The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-12-06
TIE CHILD SPY.
A Story of the FrancO-German
War.
He was called stenne. little Stenne.

He was called Stenne, little Stenne.
he was child of Paris, sickly and pale, who
appeared to be 10 or II years old. His mother
was dead his father, who was formerly in the
naval service, was one of the park guard and
was stationed in n square in the quarter OF the
Temple. The babies, the nurses, the old char
women, the poor mothers, all knew old Stenne
and adored him. They knew that under his
heavy, rough mustaehe, which gave him
fierce look that was the terror of loafers, was
concealed pleasant almost tender smile, and
that to see this smile it was only necessary to
say to him: How is your little boy 2"
Old Stenne loved his little son dearly. He
was very happy. Each evening when, after
school, the little boy joined him, and they to-
gether made tour of the walks in the square,
stopping at each bench to salute the habitues
and to reply to their kind inquiries.
When Paris was besieged all this was unfor-
tunately changed. The square in which Stenne
was stationed was closed. Petroleum was
stored there, and the poor old man, obliged to
keep an incessant watch, passed his days amid
the deserted trees alone, without even the COM
pany of his pipe, and without seeing his little
son until he returned home at night. When
ever he smoke of the Prussians his mustache
gave him fiercer look than ever. But little
Stenne had no complaint to make against this
new life.
A siege! All, it is so amusing to the gamins.
all the time, and every street looks like fair
ground.
Little Stenne remained abroad all day. He
accompanied the soldiers of the quarter as they
went to the rampant choosing the battalion
that had the best music, for he was we'll posted
in regard to martial music He often said that
the music of the Goth did not amount to much,
but that of the 55th was excellent. At other
times he would watch the manuyers of the SOL
diers.
His basket under his arm, he would take his
place in the long files that formed in the twi-
light of Winter mornings, without the light OF
gas at the doors of the butchers and the bakers.
There, with their feet in the mud and water,
they made acquaintance and talked politics,
and all gravely asked the opinion of little
Stenne, for they thought that the son of NJ.
Stenne must know something. But most
amusing of all was it to observe little Stenne
as he watched party of gamesters playing the
famous game called galoche, which the Breton
soldiers made popular during the siege When
little Stenne was not at the rampant or the
bakers you would be sure to find him watch
ing a game of galOChe in the Place du Chateau
d'Eau. He did not play. however. 1t required
too much money for him to do that be con-
tented himself with watching the players.
One large boy, who played only hundred sou
pieces, excited his admiration. When he
moved one heard the sound of the coins Eat
Ting in his pocket.
One day, while picking up piece which had
rolled near little Stenne, the big boy said to
him in low voice:
" 1t makes you open your eyes doesn't itf
Well, if you like, l will tell you where to find
these coins"
When the game ended he took little Stenne
aside and proposed that he should go with him
to sell the newspapers to the Prussians. They
could get 30 francs for each journey. At first
little Stenne Indignantly rejected the PROPOSE
ton, and for the next three days he was not
seen by the players They were three terrible
days. He did not eat; he did not sleep. AZ
| night he could seen the players at their game
and could see the glittering hundred sou
pieces with which they played. The tempta'
ton was too much for him. On the fourth day
he returned to the Place du Chateau d'Eau
found the big boy, and agreed to go with him
TO take the papers to the Prussians.
They departed early one snowy morning
taking bag with them, and having the news
papers concealed under their blouses. Wher
they arrived at the Flanders gate it was hardly
daybreak. Little Stenne's companion took hin
by the hand, and, approaching the sentinel,
| man with red nose and grand air, said tx
him in a trembling voice:
Please let US pass, monsieur. Our mother il
sick and father is dead. am going with my
little brother to gather potatoes in the feld.'
He wept. Little Stenne hung his head with
shame. The sentinel looked at them a momen
and then glanced up the road deserted ant
covered with snow.
go quickly he said turning away.
In a moment they were on the road to ALBERT
villiers. The big boy laughed.
All was confusion to little Stenne, and, as il
| dream, he beheld the deserted barricades
the manufactures transformed into barracks
and the tall chimneys perforating the mist aDt
| mounting into the heavens. From time Il
time he saw sentinel or hooded officers wht
turned their field glasses on them, and saw tn,
| little tents wet with the snow that melted be
| fore the fires. Little Stenne's companion, wht
knew the roads, led the way across the fields 81
as to avoid the guards
Suddenly they came upon band of sharp
shooters. The sharpshOoters, who wore heav,
wooden cloaks with hoods, were crouching in
| pit beside the scissors Railway. As they wer
| apparently unwilling to let them pass, the bi!
| boy again began his story. While he was tell
ing it and whimpering, gray-haired ant
| wrinkled old Sergeant, who resembled littl
stenne's father, came out from the gate keeper
| house.
go on, lads; don't cry, he said to the boys
You can go and gather your potatoes Blu
wait moment. First 60 in and warm your
selves The air is cold for this little fellow"
Alas! it was not the cold that made littl
/ Stenue tremble; it was fear, it was shame.
In the house they found some soldiers hud
! died before poor fire, in the flame of which
they were thawing biscuits stuck on the end
of their bayOnets. They made room for tn
! boys, and gave each of them drop of brand,
and little coffee. While they were drinking
an officer entered, and, calling the Sergean
aside, spoke with him fer a moment in Low
voice He then departed quickly.
"Well, we will have tobacco tonight" sal,
the Sergeant, as he returned, smiling. "W
have learned the password of the Prussians.
| think that this time we will recapture BOurget
There was an explosion of braves and laugh
ter. The soldiers danced and sang and brand
ished their sabers and bayOnets Profting b,
the confusion the two lads disappeared.
| Passing the trench they came into plain, a
| the farther side of which was a long white wall
perforated with loopholes. Toward this wal
they took their way, pausing and stopping
every moment as though gathering potatoes.
Let us go back don't go any further" sai'
little Stenne continually.
The other shrugged his shoulders and KEEP
on his way. Suddenly they heard the SCUM,
of the cooking of musket.
Lie down !" said the big boy, as he threw
himself on the ground.
Then he whsted Another whistle an
swered his. Thereupon they advanced, crawl
ing along. Before the wall they could see tw
| yellow mustaches under rusty helmet. TIN
big boy jumped across the trench to the Prus
slams side.
This is my brother, he said, pointing t
| his cOmpanion.