The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-11-30
NJ ME. JAMIE.

You smile Mt her NAME finding it alb.
surd perhaps, but Mme Jambe-Mother
Jnmbe, the soldiers called hor-was for
many years cantiniore in regiment of
the line, and in this capacity she was
sort of good angel to the troops Officers
and soldiers nliko all respected her.
Sho married when about 30 years Of
age tho quartormaster general of tho
regiment. His time was nearly up, but
he remained with the Golors in order to
help his wife keep tho canteen.
After year of married life "A son
was born, and Mime. Jambe and her
husband agreed that as soon as no
should attain tho proper age he, too,
should he soldier. At tho age of 10 he
passed. into tho ranks, and being smart
and Intelligent ho seemed to have a
bright future before him.
But tho husband and father died sud
denly i'll 1869. 1t was terrible shock
to poor Mime. Jambe, and she would
hardly have survived il were IL not for
tho thought Of her son and tho hope
that ho would be comfort to her in
her declining years. Sorrow aged her
more than her rough lifo had done, and
she left the service and settled i'll IA lit
tie cottage left her by her parents in
tho village of Clusy, near Pontarliors
A year later war broke out, and this
was another sorrow for her TO bear
She was n patriot, was Mime Jambo
but sho was mother also.
During that terrible winter of 1901
she hardly slept for three consecutive
hours III the "a. Always on tho abort
| for news sho chafed sorely at tho snow,
which almost cut Off her little village
from tho outer world and mnde com
munioation n matter of great difficulty.
Suddenly, toward tho end of Jannary.
| tho rumor spread that tho army of the
east was approaching, having failed to
rolievo Bolfort. For nearly week More
Jamie kept strict watch day and
night, scanning eagerly tho road by
which she hoped to see tho French ar
rive
They We're signaled ut last, but tho
Germans were signaled, too from tho
opposite direction, and it seemed evil
dent that the armies would encounter
one another in the immediate neighbor-
hood
And now l will lot Mime. Jambe take
up tho story, for what follows l had
from her own lips few months after
tho events described took place;
"Ono morning ut dawn | heard u
noise Mt tho door of the cottage and
then tho sound Of breaking glass. rose
hastily and ran down to tho entrance.
| gave cry; my boy was there, and
behind him stood three of his comrades,
but in what IA state-haggard, hollow
checked, their uniforms in rags, their
boots almost in pieces. blue and shiver.
ing with cold a
Mother, you must hide US, he said
THE general has intrusted me with n
mesgago to tho commandant Of tho fort,
but tho Prussians have seen us and arc
IN pursuit. They must not find us
Give me your order, cried. i
will take it while you hide hero No
ono will suspect woman
81 had no time to finish. We heard
discharge Of musketry. and neighbor
rushed III crying:
It uhSldHhi Db iIuhbidIlH NIO
herop
II pushed my son and his friends in
to n storeroom ut tho farther end Of
which, under some hay. was tho door
leading into the collar, where | kept
my little stock Of wine and cider.
"Tho Prussians entered in through
the open door. | saw others in the road
u'hata h.,,, al, -
them altogether A young officer was in
command
He camo up to me and said brutal
ly;
g 'ls it you who are Nine Jambey
Yes, am she, | answered him.
Your sen has just entered this
house.
My sonl He is far away from here.
always suppOsing that he IL still alive,
4" He il here | am sure Of it. Come,
now, where is her?
" YGu must seek him. then.
He made IA sign, and ! was sur.
rounded and prevented from moving my
position 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
aud his friends and | saw them dragged
out covered with tho hay in which they
bad attempted to conceal themselves.
And my son How brave and handsome
be looked, with his flashing eyes Yes
He WAS my own flesh and blood, and
felt proud of him. They were rigorous
~ searched for the message they were
supposed to bear, but as it was verbal
ono they could find nothing.
1.-The officer stamped about the little
room, mad with rage. CHANGING at the
prisoners, he cried:
F" Ia your son among them?
/" lie is not, and II he were would
not confess it.
"IIe drew his sword on me, and then
we were all dragged out into the road
way, the officer shouting:
"Where is the man who gave us the
information
4" One of his companions has just
killed him, a Prussian sergeant replied,
pointing to a corpse, which had not
seen, hidden as it was behind bush.
1.-THE traitor was frano-tireur, who,
to save his own life. had given up my
II;a ,uxtchr,ank n ad