A general rode up to a gunner standing by his gun. He took out his field glasses and looked around. "Pierre," he said to the gunner, "you see that little cottage over there. The one near the clump of trees." "Yes, sir," said Pierre turning pale. "There’s a nest of Prussians in there. I want you to destroy it." Pierre went even paler, but carefully sighted his gun and fired. The little cottage disappeared in a cloud of smoke and dust. "Well done!" congratulated the general, then noticing a tear in the gunners eye he asked: "What’s the matter?" "That was my home," explained Pierre, "all that I had in the world."