LE MAUVAIS ZOUAVE.
[46] 8-9. bonhomme: the fellow; un homme bon is a good man.
[46] 16. trois petits blondins couleur d'épis brûlés: three little tow-headed children.
[46] 21. A qui en as-tu? With whom are you vexed? The same construction in his answer: "j'en ai à cinq ou six drôles," I can't stand five or six rascals.
[47] 1. After the war of 1870-71, the inhabitants of the conquered provinces had the privilege of opter, or choosing between the French and German as their future nationality; this "choice" was made under certain vexatious restrictions, and those who chose to remain French, as the blacksmith in this story, had a disagreeable lot.
[47] 3. Qu'est-ce qu'on leur a donc fait boire? What on earth have they made them drink?
[47] 13-14. vous rapetissez tout à la taille de vos marmots: you narrow down everything to the size of your children.
[47] 20-21. latte de chasseur: his regimental sword.
[47] 29. descendu: brought down, i.e. killed.
[47] 32. chopes: large glasses, "schooners."
[49] 6. la chechia: the cap.
[49] 28. chevet: the head of the bed.
[50] 10-11. l'étui de fer-blanc où tient la feuille de route: the tin case which contains his military papers.