The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1897-07-08
THE PARTISAN"

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a favorite with the officers, but he al
ways managed to get along very well
with his fellow soldiers, for he was SO
lively and had such fund of ready wit.
He had scarcely had any education, as
he was apprenticed at a very early age,
but he had read great deal-every-
thing, in fact. that he had been able to
get hold of-novels, newspapers, books
of travel and adventure, all kinds and
sorts of literature, and as he had an
excellent memory he was certainly cap
ital company.
Then, too, he could sing fairly we'll,
he recited like born actor, and he was
always up to the most irresistible non
sense, so that he was the very life aud
soul of the regiment. He had been nick
named by his fellow soldiers, ON account
of his liveliness and wit, 1.-THE Pari-
sian,' and no one ever thought of call
ing him by any other name. As far as
discipline was concerned, he was very
second rate SOFT of soldier, for nothing
had ever been able to persuade him that
he owed implicit and passive obedience
to the officers, of no matter what rank
they mig ht be.
On the other hand, he kept his uni
form and his arms in the most immacu-
late state of cleanliness, he was first
class shot and could march any dis
tance. When it was announced in his
regiment that volunteers were wanted
for TonGuin, he enrolled himself with
ont moments hesitation, for, as he
said, he bad always wanted to have a
look around in other countries. On board
the MytLo, the vessel which transported
the troCi $, he very soon made himself
quite at LONE.
In the first place, he managed to get
himself employed down in the kitchen,
and in very short time was the favor
lite of the head cook. a..
Then, when he was off duty, he
would install himself comfortably in
the forecastle, and, while smoking ciga-
rettes made with tobacco contributed by
the sailors, he would entertain his audi
ence by reciting monologues and by i'm
stating the Partisan street cries of the
various Law kers.
He WIS wonderfully clever, too, at
imitatiL;; people and animals, and he
had baptized everything and every one
Aon board with the drollest of names of
his OWL invention, SO that even the
officer leaning over the bridge during
the watc., would often roar with laugh
TER at the absurd nonsense going on
ldown below.
For six months the Partisan had been
n 20 L, 80
marching regiment, and there had been
some hald fighting several times, but
80 far, as he himself said, che had kept
his skin WHOLE" and, what was more
extraorGl aacy, he had escaped all fevers
and illness or every kind. He was just
as lively as when in France, and many
a time his gayety had put new courage
into some Of the younger soldiers.
His superiors appreciated his bravery
and sang frlIu when l. der fire and the
happy way be had of making the best
OF all KINDS Ct privations and fatigue.
''He's fine soldier" remarked his
lieutenant one day to the captain, but
the latter, who had noticed his tenden-
Gy to INSTRUMENTATION, answered.:
eyes, fine soldier during the cam
paign, but bad one in the barracks-a
headstrong fellow to deal with. -
A little later on detachment of the
regiment was told off to occupy an iso-
lated point of observation near the banks
of the Sors-Cau. For some time the
country round had appeared quite calm
and peaceful, and, as the guards were
ON duty as sentinels, the soldiers had
for the time being neither fatigue nor
privations to endure.
In order that their inaction should
not have demoralizing effect OH the
men, the officer in command saw fit to
occupy them in various ways, such as
digging trenches, collecting fagots and
all kinds of details connected with their
temporary encampment. One afternoon
IA section of the troop was engaged in
elearing out the quarters, under the di-
erection of Sergeant Butin.
The Partisan had never been able to
reconcile himself to handling the pick
AK, and generally he passed his time in
looking Ola while his comrades did the
work, and as he always kept them en-
tertained with his jokes and nonsense
neither the men nor the subofficer in
command had ever made any difficulty
about this. AS it happened, though, on
the afternoon in question Sergeant Bu-
tin was in a very bad humor, for he had
that morning been hauled over the Goals
himself by his superior officer.
8 On seeing the Partisan, therefore,
seated on the ground making a oiga-
rette. he called ont to him roughly to
take his place and work as the others
were doing.
s'Oh, they'll get through it without
me," he urged.
stake your place, "said the sergeant
roughly.
s'But, sergeant, assure you my trade
10 in metal work, and don't know how
10 go about turning the soil over"
The sergeant was furious, and seiz-
Sng the soldier by his arm thundered
ont:
Enough Of your foolery, and you
can take day IS prison for change"
With one bound the Partisan was on
his feet and had shaken himself free
from the sergeant. He was .livid with
Indignation. and there was no sign OF
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