Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-12-25

ssos through the narrow s1sdov md shrss
dAzins rays sph rs NOV.
fan isud CRY saDs IRON - ~ 8 -
hoass. followed BY . ehass a AanAn
sAs,sks, h~arsssnding sSps.b u sagsA -
faas fn~a. hsvinG hafuad tAsosgA ~ eap
door, . vhviwind II Are hasse into IL aee3e.
pGsrcsd shs shasehsd roof snd ruo 70 IL
sasn ike an inmAnss toreA. md IL vhois
scoezags vas vrappsd IN AsnsL
yothinx more - hsard within but shs
cracsling Of rbs ars ed ~ esumhling II
the beams. The ronf ssddsoly fen IN, ed de
shower Of sparks into sh> air. amid . eaood
of aaoks.
Tbs Sesda. lighted by ths IRE, shoos hks .
ahsee u silver tintsd with rod.
A tell In the distance began 70 ring
Old Mother ia yags rsmainsd sanding ~
fore her destroyed dwelling. armed with hsr
gun, her ems gun, for fsas that one IT the
men might escape
When she saw that al was over shs threw
A~ weapon into the enbsrx A Ioud rvport
rang cut.
People came harrying up-pes>nts, Prus-
siAna
They found the woman atting On tres
trunk, tranquil and serene
A German offieer who spoks French like
son Of France. asked nsr:
Where are your SoLfisrsr
HE str-sehei out hsr thin ann toward tbs
red mass Of lying Gre. md answered IN
strons voice:
In there
They pressed around her. The Pru~aAn
aak~d
How did IL take drsf'
Sis answered:
Il et u on fire
They did not tsiieve her. They thought that
the dixastsr had suddeaiy made her crazy.
Then, - ali surrounded and listened 70 hsf.
sbs Told the story from end 70 the Other.
from tbs arrival Of the letter TO ths last cry q
the men burned up with her house. She did
not forget u single detail u what she bad
felt, or Of what she had dons
When she had finished sns took from her
pocket two papers, and, In order 70 distin-
suish them by the dying CLEANS Of the fire,
she again adjasts.i her spsctaclss and then
sid. pointing 10 one Of them: That 10 the
death Of Victor Pointing 10 the other she
adsisd, al the same tins designating the red
ruins with an lnciinatioB Of the head ''Thess
are their names, tina, ,hsir relatives may b
informed" She quietly banded tbs white
shss< Of payer to the oflcsr, who took h1
by the shoulders, and she continued
lyon will write them how IL happened,
and you will say to the parents that did it,
victoire Simon, the 6avagei Don't forget"
The officer shouted soms orders In German.
They seized her and hurled hsr against the
still hot walls Of the dwelling Then twelve
men arranged themselves in front Of her 1t .
distance OF twenty yards. She did not
bulge She had understood; she waited
An order rang out, followed Immediately
Iby q long report. One tardy shot was heard
Ealons after the others
l The old woman did not fall. She sank, -
II her legs had been moved from under her
The PrussiAn officer approached Shs was
almost cut in two, and in her clinchsd hand
che held letter, bathed in blood
Ny friend Serval added:
by way Of reprisal the Germans destroyed
my neighboring cottage"
As for me. I thought Of the mothers Of
those four kind hearted fellows burned In
this house, and Of the atrocious heroism II
this other mother shot against the wall
And picked up little stone still black
ene.i by the are.--Guy de Maupa-ant In La
LAnterne.