The morning call., 1892-07-15
TIE TRUMPBlBR.
TC0nc{uded

concluded
awakened by a sensation of gentle
warmth. 4 fire burned brightly upon the
hearth, where the trumpeter had heaped the
fragments Of the partition. ! raised myself
with an exclamation of surprise and
pleasure.
"Ah, this resusctates you" he cried
gavly. You see there are always means
Of amelioreting ones condition if tine is not
wasted in contemplating the buttons of
ones CATERS"
You are a magician, l cried.
"A little. my friend" be replied, as he
improvised a seat from the remnants OF the
broken woodwork: but Il is white magic,
with g wand having four fingers and a
thumb. You think, perhaps, that l lit TINS
6re merely for waTmth-that II is parlor
FIRE? Ycu are in error, my dear heart; this
Is IRE 10 cook by anG destined TO be pot
boiler"
They have distributed ratiOns to your
company. then?" l sad.
"CaTtridEe ratiOns," responded the
trumpeteF. But we can't eat them. We
shall take some from the PruS slams"
Where do YOU expect 10 find their fOOd?'
. Where? Why here. Do not the van
pushed feed the vanquishers?" Under
standing my gesture Of doubt he continued,
"Ah, you have not much confidence in their
laTdsr. have you? Tie fact may be that the
locality is a little bare, but true French
man never despairs. Provided his general
1iStTi butes to MIN his SHARE Of glory, IL is
Tor him 10 procure something 10 eat At
The time when ! was gathering In the gar
ien those dry leaves to make You bed Of
sIder-doWn perceived some little heaps in
q corner. They suggested potatoes. ! dug
into them with my steel and exposed 10 the
light OF day some 20 OF these yirtuOus
tubers. The whole brood ara under the
sshes there and ought TO be already cooked.
We VIII. in consequence, proceed 10 feast.
0ae! master Of the hotel, quickly say grace
and serve up hOtY
AS be repeated this army phrase in the
tone Of q master Of ceremonies, the tTum-
peter drew forth one after another from
underneath the Goals the smoking potatoes
and ranged them symmetrlcally upon the
hearth.
had eaten nothing since morning. The
savOry odOr awakened nv hunger. l made
an effort TO sit up and was about to partake
# the supper imDTOvised by the tTum-
peter when | saw him all at once lift his
mead and listen
what is it?" l asked.
BE imposed silence by a gesture, rose
quickly. caught up his gun. which he had
placed against the wall, and advanced
rapidly toward the door.
At this moment /, in my turn, distin-
guished the sound Of steps outside. Sud
denly they became silent, as il the person
were approaching Win Ui5LTUst. at last.
however. they paused az the threshold.
There was an interval, then a hand lifted
gently the straw which closed the entrancs
man dressed in the costume Of the country
appeared at the opening; lie looked within
AMI made step forward.
The trumpeters gun was at his shoulder
and arrested him promptly. He recoiled
with a cry.
Make one movement and you are dead T.
said the soldier.
The German clasped his hands and stam-
mered forth a prayer for quarter,
DO not fret" l cried to my companion.
''He asks for mercy"
81 understand that" replied the trum-
peter; but 1t Is necessary to know what
brings him hither."
Let him approach; 1 will talk with
him." | said.
$50 you know German? Bravo! Then
We are going TO have some prattie. Come.
deliver yourself up, mein herr, to this per-
son you see here who speaks your savage
language! Ask him who he is, whence he
comes, what he wants, and, If possible, pro-
cure some butter for our potatoes"
Thus speaking, he forced the German to
advance toward me.
When the stranger perceived that | was
wounded he expressed much compassion
and asked whether | would not be able to
gam the french encampment The last
question led me to believe that the Prus-
slams bad retreated all along their line
Inc tTumpeter TO whom | impaired this
good news cried. Long live the EmperorP'
and presented arms. The German stafed
also that he had quilted the burning hamlet
the same morning, and that the only house
remaining, the one In which we found our-
selves, was bis. AS TO tue reason Of his
coming here In the midst of so much danger
and at such an hour be- appeared emb4r-
raSsed 20 explain 1t, aud became involved in
confused statements
However, MY companion appeared to
rest contented with the information given
and Invited him, with a sort Of soldierIy
cor1lallty, to approach the fire.
We have little broken up the barrack. Z"
added he, but that was your fa llt. You
should have left the key TO YOUR woodshed -
The German excused himself, saving thai
ali had been consumed by the Prussians.
VINO occupied the village. 1t was with diff
Guilty that he had been able to transnort
some furniture and other effects which had
escaped pllage TO the house Of a relative.
VINO dWeit at some distance aud who had
consented TO receive his family.
1eS, yes, said the trumpeter, "one
Knows that. In the time of the repnhIic
the Austrians came thus into France thev
we're quarteced in our village. and NV
mother tells what the poor people had IN
undergo. War is good enough for the soI-
dler; lie returns the blows he receives. I'm,
the nome dweller Is always the sufferer. and
IL Is necessary that he pay the expense
Seat yourselI, my old friend. and if youl
Deart Allows, eat, drink aud shelter vour.
sell. You may act as in your own house. >
THIS nonsensical lOyiality of the soldier
reassure0 the German more than would auy
amount oil pr0testatiOns. He seated himsel
upon the bench, and after some moment,
OF conversation cried:
Upon my soul, gentlemen, you ar,