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

some potatoes to pick up in th'
fields"
He cried, and Stenne, who was
ashamed, hung his head. The sen
tinel looked at them a moment, anc
then giving a glance over the white
deserted road
aGo quickly ~ said he to them
moving aside, and then they wer'
on the road to Auberviliers. How
the large fellow laughed.
Confusedly, as though in a dream
little Stenne saw the manufacturle'
transformed into barracks, theil
courts deserted and hung with we
rags, their tall chimneys, which
pierced the fog and seemed to reach
the sky, fireless and battered. Now
and then they would see a sentine
and officers, who were looking fal
off in their field glasses, and theil
small tents wet with snow which
was melting before dying fires. The
large fellow knew the way, and
would take short cuts over the fields
ia order to escape the outposts. Bu'
suddenly they came upon body o
sharp shooters, too late to escape
them. They were in their little
cabins, hidden in ditch half full o
water, ana encamped alongthe Sois
sons railway. This time, though
the large fellow recommended his
fearful story, they would not LET
them pass. As be was lamenting
an old Sergeant, white and wrlnk'
led, and who looked like old Father
Stenne, came out of the post-guard's
cabin.
"Well, little ones don't cry any
more,n said he to the children I'VE
will let you go after your potatoes,
bat before yor' leave come in and
warm yourselves little. He docks
frozen, that small boy thereW
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
fire, a real widows fire, by the blaze
of which they were thawing their
biscuits on the ends of their bayon-
cts. They crowded close together
so as to make room for the children.
They rave them drop of wine and
a little coffee. While they were
drinking an officer came to the door,
called the Sergeant, spoke to him In
a low voice, and then went quickly
away.
s'Bovs r said the Sergeant, as he
came back radient, ''there will be to-
bacco tonight. We have found out
the Prussian password. | think
this time we will take back from
them that id Bourget =
Then there followed an explosion
ofbravos and lau ghter. They dane
ed and sung and swung their sabres
in the air. Profting by the tumult-
the children disappeared. Having
passed the breastwork, nothing re-
mained to be crossed but the pla in,
at the end of which was long
white wall filled with loop-holes.
Thev directed their steps toward
this, stopping every now and then
and making believe they were look
ing for potatoes.
"Let us return (; don't 60 any
farther" little Stenne said all the
while, but the large one only shrug-
ged his shoulders and went on. Sud
denly they heard the click of a gun
being aimed at them. Lie down J!
said the large boy, throwing himself
on the ground. When he was down
he wnistled, and another whistle an
swered him over the snow, and they
went on. crawling on hands and
knees In front of the wall and
even with the ground two yellow
mustaches under greasy caps ap
peared, and the large boy leaped IN
to the ditch beside the Prussians
THAT is my brother" said he point
ing to his companion. He was sc
small, little Stenne, that the Prus'
slams on seeing him began to laugh
and one of them was Obliged to TAKE
him in his arms in order to lift him
over the breach.
On the other side of the wall were
large breastworks, fallen trees and
black holes in the snow, and IN
each of these was the same yellow
mustache and greasy cap, and there
was great laughing as the soldiers
saw the children passing by.
In a corner was a gardner's house
casemented with the trunks of trees
the lower part Of which was full Of
soldiers who were playing cards ant
making soup over clear, brigh
fire. How good the cabbages ant
the bacon smelled, and what diff
terence to the sharp-shooters' blv'
ouae ! Upstairs were the officers
and they heard them playing on th'
piano and opening champagne bot
ties. When the Parisians entered
the room a ahurrah OF Joy greeted
them. They gave up their. news
papers and the officers gave then
something to drink and made then
talk. They all had a proud, hare
look. hut the large boy amused
them with his Partisan CAVITY an'
his gamin slang They laughed ant
repeated his words after him, an'
seemed to wallow with delight II
the Partisan mud he brought them
Little Stenne, too, would hav
liked to talk, and to prove that h
was not stupid, but something EN-
barrassed him. Opposite to hln
sitting apart, was Prussian, oide
and more serious than the Others
who was reading, or rather seemin
to read, for he never took his eye
off little Stenne, and there was II
his glance both tenderness and rt
+, proach, as though this man Nigh
have had a child Of little Stenne'
age at home, and as if he was sa,
ing to himself, II would rather di
than see my son doing such
thinc,n and as he looked at littl
Stenne the boy felt as if a hand wa
clutching at his heart and keepin
it from beating. To escape the an