Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-03-11

ton given had been found in field in
Artois. He went to the place and
bought the animal at once. 1t was, in
deed, Bossue's extraordinary beast, the
friend of his friend, old and thin, worn
by the hard service before the plow and
the ill-treatment of the farmhands.
There were the white legs, still fine as
those of a racer, the long, black tail
and name, and those eyes, dark, cold,
clear, and fixed, that made one uneasy.
"Strange ANIMAL" thought La Puy-
saye.
He had it fed, groomed, and saddled,
and set out for Paris at rather halt
ing gallop. Much fatigued he arrived
at length. But tired as he was, there
was to be little rest for him. A note
from the bureau Of war awaited him,
informing him that his request for a
regiment had been granted; that it was
to be known as the "Grenadiers Puy-
saye;" and that he must join it near
Fribourg as soon as possible. Taking
hardly time for the writing of letter
and the saying of an adieu, he departed
for that place; and, gratifying his own
wish, he went there on Bossue's horse.
His new grenadiers grumbled among
themselves, SIS it with that plug"
they said, "that he means to lead us ?"
La Puysaye's friends looked at the
beast critically. An ensign lifted its
lip. "No use," said the count, "he's an
old horse, and his teeth no longer mark
his age"
"But why didn't you come on your
black fellow?"
"Oh, Constantine broke his leg, and
but do not laugh. messieurs; poor and
old as is this charger, he is good
enough for the campaign. l judged
that we should be only amusing our
selves here, and did not wish to honor
the enemy by riding too fine horse"
The officers saluted smihngly, and
the colonel, wishing to see the marshal,
NJ. de Coigny, inquired the way to his
quarters. Before going thither, he left
his horse with his orderly, who was 60
ing toward the trenches. Bring him
back to me tonight" said the count,
and the man departed with the horse.
But not more than an hour had
passed, and La Puysaye was just leav
ing the marshal's quarters when an at
tack was ordered on a strong point
where 1,SO0 men had been killed the
night before. The trumpets sounded
and the army fastened to respond. All
other tasks were abandoned, and, with
the others, their uniforms in order,
their arms in readiness, the grenadiers
fell into line.
Being ordered to hold his regimentin
reserve, NJ. de la Puysaye conducted it
behind certain embankment, then
sought to go after his horse. But his
friends stopped him. Not now," they
said; 1.-The place is exposed; you would
be risking your life needlessly."
La Puysaye returned to his place and
gave vent to his yexation. Miserable
orderly!" he cried; my horse! See
what he has done with my horse!"
"Ciel!" exclaimed the captain, in as
tonishment, why are you so concerned
about the beast? From whom did you
get him?"
La Puysaye, tired of keeping his
secret, revealed it. From De Bossue.
He was, alas, one of my old friends"
The news was murmured through the
ranks, while the officers marveled audi
bly,. what an ideal" they said. "Where
is he, that we may observe him again ?"
"In that trench over there, which is
SO exposed. My orderly must have been
drunk, to leave him in such place"
"Oh," cried an officer, "have no fear!
Bossue's horse! The horse of a coward!
He'll crouch when the bullets fly; you'll
find him again safe and sound"
"After ALL" said another, "the trench
covers him; he's satisfied to stay in it;
he won't come out"
AT that moment bomb came singing
through the air, and from the trench,
calmly, proudly, defiantly, horse
emerged. He stood alone in the middle
of the field, in a great open place
alone. The saddle was on his back, the
bit in his mouth; and, though he had
lowered his neck in the silence follow
ing the first bomb, he seemed waiting
only for signal on his bride.
"The towards horse!" thought the
army.
Just then the place seemed to fill with
smoke, while the city beyond trembled
as with an earthquake slack; three
more bombs in the ranks of France, and
IS files were cut down like so much
grain.
The trumpets sounded the attack;
and at that moment, suddenly, mag
nificently, the last rays of the setting
sun clothed the horse in gold. He
raised his head, as the brave steed does
when the battle is on and the rider en-
courages him to advance; then, boldly,
eagerly, joyously, he charged on the
city at gallop. Deaf to the thunder
of the cannon, Indifferent to the shot
that whistled about him, glad to sniff
again the smoke of powder, to feel once
more the excitement of the combat,
the gallant horse dashed on and on-a
sublime spectacle for whole army to
witness,
What moved him to rush on the en-