Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-10-20

sour wedding will be in the harvest
time" she said, ''if the Emperor does
not carry you off as soldier"
Nv.
When the day for the drawing of lots
arrived, lighted my taper; the idea of
leaving her was more than l could bear.'
The Holy Virgin be praisedl But to
Jean, my er-brother, worse lot fell.
l found him weeping and sayin'
"Mother, my poor mother''
".
Console yourself, Jean; ] am an or
phan, and will go in your stead,"I said
to him impulsively.
He would not believe me.
Perrine stood under the pear-tree, her
eyes filed with tears. They were more
beautiful than her smiles
She said to me: '.You have done a
noble thing. See, my Pierre, will wait
for YOU"
vi.
Right, left, right, left. Forward,
march! so we reached Wagram. Pierre,
be brave! Here is the enemy. saw a
line of fire. There were 500 cannons
laundering at once, and smoke oppressed
the lungs and blood soaked the feet.
was afraid and looked behind me.
VII.
Behind me was the village and the
pear-tree whose blossoms had changed
into fruit. / closed my eyes and saw
Perrine. who was praying for me. God
be praisedi Pierre, be brave ! For
ward, forward! Right, left! Aim, tirei
Charge bayonet!
"Ah, all, the recruit does WE'LL Boy,
what is your nameT'
Monsieur, my name is Pierre"
''Pierre, | make you a corporal"
VIII.
Perrine, o my Perrinel Corporali
Hurrah for warl The day of battle is
holiday. To rise in the army all that is
necessary is to put one foot foremost.
Left, right.
''Was it you, Pierre ~ :"
''Yes, your majesty"
i received my epaulets.
There were plenty on the shoulders OF
the dead.
TX.
Monsieur, thousand thanks"-and
on to Moscow!
On the vast snow-covered plains road
marked by the dead; here, the river;
there, the enemy; on both sides, death!
''Who will place the first pontoonp
II, Monsieur"
always you, Captain"
He gave me his cross.
"
God be praised Perrine, my Perrine,
you will be proud of me. The campaign
is ended and have my leave.
Ring, bells. for our wedding. The road
is long, but hope travels fast. Down
there, behind that hill, there is the viii
lagc.
4, / recognized the belfry The bells are
ringing.
Xi.
Ringing, but the pear tree? The
month of flowers has come, but still do
not see the flower laden branches. had
always seen them from afar. That was
because l used TO come on foot. They
had cut down the tree Of my early love.
The blossoms had come. All the
bright blossoms, but its branches lay
scattered on foreground.
XII.
why are the bells ringing, Mat
thieu?n
"For a wedding, Monsieur lie Capt.
tame"
Matthew did not know me.
A wedding! He told the truth The
bride and groom assembled the steps OF
the church.
The bride was Perrine. my Perrine,
joyous and more beautiful than ever.
Jean, my brother, was the bridegroom.
-.
XIII.
The people around me were saying,
"They love each other"
But Pierre, / asked.
"What Pierrcg they answered. They
had forgotten me.
XIV.
1 knelt at the church door. Iprayed
for Perrine and / prayed for Jean; all
that loved on earth.
The service over, gathered blossom
from the pear-tree-a poor little with
cred blossom and went on my way with
out looking back.
God be praised. They love each other.
They will be happy.
XIV.
"Mousieur"
"You are back already, Pierrei"
"Yes.n
"You are only two-and-twenty. You
will be a General, and you will be knight
I'd. If you wish l will give you countess
for wife,"
Pierre took from his breast withered
flower, plucked from the fallen pear
tree.
Monsieur, my heart is like this. /
wish a post in the vanguard, where can
die as Christian soldier"
XVI.
The post in the vanguard was given
him.
At the end of the village there is the
grave of Colonel killed on the day of
victory-two-and-twenty.
In place of name there are these
three words:
God be praiscdl"