The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-11-11
THE FLAG OF PIERRE

panse OF tamarack swamp One af-
ternoon early in October the only living
things plainly in sight along this beach
Were several small saudpipers that daint-
lily tlptoed over the sand and tall blue
heron wading in shallow water But
when one looked closely, as did Ployer
Fierre' one noticed a bunch of bushes
stuck into the sand so as to form what
hunters term blind" The blue heron.
Keeping 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 Pioyer Pierre scanned the beach
ne discovered a 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
ms side shotgun rested in the hollow
OF ms arm. Just now the lieutenant was
yawnlng. 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 fiutter by and relieve the monotony.
IF something doesn't turn up pretty
soon, he thought, "Ill 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
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 hin, 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
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-
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, 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 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'l you have? Here's some
ale, and here's a cigar"
Plover Pierre shook his head. julie:
says liquor is only good to put out {
cigar. want neither.
why, this Jules must be Il perfec
stole"
"Oh, no; jules is my friend, and h'
to Vermont"
And | imagine you're great playfel
lows" suggested the lieutenant.
We'll, not quite that, monseigneur
He teaches me and knows many ste
ries. You see he is old. He was m
fathers clerk, and he has white hal
standing up all over his head. NJ
father" said Pierre proudly, twas nc
tary and knew all things. Jules say
nv father was quite old when he maj
ried the mother. Then he died and sh
married Jean Bourdo. He is strong an
can work on the farm, but he likes be
ter to be idle" The boy was rattlin
on, when he remembered that Jules sal
people should not talk too much of the
own affairs A dusky red crept into h
swarthy face. But it tires you to he'
all this. Do you come from the ba
racks across the lake, where they teao
new soldiers?
His new acquaintance smiled assent
Jules says it is shame for Unite
States people to fight each ether, but
like wars. I should so if it were not f
that"
AS Pierre said that" he looked
something which should have match
the sturdy les curled up beneath hui
but was only piece of wood fasten
to very short stump of leg. Besld
the wooden leg, Pierre carried two y
low crutches. Perhaps it was the
slender substitutes for legs which ga
him the name of Plover Pierre. L
soldiers eyes searched the bosom OF {
lake as though much interested IN wate
ing q distant flock of plover.
Pierre's face frightened as he &C
tinued: although I can't walk well
ride better than most boys. might
a horse soldier, and so fight just as ha
for my country as can other Peep
Will you drill me to be soldier"
The man in blue shifted his eyes tr(
the imaginary flock of plover and look
at Pierre. "Why, you're too your
You can't be more than ten years oil
! ~