Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1833-11-02
THE CONSCRIPT'S FATHER

esu 1Iarc0urt, in the department OF La
ManIhc, lived a man saOed Picsre
.Ian6in, whose youth had been passed
il the carly conGicts ofthc Kcvolution.
Having received a sabre wound at the
battle Of Austerlitx, which had oblit-
Grated his left eye, he easily obtained
his discharge, and returned home to
assist his aged parents in the cultiva-
tion Of a small estate. This property,
which consisted Of ouly ten acres, was
considered, in that country, as no mean
possession, ard entitled the heir to the
ready recognition Of his rich neighbors,
and to the becks, winks, mods, and
whispers Of his co-equals.
In a short time after his return he
married . young girl named Marie
lsaulin, and soon after that event his
parents died, aud he entered into pos
session Of the little paternal property.
The fruit Of his union vas an only
con, who, like all the children Of that
district OF France, was brought up ny
haDd-the women having mortal u
version to follow the dictates Of nature,
which clearly enjoin every mother, I'M
less she be incaPacitated by some bod
lily defect or weakness, to suckIe her
own child. In consequence Of this Gus
tom, Denoni, the son Of Pierre, was
fed on pap made Of buckwheat four,
diluted with a. little milk; and this,
with an occasional spoonful Of coup,
made with tat pork and cabba &c. q"
sjours cras," formed his non, ishment.
Little Benoni, however, in spite Of
buckwheat pap, and soup made Of
pork and cabbage. became $, handsome
youth, and at length arrived at the
age Of twenty, when it cas- necessary
he should draw for the CONSUMPTION.
The awful day arrived, and hundreds
Of families were seen Fastening IN all
directions TO st. Hilsire, it being usual
ON these ocC asions for the whole Of a
youths family to accompany him.
Among the foremost marched Pierrc,|
his stick, and relating lorI
the hundrcdth time in what manner he |
had received his wound at the battle !
Of Au.teriitz; then followed Marie, ex-
claiming aud weeping, signing and
BY turns, crossing herself oc-
when sae thought Of the
Of her sons being drawn
rushed into her mind; and last Of all
came Benoni, supported right and left
BY half a dozen sprightly damscs.
The sous project, the mayor, the
gems d'armes, and all the civil and mil |
Itary authorities were assembled in the
town hall. preparing for the great GER
emony, Just as the party from Verdict
Atlength it came 20 Be-
po0i's turn to draw, and he took a
doomed number. Every countenancc
Ct the family Immediately fell, except
that Of his father, who, BY certain
81 .nificant movement Of the head, and
the words s@co ira pas" ;ntimated to
the BY ISLANDERS that he had some how
Or other the means Of preventing the
Of his son. One Of the sur
est grounds Of redemption, on which
the power Of the state never infringes,
IS beiog the only son Of widow; for
Inc legislature has justly contemplated
Inc inconvenience which the small
that abound in France
would expeEience 10 having no proper
Or Trustworthy person to suPcrintend
them.
When Marie and Pierre were left
alone, the old man exacted from her
an oath Of secrecy as to what he vas
about to divulge. He then told her
that there was but one way BY which
he could effect the exemption Of his
Don: THAT IT, said he, Shy means Of
my death! oh! monstrous,' said she
thou dost not surely mean to
destroy tbyselfto save thy sonv why
not exacs;y,' rejcined he, but ] mean
to pretend to die. II my hat and jack
ct should be found to morrow morning
On ahe banks Of the river, do not you,
eord, deed intination, or inuendo,
give reason for people to suppose am
sii;l alive. Cherish thy son-Iook az
ter thy atiairs-let no one overreach
lhec--pu. THY trust in Heaven, and de-
pend on it thou shalt one day-but
that day may be Gar d,stant-again
zee Pierre!
The next morning. having secretly
taken an old Eat and jacket, he made
The best Of his way to the banks Of the
river, where he deposited these arti-
clcs sear Il torrent. and ere the sun