The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1907-02-23

linen winter yields TO the green hniSht
worth,
And is out of sight at bound.
Lucy Fitch Perkins. in st. Nicholas.
A HUMAN SALAMANDER.
1t was a warm corner. Day after
day the French soldiers had pushed
their batteries nearer and nearer to-
ward the besieged town, and now one
could look out from behind the
breastworks and plainly see the faces
Of the Austrian artillerymen, as they
stuck to their guns with grim deter
mination and sent their shots flying
into the French forts.
In one of these little mud con-
structed forts small party of
French soldiers, under the command
pf corporal. were busily engaged in
returning the fire o. the enemy.
The corporal. a tall, gaunt young
fellow of twenty, was directing the
work of his men. Often he leaped
TO the ramparts to note what effect
The fire of his guns was producing,
Truly" said one of the soldiers,
Is the corporal jumped back among
them, chou are veritable salaman-
der, for thou canst stand ire
Who is a salamander?" inquired
! gruff voice from the rear of the
smoke filled battery.
The soldiers turned and saw stand
Ing there a small, pale faced man in
b generals uniform.
One of the men pointed toward the
corporal.
ut is he, general" he replied.
"a salamander! We will see!" re-
lterated the officer, as he ran his eye
Dver the corporal. "Can you write?"
be inquired.
Eyes, my general
Follow me, then" Out into the
shot swept open the two passed,
walking side by side.
"You SEEM" remarked the general.
pleasantly, ito be at least a foot tall
er than I. Kindly walk on this side"
md he indicated the side nearest to
the enemy 1T will be great pro-
lection to me-"
/; Without a word the corporal took
the place.
Just at that moment a she'll burst
directly over their heads. but did
them no harm.
The officer cast quick glance at
his companion. He was not in the
least flurried. He did not even
, quicken his pace.
Presently they reached and en-
tered battery which was nearest of
all to the Austrian lines. It was
tilled with dead and wounded SOL
hiers. Only one gun remained stand
Ing.
Calmly seating himself on a brok-
ed gun carriage, the general gave the
corporal paper and quill and ink, AID
commanded him to write as he began
to dictate a letter.
The corporal's hand did not shake.
He wrote almost as rapidly as the
general spoke.
Suddenly, just as the letter was
finished, there was a deafening re-
port, and a huge cannon ball passed
close above them and buried itself
with a dull thud in the earth beyond.
The wind caused by its passage over
turned the two, and dust and dirt
completely covered them.
The general picked himself up in
an instant. Calmly leaping upon the
ramparts the corporal waved the fin
lshed letter defiantly towards the
Austrian lines.
Thanks, my friends" he shouted,
"you have saved me the trouble of
plotting it,
| A look of genuine admiration crept
INTO the eyes of the general.
What is your manner" he asked,
harshly.
Corporal Junot of the Ninth Foot,
general"
"Say rather Captain Junot,' for I
cannot afford to let such fellows as
you remain corporals;" and General
Bonaparte-for it was he -clapped
The young man on the shoulder.
Eight years later Marshal Junot
vas decorated with the grand cross
Of the Legion of Honor by the EN-
peror Napoleon.-Frank P. Channon,
n st. Nicholas.
BOONE TREES
In tho pood old davs Our brave