News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-08-03
How TO MAKE A SOLDIER,
Translated from the French of Edmondo de
Amicis.l

nearly all the soldiers had gone
pleasuring in town. With them ha
gone the conscripts who had Joined th
regiment only the day before, in band
of ten or dozen, their caps awry, thei
coats wrinkled, their hands 1mprisone
in sprawling white gloves. In the re
motest part of the barrack-yard sat alon
all alone-on doorstep, a poor con
script, his chin in his hands, his elbow
on his knees, following his fellows VIII
went out with wistful eyes, or when n
one was in sight gazing fxedly on th
ground. He looked like one of thos
good bows who feel like the hand O
death the summons which tears then
from their families, but who finish b,
becoming the best of soldiers, Will
minds resigned, calm, willing. On hi
face, however, there was more than th,
expression of dreaming and surpris,
such as a conscript usually wears during
bis first days of barrack ife-there wa,
positive melancholy. Perhaps he wa,
regretting that he had not gone out will
his fellows.
A corporal in fatigue dress, who hap
pened to be crossing the yard, espiet
the conscript and strobe up to hin
sharply.
What's that fellow doing there will
his hands crossed ?"
"Who? 1?" said the conscript.
Who? I?" echoed the corporal
He's nice fellow And whom is b.
speaking TOTO the moon? Here
stand up when you are addressing you
superior Who are you? What com
pany do you belong to ?"
"What company ?"
Yes, what company. cabbage-head? p
and seizing him by the skirt of his coal
he shook him till he reeled. "Look al
that-see how you've fixed your coat
squasting on doorstep like beggar. y
The conscript busted it with his hand.
and your shoes-pretty shoes,
those! !"
The conscript stopped to clean them
with his handkerchief.
Sand your cravat around your ears
and your cap-ugh! Come, draw up
those trousers if you don't want them
to be In rags inside of week, button
up your tunic, and don't stick there
with your head sunk on your breast like
monk, or staring at everybody like a
stupid stuck pig"
The poor lad ran his trembling fin
gers over his clothing, but the more he
hurried the less he succeeded; indeed
he knew not what he was doing. At
that moment the pretty young can
tiniere of the regiment paused before
them. To appear ridiculous and stupid
before a pretty yonDg woman-what
could be worse, and the conscript utter
y lost his presence of mind, fuunbIed
with his fingers at his buttons, then let
his arms fall deiectedly by his side,
dropped his head and stood silent.
The cantiniere laughed and tripped
away.
"Baby p said the corporal shaking
his head with an air of scornful COM
passion /; then, hitting his voice, he
went on, "You'n have to wake up, my
boy, and promptly, too, or else we'll
wake you up. Fatigue drill, bread and
water bread and water and fatigue
drill-won't let you feel homesick, take
my word for it. Now, off to your room
and clean up your traps. Marchl"
''But L"
''Hold your tongue when your supe-
rior addresses you, or else-the guard
room is over yonderl Do you see it ?'
and the corporal turned away growing,
"Fine stuff this for an army-poor
Italy"
81 say, corporal sir r' the conscript
called after him timidly.
The corporal wheeled round and
glared at him, pointing toward the
guard-room.
81 wanted to ask you one thing, I"
said the lad in a tone SO gentle and
humble that it was impossible not to
listen to it.
"Weli, ask it-that one thing"
'tI wanted TO ask you if there was in
the regiment an officer who comes from
where l come from there ought to be,
but I don't know for certain"
"f the people where you come from
are all like you, you may depend on 1t
you're the only man from the place we
have" And, struggling his shoulders,
he staggered off.
"But why are we treated thus ?"
sighed the lad, as he sank down again
on the stone step. "What have we
done? What are we-dogs? And five
years of it to come" He buried his
face In his hands.
At that moment three of the soldiers
on guard came strolling past.
"Poor boy p' they cried, with shout
of laughter, she must be in love He's
thinking about his little sister-think-
ing about his girl She's got another
fellow by this time. Look at the eyes
he makes Po-o-o-r boy !"
"Who can they be making fun OF
now?" said the officer of the guard to
himself, as he strolled to the window
with his newspaper in his hand. The
soldiers saw him coming and made off
discreetly; the conscript looked up and
caught his eye. "Who can that idiot
be? What can he want ?" said the
officer, half angrily, as he saw the lad
beckon to him and laugh, first in sur
prise then with satisfaction.
"What is the matter with you, eh ?"
he asked, striding out into the yard;
''what makes you chuekle so and rub
your hands,? Answer me, will you 2"
"You see, you see," said the con-
script, nervously lingering the hem of
ais tunic; ST knew you were in this
and they sent me here. You
don't remember me, I know, but 1 re-
you. And you were home three
years ago-I knew you and knew your
people too, but I dare say you don't
know me, but / used to see you ride
past our home every morning, and we
are both from the same place-that's
what wanted to say"
s'Hum, I understand - said the
otfieer, scanning him closely, as if to
recall his face and name.
81 knew you were an officer" con-
tlnued the conscript, "and since you
were home last they've rebuilt the front
Oh the church opposite your house, and