The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-01-04

| all of the officers were on their feet,
and one of them, showing the door
/ to the children, told them to 'sbe
gone !" and they began to talk hur-
r:edly together in German. The
large hoy left the room as proud as
a Dodge, clinking his money. Lit
tie Stenne. followed him, holding
down his head, and as be was pass
| ing the Prussian whose look had so
disturbed him he heard sad voice
saying to him, Not nice that, not
nice !" and the tears came to his
eyes.
Once more in the plain, the chill
dren began TO run, and returned
quickly towards Paris. Their sacks
were filled with potatoes which the
Prussians had given them, and with
these they passed the sharp-shoo..
ers' encampment without any trou-
BILE. They were preparing for the
night attack. Troops were arriving
silently, and were massed behind
the wall. The old Sergeant was
there, busily engaged arranging his
men with such happy look. When
the children passed near him he
recognized them and smiled kindly
at them. Oh how badly that
smile made little Stenne feel. For
a moment he felt rs if he should
burst out crying and say to them,
Don't go there We have betrayed
you ? But the other boy told him
that if he spoke word they would
be shot, and SO fear kept him silent.
AT Courneuve they entered an
abandoned house to divide their
money. Truth compels me to say
that the division was honestly made;
and when he heard the fine crowns
sounding under his blouse and
thought of his future games of gale
che little Stenne felt that his crime
was not so dreadful after all.
But when he was alone, the un-
happy child when at the gates of
the city the large boy left him
then his pockets grew heavy and
the hand that had been grasping his
heart held it tighter still. Paris
seemed no longer the same to him
the passers-by regarded him severe
II, as If they knew from whence he
had come, and he heard the word
spy" in all the sounds of the street
and in the beating of the drums
along the canal where the troops
were exercising. At last he reached
his home, and, glad to find that his
father had not yet come in, he hur
ried to his room and hid the crowns,
that were eiehing so heavily, un-
der his pillow. Never had Father
Stenne been so good hunored and
JOYOUS as that night on coming
home. Good news had been re-
ceived from the provinces the
country's affairs were growing bet
ter. While he was eating the old
soldier looked at his gun hanging
on the wall. and he said to his boy
with a hearty
"Hey my son, how you would
90 after the Prussians If you were
old enoughP'
About eight O'Clock they heard
the sound of cannon. 1T Is at Au-
bervilliers; they are fighting at
Bourgetr said the old man, who
knew where all the forts were situa-
ted. Little Stenne grew pale, and
feigning great fatigue, went to bed,
but not to sleep. The cannon were
laundering continuously. He pic
tured to himself the sharp-shooters
going at night to surprise the Prus-
slams and falling into an ambuscade
themselves. He recalled the Ser
geant who had smiled at him, and
saw him stretched out there in the
snow, and SO many with him ! The
price of that blood was hidden there
under his pillow, and it was he. the
son of Mr. Stenne-of a soldier. His
tears choked him. In the adjoining
room he heard his father walking to
and fro and then open n window.
Down in the street the rappel was
sounded. A battalion of mobiles
were getting ready to start. Then
there was no doubt about there be-
ing a real battle going on. The un-
happy boy could not keep back his
sobs.
"What i the matter with you =
asked his father, entering the room.
The child could bear it no longer ;
he jumped from his bed and threw
himself at his fathers feet. In so
doing the silver coins rolled down
on the floor
"What is this? Have you been
stealing? ?" asked the old man, be
ginning to tremble.
Then, all in one breath, littleSten-
ne told him that he had been to the
Prussians, and all that he had done,
and as he was speaking he felt his
heart grow lighter; it comtorted him
to make the confession. His father
! listened to him with terrible look
on his face, and when the story was
told he buried his face in his hands
and wept.
Father, father!" the child tried
to say. but the old man pushed hin
off without replying to him, and
picked up the money.
as this all ?" he asked. Little
Stenne made q sign that it was
Then the old man took down hi'
gun and cartridges, and putting The
money in his pocket, said:
Il am going to return it to them
and without another word-withou
even turning bis head-he wen'
down into the street and joined tbt
mobiles who were starting off in tht
night. He was never seen again.
The salaries of women teachers II
Germany are decidedly meagre
The lowest is 5000 and the highes
not over $3.50. They, however. re
ceive pensions. Retirement at the
end of ten years. active service emit