The Children of France

ll tell you about, and had just passed his tenth birthday whe

he war, but his heart was with the soldiers whom he knew were marching forth in thousands to meet t

Remi was to be left in the care of the neighbors. That was the plan made by the uncle. The little French lad, however, had his own ideas about that, but kept his plans to himself. He now forgot all

or the Territorials to move came suddenly, as such orders most always do. They came while the lad was having a supper

ife, some string, a clean pair of stockings and one change of underwear. He had picked up an old pack discarded by a soldier, and made it his own, secreting it for just such a moment as this. The child stowed his belongings back in the pack, added the cheese and bread, and, sw

derby?" interj

t duty is to obey orders. A tin derby is a steel helmet or hat which is used as a

by, sir," rem

Territorials fell into line and started away. Remi melted away in the darkness, and might have been observed legging it across a field in a short cut t

s to resume the march. All day long he followed them as closely as he dared, but early in the second evening he made bold to draw up to the rear rank

anded the uncle severely. 'Home

rong. See, I have marched a day and a night and you, my uncle

can you do in th

simply, whereat the uncle shrugged

s making himself so useful in many little ways, and his patriot

soldiers laughed at him when he demanded one, so he de

nt thunderstorm. It grew louder as the hours passed and the men neared the front. All unders

mmunicating trench that began under a house in the village, and started for the firing line, a short distance from the German trenches. Remi was sternly order

ar, the earth about him rose up and darkness overwhelmed him. A German shell had landed fairly in the village street hard by and half buried the chil

g both fists. 'I must have a rifle.

t join his company and fight for France. After what he had seen nothing should hold him back. Perhaps once at the front he might find a gun. Remi tried to enter the communicating trench, but was stopped by a sentry. He was still undaunted. It was the odor of cooking that finally led to the

ou belong to?' jeer

d the lad promptly, his quick reply bringing a l

the leader, but if you spill so much as a drop

d up very straight and awaited the command to go forward. He was stronger than they thought he was. The journey through the dark trenches was a long one, made thrilling by the Germans, who were trying

. 'Remi wants a gun, he wants it right

ou expect if you don't lower y

German lines with a brilliant light. Remi peered over the top of the parapet and across the 'No Man's Land' o

y do that?'

ing about. You see, we send out night patrols to

night patrol,' declar

y should not see him, and, when another star shell was fired, he flattened himself on the ground, face downward, and thus avoided detection. So intent was he, however, in watching for enemy patrols that he actually bumped into the parapet of the German trench before he knew it. The boy flattened himself on the ground and listened. He heard low-toned conversation mingled with

e caressed it affectionately, then started to craw

en challenged and hauled into his own trench. 'I took it from the thickheads over there. I-' He said no more, for his comrades were

cried the officer. 'Keep the gun

promised Re

taken seriously. From that night on almost every night found the intrepid lad skulking about over 'No Man's Land,' many times with the

nt of the German trenches almost as well as did the men who occupied them. There were ten in the patrol, and so great was the confidence of the men in him that they virtually permitted Remi to act as

ches, along which he crept wi

m the ground, where he had been crouching, apparently watching the crawling figure of the

silently, his bulky form shaking with merriment. That laugh cost the Boche his liberty. Like a flash little Remi swept th

As he thought it over the situation became clear to him. The Germans had placed the sentry outside the trench to keep watch while they slept, the night being a quiet one, neither side having fired a shot since sundown. Kn

crept back to the shell hole, where his c

, the thickheads. Their rifles I have taken, their heads our clubs shal

tion. With the child in the lead they crept up to the German trench. The Boches slept on, not a man was awake there. The patrol spread out a little

ied the li

boy having lost his when he slipped into the trench. He could plainly hear the whacks of the clubs as the patrol brought them dow

of the trench. This, you children understand, i

us. Over the top and home with them as fast as you can.

lambered over the top and were quietly driven across 'No Man's Land' to the French trenches. Seve

e raid was productive of much more than prisoners and rifles. It proved to be the most important raid so far ma

CH!" HE

this was a queer thing to do. He was puzzled and startled when his name was called out as he stood in a rear rank. He was ordered to report to the colonel of the regiment, who stood with hi

ision. The colonel gravely answered the little fellow's salute. Remi looked very small and childish

Were it possible for me to do so I should make you no less than a captain. Your lack of years puts such a reward beyond my power to give. I can, however, and I am authorized so to do, to confer upon you the cross of war, given only to men of proved her

n kissed the chi

tammered his thanks, sat down heavily, and, bu