Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-23
Translated by w11L1AM L. MCPHERSON.

r the door of a shack made OF
IN earth plastered over branches
A\ and lathing soldier stood
q y gazing out into the night. he
was weighted down with ragged wooden
clothes, his shoes covered with heavy
moauette, a knitted cap on his heau-
AS he stood there he looked as thick
and massive as a primitive idol only
half chiseled out of marble BLOCK.
But when he lifted his head toward the
inexorable moon one could distinguish
Young mans long yellow beard and
two eyes as blue as the distant sky.
TT is cold" he whispered to him
self: lit is very cold
Not that he shivered. he exhaled
the words almost unconsciously anu
watched with amusement his whitened
breath He listened to the silence just
as il he we're listening to some unac-
custou1ed sound-that silence SO novel
and so recent, purged inexplicably OF
, all the thunder and flashing OF the
guns. Around him were only litter ana
rubbish, blocks of stone ground TO
powder and rocks crushed to rag
mentS-the aftermath of battle. which
leaves nothing imposing behind 1t ex-
cept the 'iead.
The soldier who stood there gazing
iGlto the night slapped his legs with
his hands for a moment. and then re-
sumcd his motionless pose. Long freez-
ing days and nights of cutting north
east winds had drawn from the earth
all its broWnish, fecund humidity. only
the boar frost Of a cold without snow
covered the hut, the chopped branches
OF trees on top Of II, the moquette shoe
covers and the chapped cheeks of the
young poilU.
Suddenly something gave a little jump
and then stood still A little yellow
marten. clothed anew for the rigorous
months OF winter, was out hunting for
food. II sat up like squirrel. whisked
Its tail, scratched itself and looked at
the moon
'Psssi psss,' called the soldier.
The marten made comical leap. as
if it were bursting with laughter. and
then disappeared.
Abandoning his shepherdlike vigil.
the soldier turned and entered his
shack. There. in the pale light of a
lamp. he contemplated his meager pos
sessions cover his arms and some
newspapers spread about
For poilus" he read. Gifts for
US poiius" The poiIus' Christmas"
1T is true. tomorrow is Christmas"
he said. "Poilus-hairy men. But, alas.
not hairy enough. | am only a timid
soldier: Blood fills me with horror And
the cold petrifies me. II i only had.
Ike the marten. a pelt-a real pelt. This
cold grips my whole body. | am afraid
to go to sleep. II / only had. like the
nIarten. fur coat-a fur coat Of my
own, fitted tight over nay skim
He was half on the way 10 dreams al
ready, stretched on his couch, stiff
inert. deadened
But what fleece could ever warm me
bow? Maybe 1t Is too late
He tried to get UP. but his legs re-
fused.
1T is death. without doubt. 1t is
the sleep OF death And 4 little warmth
would have saved me. II / could only
have had
IF you could only have had WHAT
toueaked the sharp little voice OF the
piarten. "A coat OF fur? You have
sniy TO choose one and it is yours"
The marten, seated on the bed covers
Expressed itself with the assurance of
schoolmaster. moving the end of its
snout and playing, while il spoke. with
he blond beard Of the soldier.
1T is talking to me-" said the soldier
20 himself. Am | already in another
Forld where men and beasts enemies
md brethren. can really understand one
mother"
Don't you know, then" continued
the marten. that this night is n night
different from all other nights? Well
let that pass, If you didn't remember
It. But how was it that you didn't
guess when you saw me just now that
Fam a marten different from all other
martens2 To come to the point. you
!. want 4 fur coat. a fur coat born on
Iiznnp. a living pelt attached to your