The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1898-12-30
NINE. JAMBE.

surd perhaps, but Mime. Jambe-Mother
Jambe, the soldiers called her-was for
many years cantiniere in regiment of
the line, and in this capacity she was
sort of good angel to the troops. Officers
and soldiers alike all respected her.
She married when about 80 years Of
age the quartefsnaster general of the
regiment His time was nearly up, but
he remained with the colors in order to
help his wife keep the canteen.
After year of married life a son
was born, and Nine. Jamie and her
husband agreed that as soon as he
should attain the proper age he, too,
should be soldier. At the age of 16 he
passed into the ranks, and, being smart
and intelligent, he seemed to have a
bright future before him.
But the husband and father died sud-
denly in 1869. 1t was a terrible shock
to 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 comfort to her in
her declining years. Sorrow aged her
more than her rough life had done, and
she left the service a.ti settled IN lit
tie cottage left be- 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 patriot, was Nine. Jambe,
but she was mother also.
During that terrible winter of 1870
she hardly slept for three consecutive
hours in the "a. Always on the alert
for news, che chafed sorely at the snow,
which almost cut off her little village
| from the outer world and made COM
munication matter of great difficulty.
Suddenly, toward the end Of January,
the rumor spread that the army of the
least was approaching, having failed to
relieve Belfort. For nearly week Mere
Jambe kept strict watch day and
night, scanning eagerly the road by
which she hoped to see the French ar.
rive.
They were signaled at last, but the
Germans were signaled, too, from the
Opposite direction, and it seemed evi
dent that the armies would encounter
one another in the immediate neighbor
hood.
And now l will let Mime. Jambe takt
up the story, for what follows I hat
from her own lips few months aftel
the events described took place:
Zone morning at dawn I heard I
noise at the door Of the cottage ant
then the sound of breaking glass. I ros'
hastily and ran down to the entrance
gave a cry; my boy was there, ant
behind him stood three of his comrades
but in what state-haggard, hollow
checked, their uniforms in rags, thei
boots almost in pieces, blue and shiver
ing with cold!
Mother, you must hide Us, he said
The general has intrusted me with
message to the commandant of the fort
but the Prussians have seen us and ar
in pursuit. They must not find u.s.
Give me your order, l cried.
will take it while you hide here. N
one will suspect a woman
81 had no time to finish. We heard
discharge of musketry, and neighbo
rushed in crying:
" The Prussians! The Prussians al
herep
81 pushed my son and his friends ir
to a storeroom at the farther end {
which, under some hay, was the doc
leading into the cellar, where l keI
my little stock of wine and cider.
"The Prussians entered in throug
the open door. I saw others in the roat
There must have been about 100 {
r them altogether. A young officer was
' command.
! "He came up to me and said bruta
e ly:
|. 6" is it you who are Nine. Jambe?'
Yes, I am she, I answered him.
Your son has just entered tn
house
MY son! He is far away from her
: always supposing that he is still alive
"'He is here; l am sure of it. Com
now, where is he?'
"'You must seek him, then.
: "He made a sign, and / was So
u rounded and prevented from moving n
position. The soldiers ransacked Il
house, asking myself meanwhile WI
: could be the coward who had betray
my son.
ii cat last the brutes found him-hi
and his friends, and | saw them dragg
out covered with the hay in which th
had attempted to conceal themselvt
And my son! How brave and handsor
he looked, with his flashing eyesl Ye
He was my own flesh and blood, ant
!. felt proud of him. They were rigoroI
ly searched for the message they we
is supposed to bear, but as it was vert
Is one they could find nothing.
ssTho ofioor ctam,,ad about the Ii r.