The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-12-12

hack. but u ~ ! ne HrInr mn III
&1n the rnecnIs were % we'll Projected
BY their walls This f,silade lasted
only about ton n1!nutcs bit shall 70.
member Il q long time
However II could not continue In
this way. The bugle 30 ndcd the
charge! Saprist.' that music always
sends shivcr OF gayety through mo.
Behold us running with fixed bayonets
like mad men. But as had already
| noticed. the gateway OF the citadel
| op ned upon high embankment
| scarcely three meters wide: to enter
there. we must climb that narrow rs
cent and push In two by two under a
! terrible fire. and that too. through a
| palisado OF bamboo which the rascals
had constructed TO bar the way, al
ready narrow enough. All. II was
sufficiently difficult without that cursed
bamboo. and God only knows what II
cost us l saw my two lieutenants
fall. the adjutant OF the battalion and
many others. Impossible to pass that
cursed bamboo My captain ragged
like demon. AT last he commanded
"A section up thercr'
This time il was serioos very Sc
rious no time TO hesitate; all who
climbed there were sure OF certain
death. think the captain must have
retained some spite against Jacque. for
he turned 10 him and said:
GO up there. sir and tear away
that bamboo
II is but justice to say he did not
walt TO be told "A second time Touch
ing his cap with ',AIl right my cap
tain " he started In a qulcr run. In
passing rue be drew a package OF let
TORS from his pocket
Take care OF this for me. Bert
rand. and in the twinkling OF an eye
be was up there with his section.
All. ths brave boy. II was beauti :
ful TO see him 80 cool. so calm; not "A
loud word. not AN oath. only quick.
determined orders: Tear away this. -
Throw that In the ditch" He was
as tranquil as II experimenting a
squad of soldiers on fatigue duty. Aud
all the time the enemy was pouring
upon them deadly fire. tho balls
whistling. tearing the bamboo. plow-
ing up the ground. every now and then
crushing In shoulder. carrying away
an arm or breaking leg. Ny God,
what a sight They were all left there.
all my comredes--Jacques among the
number but be was the last just as
the work was finished ball struck
him between the eyes just as he
raised his arms 10 shout great ''Hur.
rahn' ho fell dead. face foremost
Perhaps IL was not very proper
what did next morning. but truly it
was too much for me--that packet OF
letters that Jacque gave me as he
went TO his death. / would not keep
them. | thought "a boy who acts
like coward and few hours after
dies like n man. IL is not natural;
there must be something under this"
and felt had the explanation there
under my hand in those letters They
burned me. II was impossible TO keep
them Ma foil Then-then drew
out the packet.
Upon my word there was only
one letter the one he had received
that morning. Nothing else. All.
blood OF blood what a letter. He
was right poor boy. One ought not
TO receive letter like that just before
a battle.
A. for me. ! cried like n buby and
was scarcely able 90 read 10 for the
tears in my eyes. IL was from his
mother, and here Ia what the good
woman wrote 10 her boy as she ended
her letter:
Now. my precious Jacque take
care OF yourself for my sake. Remem-
Der, you are all have in the world
and II anything should happen you
| would surely go mad. II Is true the
time passes very YEARLY when ono is
waiting but try TO be patient TO for
get the present and only think Of the
future when you will return.
Above all things my precious boy.
be prudent 60 whatever you are
commanded 20 do. like brave soldier,
but do not expose yourself unnecessa-
rily forbid you. No. my darling
Jacque, forbid you nothing. i'm
plore you. before entering into any en-
gagement 10 think OF your mother
who Is always thinking OF you. and do
not risk too much. Promise mo this.
viii you notP And remember o man
is not n coward because he loves his
mother New York Recorder.