Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-04-23
A Peaceful Warrior.

Since he had come into France with
the invading army, Walter Schnafis
considered himself the most unfortun-
ate of men. He was fat and not fond
of walking, and he suffered dreadfully
with his feet, which were flat and
heavy. He was a peaceable, kindly
soul, with nothing valiant or war like
about him. He missed the four little
ones at home that he dotted on, and he
tlonged desperately. for his fair young
wife, with her tender, caressing ways
and her kisses. He liked to get up
late and go to bed early to eat and
drink well. without being hurried !;
and now death might carry him off
at any moment from all the good
things of this world. How he hated
all the cannons, and rifles, and revolt
vers, and swords, with deadly, I'M
reasonable, and at the same time, we'll
founded hatred. The bayonets in
particular were his special aversion,
for he felt that he should never be
agile enough to protect his fat body
from those weapons.
At the beginning Of every battle
his legs used to weaken under him,
and he would certainly have fallen if
he had not remembered that the whole
army would have to pass over his
body. His very hair stood on end at
the whistling of the balls. For
months he had been living in fear and
anguish.
His regiment We're marching toward
Normandy. One day he was sent out
accommodating with small detach-
ment, with orders TO explore part Of
the country and then fall back. The
country seemed quiet there were no
signs of any defensive preparations.
The Prussans were marching quietly
down into valley cut up into deep
ravines, when they were suddenly
brought to a standstill by brisk fire
of musketry. Twenty of their men
fell, and squad Of francstireurs rush.
ed out of little wood and charged
with their bayonets.
For a moment Walter Schnafis stood
motionless, too surprised and terrified
to think of fight. The next moment
he was wild to turn and run; but un-
fortunately, he could only run like
snail compared to those lean French
men, who came bounding along like a
herd of goats. About six feet in
front of him there was wide ditch
filled with brush-wood and dead leaves.
He jumped straight into it without
thinking of its depth, as you might
jump off Il bridge into river. He
shot like an arrow through thick
hedge of thorns and briars that tore
his face and hands, and fell heavily,
sitting OH bed Of stones.
Looking up, he could see the sky
through the hole he had made. That
treacherous hole might betray him, so
he had to crawl cautiously on his
hands and knees along the bottom of
the ditch, under the eDtwined branch
es, scrambled away as fast as he could
from the scene Of combat. Then he
stopped and sat down again, crou CHI
ing like hare in the long, dry grass.
For some time he could still hear shots
and groans. and shouts. But the
struggle gradually died away and
ceased. All became calm and quiet
again.
The night fell, filling the ravine
with darkness. The soldier grew
thoughtful. What was he to do ? |
What would become of him ? Should
he rejoin the army But how and
where' And he would have to 90
back to life of fear, and anguish,
and fatigue, and suffering, that he had
been leading ever since the beginning
Of the war. No, he really had not
the courage to do it. He should
never be able to bear the long march,
es and brave the perpetual dangers.
All at once he thought: "Suppos-
ing was to be taken prisoner |"
And wild longing came into his
heart to be taken prisoner by the
French. Prisoner! 1t would be the
saving of him; he would be fed and
housed, sheltered from all danger of
swords and bullets, safe in a good, |
well-guarded prison. A prisoner /! |
Oh, what dream of bliss And he |
made up his mind at once: II shall |
deliver myself up as a prisoner"
He stood up, determined TO put his
plan into execution without losing
moment. But as soon as he was ON
his feet a whole crowd Of unpleasant
reflections and new terrors assaiIed
him. Where and how was he To give
himself up as prisoncri All sorts
Of awful pictures--piciures Of death.
passed before bic mind. lie would !