Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-11-13

IldncS'IllcLIS Wlln lDtlI ltlltS NClo
encamped in a fosse by n stream
of water along a railroad to Sois-
sons. This time the large boy told
his story in VAN. They would not
let him pass. Then, while he cried,
there came out from the guard
house into the road an old sergeant,
white and wrInkled, who looked
like Pere Stenne. Halo, there,
brats Don't cry he said to boys.
'They will let you 60 after their
potatoes. But hold on, come in and
warm yourselves a bit. The little
chap looks frozen
Alas, it was not from cold that
little Stenne trembled. 1t was
from fear and shame. Inside they
found some soldiers covering
around a small fire, veritable
widows fire, over which they tried
TO thaw out some biscuits which
they had fastened on their bayo-
nets. They crowded together to
make room for the boys. They
gave them a little coffee to drink.
While they drank, an officer came
to the door, called the sergeant,
spoke to him in low tone and
went ont.
why, boys said the sergeant,
coming back radiant, tonight we
shall have tobacco. They have got
the Prussian cOuntersign. / be-
lieve this time we shall retake that
accursed Bourget.'
There was an explosion of bravos
and laughter. They danced, they
sang, they hourished their sabre
bayonets, and, proGting by this
tumult, the boys Disappeared
Once past the trench there was
nothing before them but the plain,
and at the end of it long, white
wall pierced with loop-holes. To-
wards the wall they directed their
way, stopping at every step to pre-
tend to pick up potatoes.
'Don't let's 60. Let's 90 back,
little Stenne kept saying all Of the
time.
The other shrugged his should
ers and went on. Suddenly they
heard the click of the cooking OF a
gun.
'Lie down. said the large boy,
throwing himself on the ground.
Once down he whistled. Anoth-
or whistle answered him across the
snow. They advanced, crawling
upon the ground. Before the wall,
out of the smooth ground, appear
ed a pair of yellow moustaches, un.
der dirty cap. The large boy
jumped into the ditch by the side
of the Prussian.
This is my brother he said,
pointing to his companion.
Stenne was so small that the
russian laughed at seeing him,and
was obliged to take himin his arms
and lift him up to the opening in
the wall.
On the other side Of the wall
we're great embankmonts of earth,
fallen trees and black holes in the
snow, and from each hole looked
out the same dirty cap aud the same
yellow mOustache that laughed at
the boys as they passed.
In one corner was a gardeners
house, casemated with trunks OF
trees. Below were a crowd of sold
iers playing cards or making soup
over a great fire. How good it
smelled, the cabbages and the Ia
con! How different from the biy-
ouac of the francs.tireurs Beyond
were the officers. One could hear
them playing the piano or drinking
champagne. When the Parislans
entered a hurrah of JOY met them.
They gave out their papers, then
they gave them something to drink
and made them talk. All of the
officers had a proud and disdainful
air, but the large boy amused them
with his impudence and his slang
They laughed, and repeating the
words after him, rolled with delight
in the dirt of Paris which he had
brought them.
Little Stenne wanted to say
something, too, to prove that he
was not stupid, but something held
him back. Before him, apart from
the others, stood a Prussian, who
read him, or seemed to do so, foI
| his eyes never quilted him. lie
looked at him with tenderness and
reprOach, as if he had at home a
| little boy of the same age as Stenne,
and would say: Il had rather de
than see my boy doing this
At that moment Stenne felt as il
a hand had been laid upon his heart
to stop its beating.
TO escape from this torment he
began to drink. Presently every
thing whirled around him. lie
heard vaguely, in the midst of louC
laughter, his mocking the National
! Guard, their drills, a passage a
arms, a night-guard on the ran
parts. Then the large boy lower
ed his voice, the officers approach
ed him and were grave. Th'
wretched boy was telling them OF
the intended attack of the francs
| L:-a CnLdnulu Iittln StnnnI