Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-11-18
MADAME jamie.

for she who bore it was brave woman,
and worthy Of all respect. And, more
over, she showed on one memorable oc
casion the truest courage and GOODNESS
in very tragic circumstances.
You must know that Nine. Jambe-
Mother Jamie the soldiers called her
was for many years cantlniere in regi-
ment CT the line, and in this capacity she
was q sort of good angel to the troops.
Officers and soldiers alike all respected
her. and never, during the quarter of a
century she served, whether in Algeria or
throughout the Italian campaigns, had
she to complain of a single brutal act or
word
Sac married, when about 80 years of
age. the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of the
regiment. His time was nearly up, but
he remained with the cOlors in order to
help his wife to keep the canteen. The
little household was a prosperous one,
for Nine Jambe had more than one
string to her bow. and we'll understood
how to employ her spare time proftably.
She had learned the art Tor science, per-
haps it should be called of hair dressing,
and on the occasion of any fete was IN
great request with the officers wives.
Nine. Ia Colonelle never employed pro-
feSSional coiffeur even for the most cere-
monious event. The thrifty woman was
thus able to lay by very considerable
sum of money, which. by no means les
sened her popularity in the regiment.
After a year of married life a son was
born, and Nine. Jambe and her husband
agreed that as soon as he should attain
the proper age, he, too, should be a sol
der At the age of 16 he passed into the
ranks. and, already accustomed as he
was, TO military life and discipline, and
being smart and intelligent, he seemed to
have bright future before him.
But in the full tide of its pros Derity the
fa suffered
The husband and father died suddenly
in 1863 It was a terrible shock to our
poor Nine. Jambe, and she would hardly
have survived it were it not for the
thought of her son, and the hope that he
would be q comfort to her in her declin-
ing years. Sorrow aged her more than
her rough life had done, and with regret
she left the service and settled in a little
cottage left her by her parents in the
village of Clusy, near POntarliers.
A year later war broke out, and this
was another sorrow for her to bear. She
was q patriot. Nine. Jambe, but she was
also mother. Her country was in dan
ger and her son, too, and she was a prey
to nervous fears which knew no ceSSa-
ton, no relief.
During that terrible winter of 1S70-71
she hardly slept for three consecutive
hours IN the twenty-fOur. Always on
the alert for news, she chafed SOrely at
the snow. which almost cut off her little
village from the outer world, and made
communication q matter of great dill
Guilty. She passed whole weeks IN lgnor-
ance Of tie progress of the war. OF her
sons whereabouts, and then, little by
little she heard of the defeats, and at
last learned that her son, sergeant
now had been attached to the army OF
the East. which was being formed under
the command of Gen. Bourbaki.
From this time, and in all weathers,
she might be seen each day trudglng the
weary. snoW-cOvered miles which lay be-
tween Clusy and Pontarliers, or else
climbing to Fort de Joux, overlooking
the Swiss frontier. She sought news, but
news, unhappily, was scarce and contra
dictory and gradually hopes Of Il decisive
victory grew fainter and fainter
Suddenly, toward the end of January,
the rumor spread that the army of the
East was approaching, having failed to
relieve Belfort. For nearly a week Mere
Jambe kept strict watch day and night,
scanning eagerly the road by which she
hoped to see the French arrive. They
We're signalled at last, but the Germans
were signalled too from the opposite di-
rection, and it seemed evident that the
armies would encounter one another IN
the immediate neighbOrhOOd.
And now / will let Nine. Jambe take up
the story, for what follows l had from
her own lips a few months after the
events described took place:
"One morning at dawn l heard noise
at the door of the cottage and then the
sound of breaking glass. | rose hastily
and ran down TO the entrance. [ gave
cry. my boy was there, and behind him
stood three of his comrades, but in what
q state. Haggard, hollOW-cheeked, their
uniforms in rags, their boots almost IN
pieces. blue and shivering with cold.
All. my poor child, [ cried, opening
my. arms. "a,
The general has entrusted me with
MESA &c TO the commandant of the fort
but the Prussians bar the way. They
have seen us and are in pursuit. They
must not find u.s.
Give me your order I cried, I will
take it while you hide here; no one will
suspect a woman
4 had no time to finish: we heard
a discharge Of musketry and q neighbor
rushed III crying:
g 'The Prussians. The Prussians are
here"
4 pushed my son and his friends into
storeroom, at the farther end of which,
under some hay, was the door leading
into the cellar where | kept my little
stock Of wine and cider.
.'The PrusSians entered in through the
open door; l saw others in the road
There must have been about 100 of
them altogether. young officer was
in command
''He came UP to me and asked brutal
":
Is it you who are Nine Jambe?'
Yes. | ana She / answered him.
"'Your sen has just entered this
house.
'tAIy son! He is far away from here,
always supposing that he is still alive
He is here; / am sure of it. Come,
now. where is he?'
You must seek him. then.
''He made a sign. and / was surround
ed and prevented from moving my posi-
ton The soldiers ransacked the house.
| asking myself meanwhile who could
be the coward who had betrayed my
son.
at last the brutes found him-him
and his friends-and l saw the dragged
out covered with the hay in which they
had attempted to conceal themselves.
And my son. How brave and handsome
lie looked with his flashing eyes. Yes.
lie was my own flesh and blood, and l
felt proud Of him. They were rigorous
III searched for the MESA ges they were
supposed to bear, but as ii was verbal
one thew could find nothing