Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-03-03
THE SIEGE OF BERLIN


NAiis anu pavements around us, perforated
" smells and broken by canister shot
shorty before We arrived at the Square de
Y Efoiie tho doctor stopped, and pointing
10 one OF the large corner houses which
are 20 pompousiy grouped around the Arc
ae Iriomphe. said:
do you nee those four windows which
open out onto that balcony up thersf Dur
ing the early part OF August, that terrible
honth OF 1870 which was 30 full Of storms
ana disasters. was called to that house TO
attend cass-of apopiexy. Ii was the
house OF Colonel Jouve, a cuirassier Of the
first Empire. and man full OF glory and
patriotism He had lived since the begin
ming OF the war 10 the Champs Elysees In
the apartments up there. Can you guess
Why In order 10 assist at the triumphal
return OF our troops. Poor old mani The
news OF Nissemb0arg came as he was get
ung up from the table. Reading Napo-
ieon' y name at the bottom OF the bulletin
q defeat he had fallen as II struck by
thunderboit.
found the Old cuirassies stretched out
upon the hoor OF the room. his face as rigid
ana as expressioniess ~ II he had receised
= blow On the head from club Standing.
ne appeared immense. His handsome fea
tures, peerless teeth and head Of thick,
white hair. made bis eighty years seem To
pe but sixty. Near him knelt his grand
daughter, In tears. She resembled him
very much. To see them together you
would have said that they were like two
Greek medsiiions struck from the same
mold, only the one was old and time worn
"A m mn IL. ha
other was bright and perfect, ike the COM
plete briiliancy and softness OF u new coin.
THE child's grief touched me. She was
Tue daughter and granddaughter OF sol
dier. Her father was ON the stan Of
MaeMahon. and the figure of her old grand
father stretched before her called up In her
mind another image not less terrible. !
treasured her as well as could. but 10 tell
the truth hnd little nope IL WAS = case
OF hemiplegia or paralysis Of one side Of
the body, and Al eighty one haruiy ever re-
covers from that. For three days he re-
mained IN the same motionless and stupe-
He'd condition. In the meantime the news
OF Heichshoffen had arrived at Paris You
viii recall IN what strange way the news
came.
| Until evening we believed that the
French had gained great victory, so'ou
Prussians killed and the prince royal a
prisoner. ! do not know by what miracle,
by what magnetic current, an echo of our
national JOY found its way INTO the para
iyxed mind OF the semiconscious soldier
nevertheless. it Is true that when l ap'
preached his bed that evening did not
Ind the same man MS eyes were aimoss
clear and his tongue was recovering its
usefulness. He had the strength TO smile
at me and to stammer twice, Nie-toi-ref
"'Yes, my dear colonel, great victory
And as fast ~ gave him the details OF
MacMahon's success, saw MS features
relax and his face grow brighter
when ! was leaving. the grandchiit
accompanied me- to the door. she was pai'
and was sobbing.
"'But he Is saSe'i,' said, taking her VI
the hand.
: The unhappy child had scarcely strength
enough to answer me. The real new
about Reichschoffen had just been posted
announcing that MaeMahon was In night
and that his army was destroyed w
looked at each other In CONSERVATION
She was grieving also at the thought 9
, her father. For myself, trembied NJ tn
Thought OF the grahais.nsI. ne e. sue.
would not be able to resist this new shocl
! and what could we DO. Let nun KIP ~
Joy and the illusions which had bsough
him 10 life again. But In that case
: would De necessary 10 i'e. :,
VERY we'll. then, VIII lie. S.iu :,
heroic child, and drying her tears qaieki
she went back like q ray OF sunshine 'h'
her grandfather's room.
1T Was a severe task which she naa ui
aertaken. ~ hiss ~, - -, mi i
:, mans mind was greatly weakrneu' anu
allowed himself to be deceived as reaail
!. as II he were child. Bat as he game
strength his mind became clearer. We na
. ments and to rewrite the military ouiietii
Tor him. IL was .fuay pf
pretty child bending night ana aay os'
the map of Germany and STRIVING 20 p'
everything together into glorious ien'
campaign; Baxaine before bernh, rossss =,
in Bavaria and MaeAahon at tne nsi.,
She sought my advice IN everything. ano
helped her a. swell - could. put " "
the old soldier himself who aiasa Us me
In this imaginary Invasion ne nsu ~
quered Germany - man, s'a,e ~
I. First Empire. he knew All the eanspaie
' I'm advance.
.'Now. this Is where they are soans
: no. and that Is whst they are going 70 u
be would say. and his prophecies were
wars realized. q fact which did noe iai'
make him very proud.
.unfortunately we never went qaieA
enough for him In capturing eitiss .
? winning battles. His appetite Tor sieto
was Unsuitable. Every dag when saii
% see him learned of new ffrnen
,ory
the young girl ono day, meeting me wiz
,waarx smile Al almost the same inst1