Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-12-17

pursuing SncllS. line men nau not been
on duty, but were returning from a
visit to Il sick comrade when the mes
senger of death came.
The wounded man was brought up
the steps into the room which we had
just quilted. The surgeon was sent for,
but before he came the poor fellow had
drawn his knees up almost to his chin.
family uttered the one word Bruder
(brother), and then Strengthened out
dead
That was ALL A dead soldier. "Take
this man to his quarters" said our
friend, who was officer of the night,
land report to me i'll writing all the
particulars in IN hour. Stop Il breath.
Let us see who he was
And with Il certain reverence he
loosencd the dead soldiers coat and
found the little pad. attached to a
string, which every German soldier in
front of Paris wore. On this pad were
the soldiers name, his corps his rcgi-
ment, his number and his age. There
were no unknown burials in the prus-
sian army.
We leaned over the small pad, ex-
aiming it curiously, avg II was the first
one we had seen. Il will take it for
YOU" said our huge friend, suddenly denly
Tnapp sgers hf strf that nS obec as
from the body of a man just killed will
preserve the wearer from all harm.
You may need it tomorrow as you ride
along the 'fre-line," he added, with q
melancholy smile.
He carefully copied the dead sol
dier's name and address in his notebook
and then handed me the tiny pad. |
put it in my pocket, and the body was
borne away.
On the next day, December "a, we
journey swiftly along the frozen roads
to Chelles, crossed the Wurtemburgers
war bridge" over the Marine UNI
der Il storm of shell, and gallopcd
through Malnouc, where the blood
stained straw which had served the
Champigny wounded was still lying on
the ground. We climbed the heights of
Bondy Saint Leger, and there halted for
a few moments among the broWn-faced
Pomeranians, looking out across the eN-
panse to where the twin towers of Notre
Dame stood out boldly III gray, Delea-
guered old Paris.
Then we spurred on to Versailles, past
many trains of sick and wounded. past
parks of artillery held in reserve for the
final bombardment, past foraging Uhla-
nen, who had fat chickens and geese
tied to their saddle-bows, and who were
anxious for "cigarren," and so we came
to headquarters as the shadows of
Christmas eve were beginning to close
over the noble park and palaces.
At our old quarters my companion and
myself were equally delighted to find the
doctor-he who knew Sanscrit and Amer
lean politics-awaiting u.s..
on to Vile d'Avray and the Park of st.
Cloud. You are to have dinner with us
in our burrow, and after dinner Fritz
will distribute gifts from his CHRISTMAS
tree Ach Gott! noble tree it is truly
Three-quarters of an hour later we
doctor had a nominal residence i'll vili;
near by, where Fritz had been detailed
to attend to their wants. But their real
abode was in the cave, or trench. winch
extended for Il quarter of mile along
the avenue where Napoleon the Great
enated in their turn. The villa! They
could easily have died. but never nave
lived in it. for the French put an average
of five shells daily through it's roof or
windows.
On every hand was evidence that the
Germans were prepared to stand siege,
as well as to engage in one. The beau
tiful old trees had been fellcd so as alb
solutcly to prevent the progress OF Il
charging column. Vines and fences had
been employed i'll strengthening the LADY
rin!h. which not even cat could nave
penetrated. There were barricades at
every angle, and batteries on every
height.
We came upon Il row of great guns
marked Spandau, 1868: then on mot
tied fence and improvised stable with
bomb-proof roof and finally reached Il
door of woven green houghs-the faith
full frs, brought from the far away Ger
man land. Beside this door stood our
humble but valued friend Fritz, the good
old Lantlwehrsman. with his flat cap
drawn down over his ears and his long
ovcrcoat falling to his heels, and glow
from his huge porcelain pipe irradlat-
ing his honest features.
We gave our weary horses to another
stout soldier, whose cap, overcoat ana
pipe were exactly like those of Fritz,
and soon were all seated i'll comtorta-
BILE underground room i'll the center OF
which the baron, the doctor and Fritz
gamboled about Il lovely Christmas tree,
which, like thousands of others, had
been brought from Germany that the
liebesgaben (the love gifts sent to the
poor soldiers by their wives and children,
might hang upon them on the holy
Christmas eve.
1t would take volumes to tell you
what we said and did. ate and drank,
smoked and played on that Christmas
evening under fire. Was it really under
fire? Indeed it was: the French gun
ners. who knew the Importance the Ger
mans attach to Christmas, kept up rat
tat-tOO on the FOOLS VI ouI ltCHShCS 'hd'
night, l can tell YOU.
After dinner and Il colossal bowl OF
punch the soldiers from the post filed i'll
one by one and received their liebes-
wahen from the tree. Fritz otilciated as
Santa Claus. aided by the doctor. What
JOY. what innocent pleasure ut the gifts
and news from home. "Thcre arc 1000
children belonging to our regiment over
yonder-i in Germany" he said to me i'll
the interval of shouting out names.
"Seven thousand. But l have neither
chick nor child. No! l have only my
brother left. And he is Il soldier like me.
But he is younger 1es-my younger
brothcr-a good carl he is. He sent me
Il present for this Christmas eve. He
sent it from Montmorency; | hung it on
the tree, and presently l will call my
own name, mcht war?
Honest Fritz. his face hcaming with
love and JOY! | can see him now.
"Montmorency?" l said. incautious-
ly.
ly. Il saw poor fellow who was killed
by shell there yesterday
SOP said Fritz, with CULVER in his
voice. Then, with professional manner,
What corps? 2"
''rhe Fourth PrusSian. See here is his
regimental number and name. Perhaps
you or your brother may have known