A TOUCHING STORY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8935, 28 September 1907, Page 4

A TOUCHING STORY.

The Continental system of military service sometimes has its sad side, as the following touching story, which has just come in from the French provinces, will illustrate. A man with a large family was suddenly called upon to decide between stern duty and affection, and ho pronounced in the direction to which his heai;t drew him, the consequence being his appeareauco before a court martial with every prospect of heavy punishment. The poor fellow has a wife and five children, and it is as much as he can do to make both ends meet. So_ his consternation may be imagined when, after having had a particularly hard time of it, he received the order to leave his home for a four weeks’ period of training, he being now a reservist, hie thought the matter well over, studied ways and means, but he could not see a fair exit from a very cruel dilemma. It lie went off to join his regiment his wife and little ones would he doomed to starvation, and t.;o bare idea,-of such a thing drove him wild. Ho was well aware of the penalty to which he would expose himself if ho paid no attention to tho order, but lie preferred personal suffering and disgrace to seeing his loved ones a prey to want and distress. The dreaded day came and lie remained at homo, to be arrested a little while afterwards and brought to trial. When his case came before the court-martial hod; imply and frankly explained his melancholy position, expressed deep regret for what lie had done, and begged that mercy might be shown him. Tho members of ‘ the court bad already boon impressed by ids pitiful tale when his wife entered tho hall with • her five children, holding the youngest, a babe, in her arms, while the others, the eldest of whom is only seven years old, clung timidly to her. The bravo woman put in a petition, says the Paris correspondent of tho Telegraph, to be allowed to address the court, and her request was granted. Then in a voice broken by sobs, she"spoke up for her poor husband, told of iiis distress, and of the fight which he had had with himself before he determined on paying no attention to tho order. “I implore yon,” siic cried, “not to condemn my husband severely. _ Since his arrest wo have all been dying of hunger, and I ask yon what will become of us all if he is sent to gaol?” This touching spoecii had an immediate effect. There was not a dry eye in the court. Officers looked at each other appealingly, and general was tho relief when the Major, who acted as prosecutor, rose and announced that under such distressing circumstances he would drop the case altogether. The poor reservist was promptly acquitted, and on being released hastened to his wife and children, and embraced them tenderly. And, what is more, while this touching scene was being enacted, tho officers were getting up a little collection among themselves, tho proceeds of which wore handed over to 'the brave woman, who left tho hall much lighter in heart than she had entered it.