The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-28
THE
THE
Little Drummer .
From the French of Jean Barnard.
From the Boston Home Journal.


| change their cassocks for the clothes of
| civil life. Francois, who was now Id
years old and did not feel that he had
a strong vocation for the priesthood,
abandoned the convent with the Others.
On bright day in the month of March
| he found himself on the streets of Tou-
louise with nothing in his pockets but
the few francs that had been given to
each monk who had laid aside his beads
| and casSock.
But what was the poor boy to do? He
had neither parents nor friends, and he
was stranger in the city. His first
| idea was to so to see his benefactress
at the ChateauX de CroiX-Daurade. but
he did not dare. What could she think
of his resolution to abandon a religious
life. and what reception would she give
to one who had shown such a poor APP
probation of the favors she had done
| him?
AS he was wandering aimlesSly about
the streets. his attention was drawn to
a poster which gave notice that boys
were wanted to enlist as drummers in
the National Guard, which was then
| being organized.
Francois presented himself at the
registrars office. where he was enlisted,
clothed in uniform and given his
drum and sticks on the spot. The boy
had never had drumstick in his hands
before hut each day he praised on the
tanks of the Canal Riquet, and he
learned so rapidly that by July Il, the
day OF the first federation, he was the
ADMIRATION OF the town for the way i'm
\ winch he beat the marches at the head
of the company
For he really made fine appearance
in his blue uniform. with the red trim
mings, his hat little to one side. and n
large tri-colored plume partly obstruct-
ing his face. He was now a tall, well
| pullt young man, with frank and
handsome face, and large dark eyes.
which seemed to emit sparks of fire.
SO brightly did they shine beneath their
black lashes. Many people in the
crowd exclaimed when they saw him
pass by:
"Oh. what q handsome drummer
boyw
In front of the Boulingrin, where the
National Guard was reviewed daily.
FRANCOIS saw Jeanne standing beside
her father. She recognized him. but
ne dld nof have time to see what effect
the sight of him had produced upon
her; FOR the regiment was marching
| on double-quick time, and she appeared
to him only as q sort of vision, but
one of those visions which are never
forgotten For week he thought of
nothing else than Jeanne de Sicard.
BY night he dreamed of her. and by
day. as he marched with his regiment,
he looked at every street corner in the
hope that he would see his benefactress
there. and that .she also would eXclaim,
as he had heard SO many others:
"Oh, the handsome drummer boy.'
VSIlt ha did hny in = @
in vain that he strained his eyes to dis
tinguish every face in the crowds he
passed: she was not in Toulouse.
Three years passed away. Events
succeeded each other in those days
with frightful rapidity. The ancient
order of things no longer existed: the
republic had replaced the monarchy.
and the head of Louis XVI. had fallen
under the knife of the guillotine. The
mobiles had emigrated in great num-
bers, and many of them had placed
themselves at the head of the armies
which We're marching against France.
Francois had become a soldier, and
was taking part in the campaign OF
the Rhine. He had been promoted rap
idly to the successive ranks of SER
geant, sub-lieutenant and captain,
which was very easy and very usual
Ill lHcsc uuys, 'ui NiNtoi i'"''
armies were commanded by beardless
colonels and generals of twenty-one.
One day Francois was at the head
of a tachment in a skirmish with an
Austrian convoy. Our soldiers, who
were as brave as lions. We're not long
in putting ito flight their white coated
enemies. who left their chief wounded
on the field.
What was the astonishment of Fran
co.'s when he approached and found IN
this Austrian leader the Marquis de
Sicard. Jeanne's father! The mar
ouis, like many of those who had emil
grated. had taken up arms against MS
country.
Francois, acting on his authority as
CAPTAIN, made the marquis a prisoner
on parole; and, in place of taking MN
to the camp, he left him at a neigh-
boring farm, where every attention
was shown him, and his wound. which
was not a serious one, quickly healed.
Thanks to the fact that the young cap
tain stood very high in the favor or the
general, 1t was not very difficult for
him to obtain a pardon for his former
master Fortunately, the property or
the marquis had not been sold, and 1t
was restored to him as mark Of spe-
cial favor.
When he was reinstated in the Cha
teau de Palificat the Marquis de Sicard
brought his daughter back from Turin,
where she had remained during his alb
sence. Francois obtained a furlough
and came to spend three months with
them at the chateau. where he was re-
ceived, as one can imagine with open
arms.
"It is the captain" said the marquis
to his daughter, that you must thank
for the fact that you are not a penni-
less orphan. I can truly say that / re-
ceived my life and my property at his
hands,
But little more need be said. Fran
co.'s and Jeanne had loved each other
for years before the marquis had been
placed under such singular obligations
to the young man. Their marriage was
celebrated with much pomp in the little
church of Croix-Daurade and 1t is said
that their union-like those in the ro-
mances-was blessed with many chill
dren.
The day after the wedding Francois
and his bride visited the little cottage
where the Margardetto had died, apd
where Jeanne and her father had
sought shelter from the storm on their
return from ithe midnight mass.
ut is here" said Francois to his wife,
i''thatI fully realize all you have done
for me. and'it is here that first fell in
love with you"
MR.. AND MRS. RISING.