Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-27
THE FLAG OF PIERRE

land from this stretches the dreary ex-
panse of tamarack swamp One az
ternoon early in October the only living
things plainly in sight along this beach
were several small sandpipers that daint-
ily tiptoed over the sand and tall blue
heron wading in shallow water. But
when one looked closely, as did Plover
Pierre, one noticed bunch of bushes
stuck into the sand so as to form what
hunters term blind" The blue heron.
keeping q wary eye on the misplaced
bushes, may have thought it thus called
because only sightless creatures would
think place SO suspicious looking de-
void Of harm.
AS Plover Pierre scanned the beach
he discovered a man lying behind the
bushes Of the blind. This man was q
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 stupidity
peaceful one; all things were quiet and
sleepy-too much so to please the young
officer. He longed for a flock of plover
to fiutter by and relieve the monotony.
"If something doesn't turn up pretty
soon," he thought, "I'll stalk my friend.
the blue heron-though I believe the old
fellow keeps an eye on me, for all his
marching along in such an unconscious
and dignifed manner. He's the only
bird bigger than my thumb that I've
seen for an hour. Why, so far as sport
goes, l might better be at the barracks
drilling recruits. But, hellol there's q
queer bird"
He had seen Plover Pierre Pierre
emerged from the shadow of the ever.
greens 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 friend, and the blue heron
looked at him with less haughtiness than
it usually assumed. Perhaps the bird
believed that Pierre came to destroy the
absurd structure called blind.
But for once the heron was mistaken.
Pierre did not disturb the blind, but
crawled behind it to chat with the SOL
dier. 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 a 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 Yankeep"
The soldier nodded, and Pierre re-
sumed:
$50 am l. We have moved, and now
we live one mile south of the line be-
tween Canada and Vermont. You see, l
am Yankee by whole mile"
$50 you are," replied the other, "and
in your case no one can say miles not
better than miss You wouldn't like
to miss being Yankee, would your
"No, 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'n 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
stole"
"Oh, 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. My
father" said Pierre proudly, "was 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 remembered that Jules said
people should not talk too much of their
own affairs. A dusky red crept into his
swarthy face. "But it tires you to hear
all this. Do you come from the bar
racks across the lake, where they teach
new soldiers?"
His new acquaintance smiled assent.
"Jules says it is a shame for United
States people to fight each other, but
like wars. l should go if it were not for
that"
AS Pierre said "that." he looked at
something which should have matched
the sturdy leg curled up beneath him,
but was only piece Of wood fastened
to very short stump of leg. Besides
the wooden leg, Pierre carried two yell
low crutches. Perhaps it was these
slender substitutes for legs which gave
him the name of Plover Pierre. The
soldiers eyes searched the bosom of the
lake as though much interested in watch
ing distant flock of plover.
Pierre's face frightened as he con-
tinued: 'Although can't walk well,
ride better than most boys. might be
horse soldier, and so fight just as hard
for my country as can other people.
Will you drill me to be soldierr'
The man in blue shifted his eyes from
the imaginary flock of plover and looked
at Pierre. "Why, you're too young
You can't be more than ten years DID,"
"Not so; l am twelve and know well
| how tO shoot