The Portland daily press., 1892-05-07
THE FLAG or PIERRE.

On the northeastern shore of Lake
Champlain is long sandy beach. In
land from this stretches the dreary ex-
panse of tamarack swamp. One af-
ternoon early in October the only living
things plainly in sight along this beach
were several small sandpipers that daint-
lily tiptoed over the sand and tall blue
heron wading in shallow water. But
when one looked closely, as did Plover
Pierre, one noticed a bunch of bushes
stuck into the sand so as to form what
hunters term ''blind." The blue heron,
keeping a wary eye on the misplaced
bushes, may have thought it thus called
because only sightless creatures would
think a place so suspicious looking de-
void of harm.
AS Plover Pierre scanned the beach
he discovered man lying behind the
bushes Of the blind. This man was
stalwart, bronzed fellow, perhaps thirty
years old; he had on the blue uniform
of the United States army and wore long
leather boots, and as he lay stretched on
his side shotgun rested in the hollow
of his arm. just now the lieutenant was
yawning. The scene was a stupidity
peaceful one; all things were quiet and
sleepy-too much SO to please the young
officer. He longed for flock of plover
to autter by and relieve the monotony.
eff something doesn't turn up pretty
soon," he thought, sri stalk my friend,
the blue heron-though believe the old
fellow keeps an eye on me, for all his
marching along in such an unconscious
and dignified manner. He's the only
bird bigger than my thumb that I've
seen for an hour. Why, SO far as sport
goes, might better be at the barracks
drilling recruits. But, hello! there's a
queer bird
He had seen Plover Pierre. Pierre
emerged from the shadow of the ever.
green's and stood upon the sand The
boy did not see many strangers, so he
moved along the beach to investigate
this one. AS he passed by the little
sandpipers tipuped as if making low
courtesies to a friend, and the blue heron
looked at him with less haughtiness than
1t usually assumed. Perhaps the bird
believed that Pierre came to destroy the
absurd structure called a blind.
But for once the heron was mistaken,
Pierre did not disturb the blind, but
crawled behind it to chat with the SOL
der. AT first the boy was half afraid of
this long fellow in blue clothes and brass
buttons, though his face was kind and
friendly. Pierre had once been in law
court at Quebec, where the high official
was addressed as monseigneur. The
boy decided to use this title in the present
instance.
"Monseigneur, are you Yankee?'
The soldier nodded, and Pierre re-
stunned:
$50 am I. We have moved, and now
we live one mile south of the line be-
tween Canada and Vermont. You see,
am Yankee by whole mile
$50 you are" replied the other, land
in your case no one can say miles not
better than miss. You wouldn't like
to miss being Yankee, would your"
mo, indeed, monseigneur. am proud
to be a Yankee. The French and the
Yankees were always friends, and it is
good to belong to the United States.
Since we are both Yankees, we should
be friends. Is it not so?"
'Of course it is" The soldier laughed,
got up, and made room for Pierre.
"Come, what'll you have? Here's some
ale, and here's a cigar"
Plover Pierre shook his head. "Jules
says liquor is only good to put out
cigar. / want neither"
"Why, this Jules must be perfect
stoic.''
sob, no; Jules is my friend, and he
lives quite near us. He too has moved
to Vermont.
"And imagine you're great playfel-
lows" suggested the lieutenant.
"Well, not quite that, monseigneur.
He teaches me and knows many sto-
ries. You see he is old. He was my
fathers clerk, and he has white hair
standing up all over his head. Ny
father" said Pierre proudly, "was a no.
tary and knew all things. Jules says
my father was quite old when he mar
ried the mother. Then he died and she
married Jean Bourdo. He is strong and
can work On the farm, but he likes bet
ter to be idle" The boy was rafting
on, when he 2emem bered that Jules said
people should not talk too much of their
own affairs A dusty red crept into hi
swarlhY tAGe. Bat ii tires YOU to hear