Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-04-30

OF St. Helena under glass globe, some
miniatures representing the patron saint
of that island dressed for a ball in a yellow
gown with leg Of mutton sleeves-and all
these things representing perfectly the
peculiar charm Of the year 1906 1t was
this atmosphere of victories audcouquests,
more than anything else, which made him
believe so readily ia the siege Of Berlin.
Beginning with this day, our military
operations were much simplifed. 1t was
only matter Of patience to take Berlin
From time TO time, when the old soldier
was wearied too much, we read him a let
ter from his son, an imaginary letter of
course, You can readily imagine the de-
spair Of the poor child, without news of her
father, knowing him to be prisoner, de-
prived Of everything and perhaps sick, and
at the same time having to read happy let
ters from him. At last her determination
failed her. No news came to the colonel
for some weeks, and finally he grew very
restless and could sleep no longer. Imme-
diately a letter came from Germany, and
she read it TO him gayfy, at the same time
struggling to keep back her tears The
/ colonel listened attenUiyeiy, smiled in an
( appreciatiye manner, approved, criticised
and explained to It's the meaning of the
/ troublesome passages But he especially
( enjoyed the answers which he sent TO his
son.
"'Never forget that you are a French
man. said he once. BE generous to the
unfortunate people. Do not let the inva-
| sion bear too heavily upon them And
| then would come some recommendations,
some delightful precepts on the respect
which we owe to woman. 1t was indeed
a true military code of honor for the use of
conquerors. With these he also intermin-
| gled some general considerations Of polit-
| ical matters, on the conditions of peace
which should be imposed upon the con-
quered country, and in that, must say, he
was not exacting.
"'The indemnity Of war, nothing more
What good would it do 10 take their prov
inces from them2 Can we make a new
France out of Germany
"He said this in firm voice, and there
! seemed to be so much candor in his words
such beautiful, patriotic faith-that it
was impossible not to be moved.
During all this time the siege was go
ing on, but not the siege Of Berlin, unfor-
tunately. The weather was severe, and
the misery was intensified by lombard
ments, epidemics and famine. Neverthe
less, thanks to our care and efforts, and to
the indefatigable tenderness that was
shown him by every one, the old soldiers
peace was not disturbed for a moment.
Until the end | was able to procure him
white bread and fresh meat. There was
only enough fer him, however, and you can
imagine nothing more touching than those
repasts Of the poor old grandfather, so in
p0cently selfish, he on his bed laughing
happily, and beside him his dear grand
daughter, somewhat pale because Of her
privations, guiding his hand, helping him
to drink and assisting him at everything.
Then strengthened by the meal amid the
comforts Of his warm room, the cold, win
try wind and the snow beating against the
windows, the old curassier would tell US
about his campaigns in the north and re
late for the hundredth time the story OF
that unfortunate retreat from Russia
when they bad nothing TO eat but frozen
bread and horsefesh
" Do you realize it, my child, he said
We actualiy had to eat the flesh Of horsesr
"She did, indeed, understand it we'll
For two months she had not eaten any
thing else. As the days went by, our task
increased in proportion TO the gaining
strength Of our patient. The enfeeDled
state Of his mind and body which had
helped us 50 much until now, began to
disappear. Two or three times already the
terrible volleys upon the Maillot gate had
caused him TO jump, his ear having become
as keen as that Of hunting dog. We had
to invent a second victory Of Bazaine at
Berlin, and tell him that the cannon were
being fired from the Invalides as a salute
in honor Of the victory. One day when we
had pushed his bed close to the window.
he saw the National Guards assembling on
the avenue.
"'What are those troops doing there'
he demanded, and we heard him grum-
bling
what a showingl What a showingr
Nothing more came Of this, but we saw
that henceforth we must take the greatest
precautions. Unfortunately we did not
take enough. One evening as | was
coming in, the child came TO me greatly
troubled.
tomorrow she said
WAS the old soldiers door openY It
must have been, for now remember that
his appearance was strangely altered that
evening. II is probable that he had heard
US. Only we spoke of the Prussians, and
he thought Of the French, and Of the
triumphal entrance for which he had been
waiting so long, with Mcmahon marching
down the avenue amid flowers and the
flourish Of trumPets, his son at the mar
shal's side, and he up above on the bal |
cony, in a grand uniform like that which !
he had worn at Lutzen, saluting the tat |
tered flags and the powder stained eagles. |
Poor Colonel Jouvel He had undoubt- /
eddy imagined that we would hinder him !
from viewing the grand return Of the |
troops in order to avoid too great excite .
ment on his part So he spoke TO no one, /
hut on the following day, at the same hour .
that the Prussian battalious were entering .
the long avenue which leads from the .
Mailiot gate TO the Tuileries, the window /
up there opened softly and the colonel ap- /
peared upon the balcony, his helmet on I
his head, his sword at his side and in the /
complete uniform Of cHirassier / still I
ask myself by what effort Of will, by what .
new hold upon life, he had thus been able
to put himself again in harness.