FOR GOD AND FRANCE.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2714, 8 March 1916, Page 6

FOR GOD AND FRANCE.

A FRENCH SOLDIER'S LETTERS.; Louis Pioliard, the youngest son of a family of farmers, who fell gloriously for France oh September 25, showed in bis letters homo what support religion was to him in the trying life of the trenches. Writing home to' his mother on October 17, 1914, lie said: "How swcot it is when I am on. night duty in the trenches before tha enemy to say my heads and so put myself under the protection of the Blessed Virgin. . . . My greatest deprivation is not to be able to go to Holy Communion on a Sunday. But I follow the Mass in my Imitation, and, after a good act of contrition, I make a spiritual Communion. ... I keep well and am in good spirits." In other letters he wrote as follows to one of his brothers: . "If ono day I have to shed my blood, I shall do so -without murmuring, offering this fresh sacrifice to the good Gad for France.—(January.)" "I have tho best hopes for the future. I do not know if I shall come out of this, but don't worry too much. My greatest trouble is the thought of the grief which my death would be to my mother. If that should happen, I hope that God will give her strength to accept this now trial with resignation. If I fall, you may be sure that it will be with my face to the enemy, and giving my life for God raid for France.—(August 31)." This noble-hearted son was the child of a noble-hearted mother. A year ago last August, after his two brothers had been called to tho colours, and ha was tvaiting at home to be called to the reserves, his mother wrote to one of his brothers:—"Louis is still at home, but lie does not want to stay. If he is not called before August 50, h6 would like to go as son as possible. In spite of tho great sorrow it would be to me, I shall not try to stop him; no, I shall say nothing, for I think as he does, that his duty is where his brothers and his comrades are." There speaks the rea) France.—>( London "Tablet."