The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-06-06
From The London .Nttp Monthly Haga.ine.
lLLUSIRIOUS EXAMPLE Or
GRATITUDE.

~ YphhS WAN WIS passing WIFI HIS
regiment through Lyons, in IT,.
where he fell sick, and was obliged
10 remain at an hotel. He vas very
i'll supplied with money, d his purse
was speedily exhausted hy thc cx-
pense his malady oerasioncd him /:
his hostess, untouched by his dcsti-
tutc situation, had him carried into
a granary, where all the furniture
she allowed him was n pallet aud
Il chair, aud all the sustenance. n lit
lie barley water; refusing 10 call in
the aid Of a physician, To aAuld the
responsibility in which she appre-
hendcd such an additional charge
might involve her. II happened that
the first floor of this furnished hotel
Was occupied by two GencNcse ladies,
Madame and Mademoisclle Agicc,
who had visited Lyons for the benefit
OF change OF air ; they were both
advanced in years, Madcmoisellc A
giec being near fifty. These two
ladies were clever and well informed !;
but, according 10 the Gcnesese ha.
bit, they did injustice to their real
merit by plclension TO something
beyond il, and II pcdantry complete
" national. The fate of the young
soldier interested all the domcstiCS Of
the hotel, and the particulars oi his
fricndless condition reached the car
Of Mademoisellc Agiee through her
maid, who acquainted her at the
same time with the cruelty of the
landlady, who threatened 10 send
him To the hospital. Tho maid sue
ceedcd III awaxing the sympathy oi
her mistress, Who Immediately sent
for a physician, informing the host
ess that she would answer all eXpcn-
SEES, and that ii was her pleasure the
sick man should be removed without
delay to a comfortable chamber.
The humane Abigail, meanwhile,
never quilted the chamber of the in
valid whom she had taken SO happily
under her protection. Weakened
by his illness, which had been Sc
. aggravated by neglect, the young
> soldier was in irightlaI state of de
lirium when the physician visited
+, him, and during the process Of chan
ging his apartment. 80 that, when he
recovered his senses, he was greatly
astonished To find himself in well
furnished chamber. u believed him.
self dreaming. Near his bed was
his faithful nurse, whom he began to
question, but who COntcntcd herself
with reply ng that a friend Who took
an interest in him had given orders
that he should be properly attended.
Days, and even weeks escaped thus,
till at length the young soldier, re
co, cred his strength, insisted on be
ing informed To whom he was indobt
ed for 50 many benefits. There was
in the expression of his counteGance
something that commanded respect,
which perhaps even excited fear E;
the good woman named her mistress.
and, with all possible dclicacy. re
lated to him the miserable circum
:, stances in which she had found him
lie entreatcd 10 see Mad. Agice, thai
he might light his heart Of some o
its gratitude he was not yet able {,
rise, nor was he permitted IN read
but he was nevertheless, sufficiently
reinstatcd 10 feel the weight am
WEAKNESS of an idle life. MadenIoi
sclIe Agiec consented to the demand
Of the young soldier, and paid him
her first wit she remained with him
only few minutes, but promised IL
return and bring him books. desiring
him To make his choice, and offering
to read for linn till he should be II,
longer forbidden to occupy himself.
He accepted her proposal with JOY
and selected the :. Life OF Iurcnnc,'
and a book on geometry. Every
day Madcmoisellc Agiec passed
some hours with the c0nyalesCcnl
soldier, who listened eagerly as she
read, often inteiIupting her to make
observations which were always
lust, and sometimes very striking.
+, He did not seem easily inclined t.
> confidence, and it was not TIL som,
time had thus elapsed, that one day
as filed on by military ardor be.
you'd his power to restrain, he be.
gan to speak OF his projects to Ma.
y dcmoiselie Agiec she smiled rs she
e listened to him, =" In truth" sal,
a she :" believe we shall one Of Ties,
> days see you Il colonel" =" Colonel :
e replied he in Il tone of Indignation
i. | shall be Il general-and pcrhap,