Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-08-01


HamsxeIIerman, the Valiant Colonel.
When, IN the spring of 1899, Napoleon Bonaparte
had advanced as far as Linz, with the whole of the
French army, my worthy friends and fellow patriots
began TO have fears for the city of Vienna; OF, to
speak il more correctly, for themselves in the city of
Vienna for 10 the imperial brick and mortar, that
was tntling consideration. J. as in duty bound be-
ing a colonel Of volunteers, endeavored TO comfort
them and babe them take courage, though in simple
verify did not then KIN " what courage was; when,
however on the 10Th OF May, the Duke of Mont Bel
10 appeared before Vienna soon learnt what it was
not, and that knowledge was at least worth the other
hntt Of the mystery.
With this conviction, il may be easily supposed, !
had violent desire for fighting although the enemy
Frenchman. IL was true that heartily hated
the whole OF them but then we are not bound to
cut The throat Of every man who does not happen TO
be TO our taste. And yet what was to be done As
a colonel of volunteers, could not handsomely run
away from my men, and indeed there was mHch
fear that the slaves would run away from me,
for my legs carried four times the load OF any gwen
pair IN the whole regiment and therefore were likely
10 be four times slow in retreat Then 100, ii by
any extraordinary chance they should stand firm, my
plight would not be ot better with my rotundlty
of person should be bulls eye to the target, and
every gun would be aimed at me. Escape would be
impossible.
Such were my reflections in the hungry interval
beiweea the laying Of the cloth and the serving up of
dinner that tedious prologue which all cooks contrive
TO make as long possible.
This day, too, thought longer than usual; but
at last The fish made It's appearance It was fine
carp and had Just tasted enough to be able TO say 50
mach, when in bounced my cousin David with the
words, 'the enemy will attack us this evening"
The carp turned to wormwood in my mouth. Ne
IN my life had eaten 50 bitter morsel and al
though few had ever suspected me of being conju-
ror yet had the faculty of second sight and OF
second hearing too, in full perfection
And coning events cast their shadows before"
saw the glilierng of the French bayonets, and
heard the din Of the French mvskets although all the
miles of the city. But evening came, and with II
came both the one and the other, when by strange
pervcrsion OF things could neither nor hear dis
tnetly still, where my safety was concerned, had
natural nsilac which answered all the purposes OF
reason and clearly felt that 1t would never do TO
stay al home and receive domciliary visit from the
bombs and balls; for in the first place, reckoned
tina, my quarter would be the chef poin, Of attack
and secondly, held that any one cellar would be
rr.ch more convenient on the present occasion than
any atiics, where the bullets would tumble from
Gne skies fresh from the air.
All Vienna now was in confusion dogs barking,
children sqiallng, women crying, and men swearing
but By this time l had acquired inconceIvable pre-
Of mind, for while every body else was running
without any definite object, knew well which way
was going With more speed than had before thought
my legs capable of posted of TO the opposite side
of the city, visit 10 my Joseph or rather 10 my
cousin Joscphs cellar, which al this moment was To
me the dearest spot earth thought IT, however,
civil make himself the ostensibe object OF my CO.
ming, in which believe that only follow the fash
ION of most guests whose visits are generally speak
ing, less TO the host than To his wine bins.
With my cousin found stranger who, by his
pale face evidently had eye TO the cellar as well as
myself He had on blue coat, and wore at his side
sabre of most terrific dimensens if had not been
for the newness of his garments l should have sup
posed him TO be poet, for he was as thin as paper
knife and, with the green feather IN his hat looked
prodigonsly like eel set up on its tail and It's head
stuck with ienncl. But poet not, felt he was,
like myself n coward-and why should be asham-
cd IN M af hat IN -
Cowardice may be misfortune, but Il cannot be a
vice; the contrary, deem II virtue OF the high
est order, very necessary cement without which So
clety would not hold together for eight and forty
hours; IL all men were Caesars the world would be
too hot 10 mold them. Nor do Mt all regret that
belong 70 the cement of society, bu, rather thank
full 10 Dame Nature for having been economical TO
me IN The article OF courage; shall live twenty years
the longer for discretion on this score and twenty
years of life worth having 10 a man who eats
shree hundred and sixty five good dinners in the
course Of the twelvemonth, not forgetting suitable
accompaniment OF wine. ale, and brandy.
With this view set oil for the North Gate and my
step as light # had been marching to feast
80 much had my courage riseH with the certainty OF
snug retreat IN my cousins cellar. Scarcely had
got half the ground when the stranger with the
pale face was at my elbow.
1--WE are probably going the same way" SAID the
pale face.
"To the walls" replied in a determined tone, and
was myself almost terrified At the valor Of my own
own voice. In fact began TO fear that was not a
coward after all and that my courage might lead me
into some danger; Of all my fears, however that was
the most superfluous
1--WE shall have dreadful night of il, am afraid, =
said the pale face, "the French are terrible engi-
neers "Pshal was growing holder every min
ute. "Pshal dulce Il decorum est pro patria mort.
Follow my example and be firm"
|" Such mass Of flesh may well be firm" replied
the pale faces y" ~ not tnbe that can ehake il but
for poor, meagre la,h-and plaster devil like myself
why the very sneez,np Of an enemy would upse, me-
"Sir SIR, be thankful TO Heaven tina, YOU occupy 40
little space in the world; nothing but chance could
ever direct ball to object invisible and IL il
should the breath of the ball would knock you down
long before the lead itself could reach you"
The pale face was nettled At this remark he began
20 grow personal, but had an instructive knowledge
that he more afraid than myself and accordingly
gave my hat the defying cock, and said:
It's your good luck that have other and NOR
important business on my hands, or here should b.
my answer"
With this touched my sword significantly an
srutted oil IN smother street in the hope of getting ri
OF him.. Still had some fear that he might follow
me, and dld not venture to look over my shoulder
lest his pale face should be grnning there. Thanks
however, 10 my guardant saint, and my own admi
cable presence OF mind, got out Of this troublesom,
bus,ness without any other injury than ruffling O
the spirits.
found my company already At their post and TOOK
IL into my had 10 muster them partly To sh.w nv
xo~l C,xs * s.~v,ca navslv - L.. 4. 49,