Part 6 (1/2)

But there were the soldiers. Not any special company or individual--but the soldiers, the big anonymous ma.s.s--who took them in charge and pa.s.sed them on from one to another.

”We leave father and mother Tesson to your care,” was all they said to the new comers as they departed. But that was sufficient, and so the old couple were nursed, clothed and fed by those whom one would suppose had other occupations than looking after the dest.i.tute.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A VILLAGE ON THE FRONT]

Three times the house was brought to earth. Three times they rebuilt it. The last time they even put in a stove so that the old woman would not have to bend over to reach her hearth. New beds were made and installed, the garden dug and planted. The old man was operated upon at the Division Hospital, and when he became convalescent they shared the contents of their home packages with him.

Who were they? This one or that one? Mother Tesson would most surely have been at a loss to name the lad who returned from his furlough bringing two hens and a rooster to start her barnyard. She vaguely remembered that he was from the south, on account of his accent, and that he must have travelled across all France with his cage of chickens in his hand.

They entered her home, smoked a pipe by her fireside, helped her to wash the dishes or sh.e.l.l peas; talked a moment with her old man and left, saying _au revoir_.

Another would come back greeting her with a cordial ”_Bonjour, mere Tesson_.”

”Good day, my son,” she would reply.

And it was this constantly changing new found son who would chop wood, draw water from the well, write a letter that would exempt them from taxes, or make a demand for help from the American Committees.

Thus the aged pair had lived happily, loved and respected, absolutely without want, and s.h.i.+elded from all material worry. And when some poor devil who has spent four sleepless nights in the trenches, on his return steals an hour or two from his well earned, much craved sleep, in order to hoe their potato patch, one would doubtless be astonished to hear such a man exclaim by way of excuse for his conduct--

”Oh, the poor old souls! Just think of it! At their age. What a pity.”

We found Pistre making a careful toilet with the aid of a tin pail full of water.

”This is a surprise, on my soul!”

We hastened to give him news of his family and friends.

Presently he turned towards Nourrigat.

”How about your regiment? Stationary?”

”I fancy so. We were pretty well thinned out. We're waiting for reinforcements.”

”What's become of Chenu, and Morlet and Panard?”

”Gone! all of them.”

”Too bad! They were such good fellows!”

And our friends smiled, occupied but with the thought of the living present. Paris, their friends, their families, their professions, all seemed to be forgotten, or completely over-shadowed by the habitual daily routine of marches and halts, duties and drudgery. They were no longer a great painter and a brilliant barrister. They were two soldiers; two atoms of that formidable machine which shall conquer the German; they were as two monks in a monastery--absolutely oblivious to every worldly occupation.

We understand, we feel quite certain that they will be ours again--but later--when this shall all be over--if G.o.d spares them to return.

At that same instant two boys appeared at the entrance to the courtyard. They may have been respectively ten and twelve years of age. The perspiration trickled from their faces, and they were bending beneath the weight of a huge bundle each carried on his back.

”h.e.l.lo, there, fellows,” called one of them.

A soldier appeared on the threshold.

”Here Lefranc--here are your two boxes of sardines, and your snuff.