Litchfield enquirer., 1837-02-23

manner, asked the price of these vases. The
 widow measured him from head to foot, and
 said drily, that the price was beyond his
 reach. This may be, madame" said Bo-
 napartc, irritated, but still in modarate tone,
 "but thinkit would not cost you much to an- swer my question: "Tcn thousand francs.
 sir" answered the lady in dry tone. 'Weli
 madame, is that your lowest fixed price ? l Yes sir-I have but one fixed price, as cv- cry one of my customers know Well, madame, think shall buy them. Be so
 good as to place them aside: so that nobody
 else may take them.' But sir said the as-
 tonished lady, how then! shall say they
 are sold but, but What but, madame ? gave him hint, and said, madame is right;
 she does not know us, and of course she is not | to be blamed for asking something by which
 she might be assured that we were in earnest He handed her at the same moment, a bank note of one thousand francs. The widow, still more astonished, received the note, turn
 ed, and returned and handed it to clerk, di-
 recting him in whisper togo to neighbours
 and see if it was not forged one; and then
 addressing herself to the two strangers, with
 the Parisian gracefulness socharacteristic of all these female shopkeepers, gentlemen, ask pardon. Youappear to be well bred gen lk0I1IClIs UULs OOu NuOWSS SAIlOC Iuut OOioCIGH has been at the head of our government, we are overrun with rogues and vagabonds, who even attempt to commit forgeries, and'there- fore have sent to one of my neighbors; who is an agent de change Ca brokerO and who understands his business well.' But how then, madame I thought Bonaparte was good Frenchman,' said the consul, and all though born in Corsica, that he never ceased to be Frenchman.' Yes, yes,' answered the merchant, smiling, 'he has been good | Frenchman because he was too greatly in terested to be otherwise Sabastiani saw that Bonaparte began to grow warm, and in- terrupted the loquacious lady by asking her what she had now to say ofthe first consul order and put France in f1ourishing state Yes, he had so well established order, that we have now, instead of laws, bayonets-instead ofliberty, slavery-and legion of miserable spies, who report to the police every one who dares to speak against him or his adherents.' The woman was ofan exalted character, very handsome and bold, and astonished both by her vehemencc and the facility with which she talked to them, Bonaparte could not l help interrupting her in saying, but, mad anne, you forgot yourself by touching these delicate political matters ill which you can not have the least concern, being obliged of ten to deal with the first consul's friends and adherents. And if we should belong to them, what then madame! Would you not fear to be arrested!' q fear to be arrested You, gentlemen, could not denounce poor wid- ow, with five little children to provide for No, certainly I have nothing to fear from
 you. You appear to be too honest and good, gentlemen, to ruin poor woman, because she used with freedom the only gift of God, her tongue, which the ,lsurper had left her.
 On leaving the store, Bonaparte told her he
 would send the money and pay for the two vases. Tn walking out they took hackney
 coach, and stopped short distance from the Tuilleries, in the Rue de PEchelle. Bona parte, although not we'll treated by this spir- tied lady, was, nevertheless, the first who said that he liked her frankpess, but that she de- served some good lesson for the future. As soon as he arrived at the Tuilleries, he sent Gen. Lasnes, with one of his carriages, in search of the widow, with a polite invitation to come immediately with him to see the gen. tleman who had bought the vases, as he wish ed to speak to her of other purchases, and pay her what he owed. The unsuspecting lady, seeing a gentleman clad in citizens clothes, and in an elegant but plain coach, was ready to go, and off they went at full speed. On the road she inquired very anx- l iously after the names of these gentlemen-if he (Lasfles) was their friend-and many oth- CT questions, which Lasnes was expressly pro- hibited from answering. But what was her perplexity when she alighted at the great Staircase of the Tuillerics, and saw that she had to deal with one of the generals attached to the consul. She exclaimed at various in- tervals, sOh, mon Dieu! mon Dicu what will become of me, if these gentlemen should ! denounce mo to the consul !? LaSnes, who, though a very rough soldier, was neverthe- less humane and of a good heart, assured her, as we'll as he could, that not the least harm was intended her. But what was her terror when the door of the first consul's cabinet Op- encd, and she recognised in him the stranger ito whom she had spoken so freely. She was ready to faint, hunbly asking pardon. Bo- naparte himself was moved, helped her up, and led her to chair, requesting her to be quiet and composed. These kind words res tored her spirits, and she was able to listen to the following friendly words: Madame
 you have been little imprudent in speaking of me so freely to strangers. Happily for you, these words have not been heard by Fouche or one of his agents, or you would not have come off so easily. Let this be war ming for you in future. Here is your money, and give this 10000 francs to your children, and say to them, that if the mother is not my ] friend, wish at least, the children may be. ; 1 It was by such means that he made himself popular. e1s 3. D ?. saf3faaa Ha .Ia. eua INDIAN STORY. r
 Tho following story is taken from the uo~, uov0l rereutly nnhlishad lon,;,tod