The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-04-01

MY father used to live at Rethel n
the high street, in house l can still
see before my eyes with its slate roof
and projecting beams. hospitable
house Il ever there was one. Poor
folks knew the way to il. They entered
with their wallet empty and went away
with IL full. We were ali seated one
night az the fireside; my father was
smoking his pipe and watching the fire
purn. my mother was ironing and was
reading. when we heard noise At the
door, and saw enter boy with fright
ened looks.
What is the matter?"
1T IS soldier very tired who has
Just fallen exhausted before the door,
MY father loved soldiers. He rose
brusquely. ran out, and there he was.
before had taken step. coming n
again with = young soldier leaning upon
MN, or, rather, my father had taken
him up and was carrying him like a sack
Ny father fastened to draw The bio
armchair up to the fire. The soldier
was made 70 sit or rather to recline n
~ ana my father said, looking At the
.. rs i possible' Walking in that
The fact Is that the soldier was vary
thin and pale. his hair flattcned on III
Iorehead, the veins Of his temples bio |
q your little finger, his face black with
lust- we were then in the month 81 |
October. and the weather was begin /
nng % grow fresh. but the poor fellow /
was nevertheless. sweating big drops AZ \
= y had been dog davs. He must have
nad long tramp; his shoes were II h
shreds; you could see where the stones
mad torn the leather: the left foot was
bleeding. The soldier did not nova
put remained in the arm chair with his
head thrown back, his eyes half omen
and white as a sheet.
Aly mother had already put some SCUM
on me lire and pan full Of wine.
nan, said nv father, s.the first
thing 70 be looked after Is the feetr'
And kneeling down he began 10 tear
ana cut away the shreds 81 leather
ihe soldiers feet, all swollen ana f,,ll
4 busters looked like the feet OF the
martyrs. swollen with pain and wealed
~ nard cords. which we see In the pict-
ares q the Spanish painters.
ny father dipped his handkerchief ii /:
'inegar and washed the wounds.
aou," he sand 70 me. make some
And began to tear up some old linen
nat my mother had taken out Of the l
'ig cupboard. I
Meanwhile the soldier had come "a v
himself. lie looked al us. AZ nv father. Il
mother and myself and the two or
gree neighbors who had come In one I
''er the other. His wandering eyes D
eemed 70 intcrrogate everything. II =
IA no longer the road. the stones. the 4
reat deserted woods that he saw bc- Il
~ nun, but gay room with ceiling \
|. SHINING oak, q cloth on the table. 4 b
! VIZ ana fork laid and 4 brown earth y
~ ,nn soup-bowl emitting n savory II
n Is, q cabbage soup. ii
inen NC raised himself up. leaning On Ii
~ arms 81 the chair. and said to nv III
'.ner, with confused emotion:
az monsieur! But you do not y
a, an well. that does not matter: va n,
II ~ become acquainted at table, 4,
;s NM ''au already dined. but my father Z
n ' as' W Dear the soldier company. n
(, ,.. NV down - table opposite him. Is Y
WI" y, nrooding over him. and looking ~
\. nv reSimcntal buttons that shone IN | Il.
\. v,oak. The soldier atc. and atc "
''''''yi my mother served him. nv il