Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-07-12

Pierre. The soldiers eyes searched the
bosom of the lake as though much inter
ested in watching distant flock of plover.
Perres face frightened as he continued:
although | can't walk well, | ride better
than most boys. | might be a horse sol
der, and so fight just as hard for my coun-
try as other people. VIII you drill me to
be a soldier?'
The man in blue shifted his eyes from
the imaginary flock of ployer, and looked
at Pierre. "Why, you're too young. You
can't be more than ten years old
"Not so; | am twelve, and know well
how to shoot"
The officer seemed to be bordering
Pierre's soldierly advantages. He mutter-
ed to HIMSELF" wish those fellows Pm
drilling had this boys spirit"
But now the quiet bay was stirred into
new life A steam launch rounded one of
the points, and pulled towards the young
officers blind. The blue heron gave cry
of surprise, and then, recovering its dignity,
swept away with graceful curves of its
majestic wings. The soldier got up, and
shook the sand from his clothes.
"Heres the government boat come to
take me back to Plattsburg Barracks"
A small skiff put out from the launch to
bring him on board. He threw few
shore birds into the skiff stepped in him
self and was rowed away.
The government boat flew two fags-a
| large one at the bow and a smaller at the
stern When the lieutenant got on board,
he pulled down the one from the STERN and
getting into the skitf again was rowed back
| to the shore. Pierre was still standing on
the sand.
The officer gravely handed the colors to
the boy. "Uncle Sam presents these to
valued citizen. Never forget that you are
a Yankee"
Pierre, being such a new citizen, did not
quite understand the reference to Uncle
Sam. But his heart gave throb of pride,
and he reverently took the coored silk into
his gIimy hands.
As he hoped back through the swamp
road leading to the fields beyond, he
thought: "Now | am really a Yankee.
| The tall man would not give me the flag if
he had any doubt about it,"
When he reached the log house it was
growing dusk. The fat twins, his half
sisters, were rolling over the floor, and
Madam Bourdo busted herself in getting
supper. The stout Canadian woman still
showed some traces of her comey girlhOod.
Jean Bourdo's heavy figure lounged by the
stove, a grievous obstacle both to his wife
and the tumbing twins.
jean Bourdo,' said Pierre, 'would you
not like to be a soldier?'
"a good question! And if ! went to the
war, who would earn bread for you to eat?'
"Jules saws that if my fathers money
had been well managed, II would support
all"
Jean turned angrily. "Jues is crazy
| And as for your father, Pierre Beaudrie, he
did so much burroWlng INTO Ola DOCKS lhaI
he had no time to plough the land or col
ect fees from the clients.
The woman stopped him. Inc notary
made good husband, though he was OLD
enough tC be my father. In his time l
lived like lady
Pierre had hidden the flag under his
jacket, and now he climbed the ladder to the
loft and put the silk beneath his pillow.
He returned to the lower room; the family
had supper, and Jean, lighting his pipe,
said:
"Pierre, go you TO bed. l have company
tonight, and tomorrow you must be up
early to help the threshers.'
Plover Pierre kept nearly as early hours
as the plovers themselves. Tonight,
! moreover, he was willing to be alone, Tor
he had plenty to think about He pulled
himself up the ladder as nimbly as could
most boys who had two legs. After adj
miring the bright flag, he carefully laid it
away among his few belongings, and soon
was in bed.
Visions of war and soldiers filled his
| excited brain. The friendly officer ceased
to be an awe-inspiring monseigneur; now
he was merely good comrade, and they
were fighting for the same beloved country.
| Pierre himself, bestride gallant white
charger, and holding aloft the emblematic
flag, led ranks of hOrsemen to victory.
The restless boy, tossed 10y such fancies,
must have lain awake for a long time,
when he was recalled to himself by hear
ing a door open and some one enter the
room below. Again and again visitors
arrived, until there must have been ten
men assembled in the lonely cabin.
So many visitors We're unusual, and
Pierre, at first without meaning to turn
eavesdropper, heard enough of their talk to
rouse his suspicious Getting quietly out
of bed, he put his eye to a crack in the
ilC0r affa listened.
The men had arranged their business,
and were about to leave. When they had
all risen, one of them spoke to Jean
Bourdo:
'Remember, BourdO, how it is settled.
We are to meet here tomorrow afternoon
at five-twenty men, armed and on good
horses. You, in what disguise You please,
are to ride with us, guide us to st. Adams
by the shortest road, and point out the
village banks. We will do the rest. For
doing this you are to receive one hundred