children 1--WE will let you go
after your potatoes, but before you leave
come in and warm yourselves little.
He looks frozen, that small boy
there"
Alas. it was not with cold that little
Stenne trembled; it was from fear-from
shame. In the post house
they found some soldiers gathered around
small 6re-a real widows fre-by
whose blaze they were thawing their bis
cults on the end Of their bayonets. They
crowded close together so as to make room
for the children. They gave them drop
of wine and little coffee. While they
were drinking an officer came to the door,
called the sergeant, spoke to him in low
voice, and then quickly went away.
"Boys," said the sergeant, as he came
back radiant, "there will be tobacco to-
night. We have found out
the Prussian's password. / think this
time we will take back from them that
d. Bourget!"
Then followed an explosion Of bravos
and laughter. They danced and sung
and swung their sabres in the air. Pro-
| fitting by the tumult, the children disap-
peared. Having passed the breastwork
nothing remained to be crossed but the
plain, at the end of which was long
white wall filed with loop-holes. They
directed their steps toward this stopping
every now and then, and making believe
look for potatoes. "Let US return. Don't
20 any farther" little Stenne said all the
while, but the large one only shrugged
his shoulders and went on. Suddenly
they heard the click Of gun being aim
ed at them. "Lie down" said the large
boy, throwing himself on the ground.
When be was down be whistled and
another whistle answered him over the
snow, and they went on, climbing on