River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-02-05
ONE ACTOR IN THE SIEGE OF PARIS.

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ONE ACTOR IN THE SIEGE OF PARIS.
His name vas Stenne, little Stenne.
He was child of Paris. thin and pale,
and was 10, perhaps L years old, foI
one can never say exactly how old
those children are. His mother was
dead, and his father, an ex-marine, was
the guardian Of square in the quarter
of the temple. The nurses and babies,
the old ladies who always carry their
own folding chairs, and the poor moth
ers all that small world of Paris, which
seeI-s shelter from vehicles in those
garLens that are surrounded by pave
ments, knew Father Stenne and loved
him They knew that under his rough
1noustache, which was the terror OF
dogs AMI dsturbers of benches, was hid
den = kIlld, tender and almost motherly
smile, anc in order to bring it forth they
had only - say TO the good man:
''How 10 your little sOn?'
For Father Stenne loved his little
son so muCh
He was so happy in the afternoon
when, after his school, the little boy
would call for him, and together they
would make the rounds of the paths,
stopping at each bench 10 speak to the
habItues Of the square and to answer
their good wishes.
But when the siege began everything
was sadly changed. Father Stenne's
square was closed and filed with petro-
leum, and the poor man condemned to
an incessant surveillance, passed his
life in the deserted, upturned paths,
quite alone, not permitted to smoke,
and only seeing his little son late in the
evening at his home. You should have
seen his moustache when he spoke of
the Prussians. Little Stenne, howev er,
did not complain of this new life.
A siege Nothing Is more amusing
for such urchins. No more school, no
more studies Holiday all the while
and the streets are exciting as fair.
The child ran about all day till night
fall. He followed the battallons of the
quarter to the ramparts, choosing those
that had a good band. Little Stenne
was well posted on the subject. he
would tell you very glibly that the 96th's
band was not worth much, but that the
J5.h had an excellent one. Sometimes
he would watch the Mobiles training,
and then there was the procession. i.
With his basket under his arm he would
Join in the long files that were formed
IN the dark, cold winter mornings, when
there was no gas, before the butchers
shops. There, with their feet in the wet,
the people would make acquaintance
and talk politics, and, as he was Mr..
Stenne's son everybody would ask him
his opinion. But the most amusing
of all were the afternoon games, especi-
ally the famous game of galoche, which
the Breton Mobiles made the fashion
during the siege. When little Stenne
was not ut the ramparts or bakers
shop, you would be sure to find him at
the square OF the Chateau-d'E Eau. He
did not pay, however; it needed too
much money; he was satisfied in watch
ing the players with all his eyes.
One especially, a great fellow in blue
workman's blouse, who only played
with five franc pieces excited his adj
miration. When he ran one could hear
the coins iingling under his blouse.
One dav as he was picking up a piece
that had rolled under little Stenne's feet
the great fellow said to him IN a low
tone: THAT makes you wink, hey
Well. if you like, III tell you where
they're to be found
The game over, he took him to cor
ner of tie square, and proposed that he
should jon him in selling newspapers &c
the Prussiaus. That would make thirty
francs for every trio. At first Stennt
was very indignant, and refused, anc
what was more he remained away from
the game for three days. Three terrible
DAYS. He neither eat nor slept any
more. At night he would see great
heaps Of galoChes piled on the foot -O
his bed, and fve-franc pieces moving
over it, bright and shining. The temp
tatiQn was too strong for him. The
fourth day he returned 10 the Chateau
d'Eau, saw the large fellow and :;
overcome.
They set out one sunny morning, 9
linen bag thrown over their shoulders
and their newspapers hidden under
their blouses. When they reached the
Flanders cate it was yet hardly dawn
The little fellow took Stenne by the hand
and approached the SENTINEL gOoC
civilian with d red n Ntand kind air
he said to him, With lplaintive tone:
Let us pass, my good monsieur. Gu
mother is i'll, and papa is dead. We are
going to see-my little brother and /
II we can't find some potatoes to Plcl
up in the fields"
He cried, and Stenne, who wa!
ashamed, lowered his head. The sen
tlnel looked at therl q moment, ant
then, giving a glance over the white
deserted road, Go quickly" said he Z
them, moving aside, and then they
were on the road to Auberyiliiers. How
the large fellow laughed.
Coniusedly, as though in dream
little Stenne saw the manufacture
transformed into barracks, their courts
deserted and hung with wet rags, thel
san chimneys which pierced the 10!
and seemed to reach the sky, hreles
and battered. Now and again the.
would see a sentinel and officers WHIT
were looking far off through their tielt
classes. and their small tents wet witt
snow, which was melting before dyinl
fires. The large fellow knew the way
and would take short cuts over tn
fields in order TO escape the outposts
But suddenly they came upon larg
body of sharpShooters 10 late TO escap,
them. They were in their cabins, hid
den in a ditch half full of water, an,
encamped along tine scissors railway
This time, though the large fellow com
menced his fearful story, they woul
not let him pass. As he was lamentin
an old sergeant, white and wrinkleC
and who looked like old Father Stenn'
came out of the post guards cabin.
"Nen little ones don't cry any more.
said he to the children, 1--WE will let yo
20 after your potatoes, but before 20
leave come in and warm yourselves
little. He looks frozen, that sma
boy there
Alas! It was not with cold that lit
Stenre trembIed, it was from TEA
from shame. In the post hou;
they found some soldiers rourd
small fire, real winters fire by who's
blaze they we're thawing their blscul
on the ends Of their bayonetS. The
crowded close together so as to max
room for the children. they gave thel
a drop of wine and little coffee. Viii
they were drinking an officer came
The door and called the sergeant, spok
IN him in a low voice, and then quick
went away. Boys" said the sergean
as ne came back radiant, there will
toaacco tonight. We have foun
ont the Prdssian's pass word. thin
fins time we will take back from the