The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-10-03
THE OLD SHOES.

80 P"esesslons Unen inc Empress jose
phine was on her passage from the West Intscs
70 rance, the following incident occurred IL
vs. given IN the memoirs of the Empress, as re-
lated by herself
alter an absence Of several rears, as is eyi.
oeh' from the following simple and affecting
ndIraliVe, Josephine returned alone to France,
a. IN circumstances far otherwise than affiu-
cut lhe recital was given to the ladies of her
court al Navarro, to whom, al their own re-
quest sue mad enc day shown her Jewels, the
mos, magnificent collection, be it rene mbered
IN Europe. Observing the adm,ration bes,ow,
ed upon " the dazzling inutilties," she address.
ed the junior members of her suite as follows.
Believe me my young friends, that splendor
Is not to be envied which does not constitute
happiness. | shall doubtless very much sur
Prise You, by saying that the gift Of pair of
shoes afforded me at one time greater satisfac.
uon than all these diamonds now before Won
ever dld Here her youthful auditors could
hardly refrain from vsibly inlimaling their
conjecture that this remark was intended as a
pleasantly. Josephine's serious air ASSURING
them of their mistake, they began, with one
accord TO express their respectful desire of
hearing the history of these famous shoes,
which, to their imaginations, already promised
greater wonders than the marvels Of the glass
slipper.
Yes, ladies' resumed their amiable mis-.
lress; il is certain, that of all the presents I
ever In my life received, the one which gave
me The greatest pleasure, was a pair Of old
Shoes, and these, too, Of coarse leather! This
you will understand in the sequel
Quitting Mariinico, had taken passage
on board the Pomona frigate. where we were
treated with an attention shall never forget.
havIng separated from my first husband, | was
tar from rich. Obliged 10 return to France on
family afftirs, the passage had absorbed the
major part OF my resources and, indeed, not
without muth difficulty had been able to pro.
vide the most Indispensable requisites for our
voyage. Hotense, obliging and lively, per
forming with much agility the dances of the
negroes, and singing their songs with surpris.
ing correctness, greatly amused the sailors,
VINO, from being her constant pay-felows, had
become her favored society. No sooner did she
observe me to be engaged, than mounting upon
deck, and there the object Of general admira-
ton, she repeated al her little exercises to the
satisfaction oil every one An old quarter mas
Ter was particularly attached TO the child ; and
whenever his duties permitted him moments
leisure, he devoted the interval to his Young
friend, who, In turn, doated upon the old man.
what with running, leaping and dancing. nv
daughters slight shoes were fairly worn oui
knowing she had not another pair, and fearing
! would forbid her going upon deck should this
defect in her attire be discovered, Hortense
carefully concealed the disaster. and one day
experienced the distress of behoIding her re.
turn, leaving every foot-mark il blood Fear.
ing some terrible accident, asked in alright,
she was hurt. No, mamma - But see,
the blood is streaming from your feet - Il is
nothing, assure you Upon examining how
sfOO1 | h.,
tatters, and her feet dreadfulIy torn by a nail.
We were not yet more than halfway; and be-
lore reaching France it seemed impossible to
procure another pair of shoes | felt quite
overcome at the idea Of the sorrow my poor
Hortense would suffer, as also at the danger to
winch her health might be exposed, by confne
ment IN my miserable little cabin We began
to weep bitterly and found no solace to our
grief. At this moment entered our good friend
the quarter master, and with honest bluEtness,
inquired the cause of our tears. Horlense,
sobblng all the while, eagerly informed him
that she would no more go upon deck, for her
shoes were worn out, and mamma had no 9TH
ers to give her. Nonsense said the worthy
seaman ) Is that all ? | have an old pair
some where in my chest | will go and seek
them You, madam, can cut them TO any
shape, and I'll splice them up again, as well as
need be- SILVER my timbers on board ship
you must put up with many things; we are
neither landsmen nor tops, provided we have
the necessary-thafs the most principalr-
Without giving time Tor reply away hasten.
ed the kind quarter master in search of his old
shoes. These he soon after brought to US with
a triumphant air, and they were received by
dortense with demonstrations of the most live
ly joy. To work we set with all zeal, and be
fore day closed my daughter could resume her
delightful duties of supplying their evening S
diversion TO the crow. | again repeat, never
was present accepted with more thankfulness
1t has since often been matter of self reproach
that did not particularly inquire into the name
and history of our benefactor, who was known
on board only as Jacques. 1t would have
been gratifying to me to have done some
Cling for him, when, afterward, means were in
my power"
Such was the state of restitution in which
the future empress reached, for the las. time
the territory Of France.