Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-03
HOW HE WON HIS CROSS.

win your CROSSE"
This question was put up by one of
q number of young soldiers who stood
around Sergeant Manchot in the grounds
OF the Invalides. The person addressed
was an old, one-a armed man, who seemed
to think that a certain air of fierce, un-
smiling gravity most became soldier
OF the empire but who, it was we'll
known, hid one of the kindliest hearts
under the outer form of stern severity.
On being thus questioned, he took a
well-used pipe from his mouth, slowly
pulled out column of smoke, drew
himself as erect as age would permit
him, and replied:
won my cross? Yes, mon enfant,
you say right; in those days we had to
win cross-it was not given. It was
worth winning, too. We didn't, with
the Emperor, gain glory by fighting
against one another. There We're no
barbados then-no battles in the streets
of Paris. That great man, so wonder
ful in his genius, SO indomitable IN his
courage, who always conquered, would
not allow it; and let me tell you no one
dared to do what he said he should not
he soon made short work.
'Ah those were the days when we
knew what true freedom was. There
were none of your Republicans, your
Orleanists, your old or your new parties.
We were all Frenchmen then-French-
men, do you hear me, my children? 1t
was against the enemies of la belle
France we fought-against those who
hated the great nation because 1t was so
glorious.
eyes, it was against them we French
men always fought; and when traitors
did not betray us we always conquered.
They could never defeat him. the En-
peror, by fair means. All, with what
glory he covered Francei"
The old mans eyes glistened with en-
thusiasm, and his face glowed.
"But all this is changed now," con-
tinued the old soldier in mcurnful
tone. France, shame upon her ! does
not care what her enemies do. The
Grand Army is no more. But you wish
to know how I gained my cross. Well,
l viii tell you, for it will show you what
man the Emperor was.
1t was the 9th of November. For a
long time our march had been full of
glory. The enemy had fed before us,
for whenever he tried to stand we de-
feated him. We had reached Moscow
that fatal city. We were to have win
tered there. But what did these COW
ardly villains of Russia do? Why, as
you know, they burnt down their town. +"
owe were compelled to retreat; and
a terrible march we had had, what with
frost, snow and hunger. It was the 9Th
of November, say. We had just fought
the battle of Wanna, and won il of
course. The Emperor, in his order of
the day, said we had annihilated the
enemy. Still We had to retreat, not be-
fore the Russians-no, we had crushed
them, tell you-but before the weather;
1t was terrible. On, what frost It
froze the very marrow in orr bones. Oh.
what snow 1t cut our skins it blinded
us We sank in it to our knees rs we
marched. We had been en- route since
6 o'clock, and it was now past noon. An
awful march it was. The ground over
which we passed was strewn with our
dead and dying. Not that we saw much
of the foe-no, those We had not killed
knew too well what they would get if
they came near us. 1t was that terrible
cold and the empty stomachs that did
for US. When these made any fall be-
hind the rascally Cossacks, hanging all
around us like a swarm of bees, either
killed and piundered them, or, Il they
were at all able to walk, stripped them,
and then, tying them to their horses,
made them run at their sides till they
dropped from cold, hunger and fatigue.
Many of the officers and men in my
company had thus persisted. All were
dispTited- no song, no shout, no joke,
and, what was worse than all. no grum-
bling. The sullenness and recklessness
of utter despair had taken hold of us.
Our Captain was a terrible little
man-not drawer one than he in the
whole army. And then, you see, we
were all brave He did not stand more
than so high" pointing to his shoulder),
''b but he would have his own wayne
made us do it; if he said no, it was 10
Il yes, then yes; he would not change.
We called him Capt. Tetu, and, my faith!
it was good name, for he was obsti-
nate.
lie had been a stout, red-faced man:
but now, how changed thin, rale and
hagyard. Nothing could. however,
drive away his look of frmuess. He
was hardly able TO keep up with Us: but
he was determined not to give IL as long
as he had life, and so on and still on he
crawled. He had wrapped his shoeless
feet in his handkerchiefs, which were
now deeply stained with the blood that
oozed from his wounds. Two or three
times had offered him my arm for his
support, but he had refused it angrily.
''' Whatp said he, do YOU think
can't walk as we'll as another? Am I a
child? Every one needs all hisstrength
for himself
CAT last he told me If I dared to both
er him with my offers to assist him he
would have me punished severely. So
what could I do ?-he always meant what
he said. But, obstinate as he was, he
could not hold out any longer. With a
fain. cry of, 'Ah, it is all over with me I!
Vive PEnlpereur {! he fell on the snow.
"' All over, my Captain? oh, no, not
while Corporal Manchot is herep
"'Why, who is that? Is that you,
Manchot? You are not with your regi-
ment, how is that? Leave me my bat
ties are all fought. But stay; here, take
my cross and my purse. there is not