With Those Who Wait

he Aisne finally passed through its main street, had been so thoroughly swept by German fir

o the le

défilé

o or three miles, wound in and out with many strategic contortions; a truly military route whose topography was the most curious thin

ly the notary's flower garden, but also his drawing-room, if one were to judge by the qu

in other buildings, while some of them were completely levelled to the ground. Yet, in spite of all, moss, weeds and vines had sprung up mid the ruins, adding, if possible, the picturesque to this scene of desolation

court-yards and others beneath rickety stables and sheds, where the sunlight piercing the gloom caught the dust in its rays and made it s

lies, while those who were on duty, pick and shovel in hand, moved off to

t determined nature: "hangers-on" who when met in this vicinity seemed almost

and fifty (a whole company) filled to overflowing her modest lodgings, where it seemed to me half as many would have been a tight

drying up my well, and on top of it all they persist in smoking in my hay-loft, and the hay for next Winter

ed up Corporal. "But how about their incendiary shells?

on why you should mess up a house that belongs to your own people, is it? I'd like

lprits. Then a tall, lean fell

at seems to get on her nerves. Now then, mother, there's always a way of settling a question between honest

he while moaning that she would more than likely die of starvation the following Winter. So

as everything the soldier's heart might desire, from gun grease and cigarette paper down to wine and provi

with water bottles, their hands full

at the rear end of the truc

pork pi

rth several indignant oat

lay that joke on us. It was the same story last t

were soon outvoiced

and camembert. Now th

t was ins

sently the sound of plates and dishes, clinking cups, and joyful laughter recalled a pi

to the scene, and reminded me of the "Merry-go-round," the chief attraction of that defun

the very midst of war? Was it such a terrible

called a gruff voic

side! Qu

d to my soliloquy. My afternoon was stained with blood. On their litter they bore a lad w

grasp the torment that a stupid bit of flying steel can inflict upon a splendid human

t?" the m

replaced us. He was caught

wicked spo

from an upper window, stopping an in

nswers

, and with it the refrain of his

e la Riviera," s

ng together. Near them the artillerymen greased and verified their axles; others brushed and curried the horses. In one

ady to leave for home. Swarms of humming birds and bees clustered about a honeysuckle vin

recognised, and stopped to see, came up f

gs! What on earth

n, and then inquired ab

. We'll go over and see him. It's not far. But ho

cqui

nt. I'll go and get him. He'

ng up, his pipe in his mouth, his drinking cup still in his hand. The lad blushed scarlet on seeing us, for he doubtless recalled, as

an as our friend Nourrigat, double his age, and whose life of wo

e soon left us, pleading that he must

absolute confidence in him. You can't imagine the calm and prestige that kid possesses in the face o

t of genuine enthu

e's got to know the ropes at playing miner, bombarder, artilleryman, engineer, optician, accountant, caterer, undertaker, hygienist, carpenter, mason-I can't tell you what all. And in each particular job he's got to bear the terrible responsibility of human lives; maintain the discipline and the moral standard, assure the cohesion of his section. Mo

ated for the care

ng for the end of the war to continue his mu

d y

gone into the Camouflage Corps if I'd taken the trouble to a

ten used to

litary pictures, the thrilling and sentimental ideas of the warrior with which the civilian head is so generously crammed. I l

hus who forms the centre of the painting? That's Brunot, and he's thinking about all the god-mothers whose letters swell out his pockets. He can't make up his mind whether he prefers the one who lives in Marseilles and who sent him candied cherries and her photograph; or the one from Laval who keeps him well supplied with devilled ham which he so relishes. The tw

e behind his watch-maker's stand. In a moment or so he'll lean over and begin a conversation with his neighbour T

ood soldiers, just as before the war they were good artisans. The métier is sacred-as are the Fam

,' is the way they put it in their argot. 'The Marseillaise, the Chant du Depart are all right for the youngsters, and the

tal compositions, and if by accident, in your desire to please, you were prone to compare them to the heroes of Homer, it's more than likely you

ackguards. No, they are better than all that-they are men, real men, who do everything they do well; be it repairing a watch, cabinet-making, adding up long column

duty together. He had but one decoration to bestow and both chap

he captain. 'Who was leading, and wh

ubo

hat's all this nonsens

amily. What's a war cross more or less to me? Now Paul here keeps a café; just

n, understood Dubois' sinceri

ary service has over those who are exempt.' But it's only the soldiers who really understand that, and when they say On les a

tly he led us into the church, a humble little village sanctuary. A shell had carried away half the apse, and sadly damaged the altar. The belfry had b

dog. Yet, a delightful sensation of peace and piety reigned everywhere. From the confessional r

sat writing. His note books were spread before

broken slate indicate that t

eaning on a cane, issued from thi

laimed Nourrigat. "Good evening

nk you. They've taken very goo

their house. The Sous-Prefet, the Prefet, all the

ws, our chickens, our pigs. Kill us if you like, but don'

twain, another had flattened out the hayloft. The old woman lay on her bed crippled with r

ndividual-but the soldiers, the big anonymous mass-who to

they departed. But that was sufficient, and so the old couple were nursed, clothed and fe

GE ON T

man 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

from his furlough bringing two hens and a rooster to start her barnyard. She vaguely remembered that he was from the s

helped her to wash the dishes or shell peas; talked

reeting her with a cordia

y son," she

od, draw water from the well, write a letter that would exempt them

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

! Just think of it! At

reful toilet with the aid o

surprise, o

e him news of his

turned towa

our regiment

y well thinned out. We're

f Chenu, and Mor

all o

y were such g

pletely 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

ey will be ours again-but later-when this sh

been respectively ten and twelve years of age. The perspiration trickled from their fac

fellows," cal

peared on th

, and your snuff. There isn't any more plum jam t

ed something in a

-three sous," he

diers now

ounded by a group of ea

if you all scream at once? Here-Mimile"-and he

having subside

at a time-and don't muddle

poke a true captain of industry. He had commenced by selling the men newspapers, and then having saved enough to buy first one and then a second bicycle, the brothers went twice a day to Villers Cotterets, some fifteen miles distant, in q

een caught by bits of shrapnel, which necessita

inter when the bombardment was on full tilt. I was then working for the Legion and the Chasseurs. No cinch let me tell you! It used to be-'Popaul here-Popaul there-where's my

trade, all the tricks of the soldiers. He had seen all the G

a keen memory for slang and patois. He nourished but one fond hope in his bosom-a hope

l volunteer for th

ad. That's going some, I should say," calle

ear you say it won't be over

was the Americans on the motor trucks who t

rs, in a much soiled note-book, and with the aid of a stubby pencil which he was obli

do us the honour of dining with us? We've got a

s touched t

And with pleasure. But you mus

you say,

future tradesman sought for h

ll mamma to iron our shirts and put some polish