The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-06-22

the campaign or the Loire. He died
bravely. They all said no one could
be drawer. He was always brave, al
most reckless. When he went away,
| knew he would get himself killed.
Pierre was not one of those who would
hide when bullets were flying; he was
fighter. When he was even a little
fellow, no boy in the village could
stand up against him."
THAT is the kind of boy that makes
soldier"
Precisely, Monsieur. He loved ad
venture-dangers; SO that when the
call came for volunteers he went
among the first. I was a widow and
he was my only one. He might have
stayed if he wished; but he said all
who could, should fight
She fumbled in pocket and drew
out little frame with a photograph
in it.
There is his portrait. Look at it.
My eyes are failing, and soon shall
not be able to see it,
Itook it in my hand. 1t was a por-
trait of very young soldier-not
twenty years of age. The kept was
set sideways on his head, to give the
wearer swagger look; slight mus
tache showed over the heavy lips;
the face looked rather dull; but there
was a twinkle in the small eyes that
might have meant fun or cunning, or
both. 1t was not heroic expression.
He sent it to me from the army"
she said. 1T was done when they
were at Orleans. He was in the great
victory when they took the city. 1t
was after that he was killed-not in
great battle, but every day men lost
their lives at the outposts. Monsieur
lie Cure broke the news to me. Not
the cure who is here now, for it was
many years ago, Monsieur, and there
have been great changes. I thought
I should have died of grief"
Eyes. 1t must have been terrible.
But it was glorious death, and would
have been a good end to any life
"You are right, Monsieur. Still, it
was heart-breaking; thought should
die. But I live on, and all I knew
nearly all are gone. The neighbors
have been good to me. Monsieur lie
Baron at the chateau over there said
l should not feel my boys loss, so far
as any need of mine went. He pays
me my pension. 1t is enough for me;
and the neighbors were good. They
put up his monument in the church.
And Monsieur lie Cure told me my boy
was safe; for he made his confession
the night before he was killed-a
good fortune that soldiers do not al
ways have. And I was glad; for here
at home it was often not easy to per-
suade him to confess. Boys will be
wild. But there, where there was
danger of death every day, no doubt
he was more serious, and when the
chance came he went to some good
priest. So he was prepared for death
But still I come every day to think of
him and pray for him. You will pray
4 for him, Monsieur. He was wild, but
he was good son to me, and we shall
meet again.
She took back the little photograph,
kissed it and placed it in her pocket.
heard your story l said.
Eyes. It is kind of you to be so
sympathetic. l like to tell people of
him. And now, sir, go back to finish
my Rosary; so adieu, and God bless
you!"
) watched her making her way slow
ly back to her post, beside the me-
mortal of her soldier son. | would
have wished to do her some kindness,
? but I had hesitated to offer her any
: thing. 1t occurred to me that 1 might
} see the cure, find out if she needed
: help, and leave him few francs to
buy her some small comforts.
7 Looking across the rows of green
mounds with their blackening wreaths
of immortelles, saw beyond the
churchyard wall whitewashed cot
: tage, only differing from the other
houses of the village by an air of
neatness in it's tiny flower garden,
, and with a wooden cross above its
porch. This must be the presbytery.
: walked toward it; and as I ap-
!. preached the door it was opened, and
there was the cure, a man of middle
Y age, with gray hair on his temple, a
e round, smiling face, and sadly
r patched soutane. He asked me to
come in.
;. The cure seemed pleased to have a
visitor, and l was soon seated in his
=; parlor-a small room looking out upon
n the narrow garden in front of the cot
tage. At the window was table Gov
e cred with books and papers. One
e wall was fitted with book-shelves
d some cheap religious prints hung on
y the others. On an oak table in the
middle of the room a cloth was spread
|. and a cafetiere stood on a tray with
l. spirit lamp alight under it. The
J. room was evidently study, parlor and
Ill