Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-06-21
The Girl Soldier.
By HueoNor.

village in Tyrol conquered b
Garibald at the time of my ar
rival there in July, 1856.
On the night OF my arrival tn
fort Of AmpoIa had fallen. TIL
battle of the Bridge of Cimeg'
had vet to be won. The defea
Of Bisecca had yet to be sustained
l went at once to the principa
inn, but found it occupied by th,
colonel in command, the sign
boarding taken down. The I'M
had ceased to be "house o
oall' for travellers, and had be-
: come fortress.
| showed my credentials
showed a special pass I had from
Garibaldi ontitling me to NOV
freely within the circle Of th'
Italian military operations. i
was no use. / had to retreat
These difficulties had made m.
cross, and I was tired and hungry
l Jared no better at the otheI
inn. The rooms were all full
even the corridors.
A boy accosted me-a boy
twelve years Of age, apparently
a PEASANTS child.
"If you please. patron" he in
!. quired, touching his cap, "did
( you want . bedroom You were
asking fora bedroom, and my
mother has such beautiful rooms
One OF them is the kitchen, but
it is very beautiful"
He led me to q small house
which looked like a ruin or the
remains of a confagration; but it
was still used as dwelling. A
light shone in one of the win
dows, and the door was ajar.
The boy pushed it open. and we
found ourselves IN q sort Of ante
room (which turned out to be the
kitchen), and in the presence Of
MI old woman, who was STOPPING
over the FIRE.
The boy ran toward her.
"Un foresto, Mimal" cried the
child in patois; then, turning to-
ward me, and speaking in good
italian, "Saccomada, signore. "
The Tyrolese speak two Ian
guages. or rather they are begin
ming to discover that their own
language is an excrescence.
The beldam eyed me critically,
and whispered something in the
boys ear. This last nodded in
token Of assent, and held up his
ten fingers. "Paghera un mezzo
franco!" he exclaimed. in q
breathless tone. meaning that ]
would pay ten sous Give pence).
The crone smiled. .'BastsI"
est will do'1 she exclaimed, with
q pleased look, and invited me to
draw near the fire.
noticed that the crone pre-
pared supper for four persons
four glasses, fou- plates, four
fonr knives and forks to match.
Our party, therefore, was incom-
plete. / began to be alarmed
lest supper should be delayed.
But this was by no means the
case. The old dame poured out
the poIenta. and we took our
seats at the table without think
ing of the absent person, the
crone muttering a short prayer
in Latin. l looked at her with
increased interest, and fanried I
saw in her trace Of former dig
nifty and refinement. Her hair
was as white as snow; her lack
'luster eyes were round and large;
Lher hight above the common.
Nevertheless this ancient dame
b6came more human as the night
advanced. The wine, bad as it
was had its effect, and the fire
made the room cheerful. The
(ohild, too, did justice to the
meal. Corporal John." he ex-
claimed, "drinks 80 wine. Isup-
pose be does not like it. He is
so shyl But why do you not
wear soldiers dress, too2 If
you can fight you ought to wear
: sword or a gun; but, perhaps
you are going to have one sent
to your"
The old dame mumbled to her
self. The child seemed amused.
{sWhat funny old woman, is
Ishs not Y But these words were
spoken in a subdued voice.
Supper being over, my young
friend began to make inquiries
sbout the absent person -an alb
hence which l had noticed. The
smpty chair, the clean plate and
Rlass, seemed to attract his atten-
Ntion for the first time.
"Do you think there is any
lighting going on?" he inquired,
With a look of anxiety.
II hope not-I think notl" I
Replied.
The hag made the sign of the
kross.
II think not, tool" added the
boy, with tears in his eyes.
Then after q moments pause he
asked whether / thought Corpo.
raj John would go away without
bidding him good-by.
"Bnt who is Corporal John ?"
I inquired.
Hardly had ! spoken these
words than the door few open.
The boy started from his seat and
rushed into the arms Of hand
-some young soldier who at that