Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-06-10

number of the Western Monthly Magazine, a
literary journal, conducted with marked abili-
~, and published at Cincinnati, in style
cfeditable to the press of that city.
THE EMPRESS OF FRANCE.
BY TAMEs H. PERKINS.
oShe, i'll the working of whose destiny,
The man of blood and victory attained
Hismore than kingly height.''
The Co NouERoR.
When few centuries shall have thrown
their shadows upon the strange fortunes OF Ma
poleon, and given to every thing. about him the
finge of romance, the story of his first wife
will seem to the student rather fable. than a
fact; he will look upon her as we look upon
Mary of Scotland, but with deeper interest;
for she, far more truly than her lord. was from
first to last '.the child of destiny"
Told, while yet unmarried, that she would
be wife, widow, and queen OF France
the entire fulflment of the first part of the pro-
phecy, gave her courage TO believe in the last
part also when under sentence of death. When
her bed was taken from her, because she was
to die in the morning, she told her weeping
friends that it was not SO; that she should yet
sit upon that throne, on the ruins of which Ro-
bespiere then stood triumphant: and when ask
ed, in mockery, to choose her maids of honor,
since she was to be queen, she did choose
them, and they were her maids Of honor, when
half of Europe looked up to her. On that
night, which was to have been her last on
earth, Robespiere fell. Had he fallen few
DAYS earlier, her first husband would have IL
we'd; had his fall been but one day later. Jo-
sephine herself would have been among the
ten thousand victims, whose names we new
ct heard:---But he fell ON that night, and her
destiny was accomplished
She married Napoleon, and through her and
her husband, he was appointed to the army OF
Italy. Step by step they rose. till, at last, the
crown rested upon her head;---the second part
of the prophecy was proved true, and she be-
gan to look forward to that loss of power and
rank, which had also been foretold, and which
was to close the strange drama of her life.
And he that had welded the child of desti-
ny, grew every day more strong, and more
grasping. In vain did Josephine attempt to
rule his ambition, and chasten his aims; he
was an emperor, he wished to found an en-
pire, and by slow degrees he made himself ia
maliar with the thoughts of putting her away.
When the campaign of 1909 was at an end,
hardened and narrowed, the general came
back to his wife; his former kindness was
gone, his playfulncss was checked, he consult
cd her but seldom. and seldom stole upon her
private hours with that familiar love that had
so often made his heart leap. She saw that
her hour drew nigh.
" 1t was the evening of the twentieth of No
vember; the court was at Paris in honor of the
king OF Saxony. Josephine sat at her win
dow, looking down upon the river. and mus.
ing on the dark fate before her, when she heard
Napoleon's step at tho door. She sprang to
open it, using her usual exclamation, ''MoN
AMP He embraced her affectionately, that
for an instant her fears and woes seemed vain.
She led him to chair, placed herself at his
feet, and looking up into his face, smiled thro'
her tears.
.'You are unhappy, Josephine" said the
emperor.
ssNot with you, sire"
ssBah!" said he, quickly, "why call me
sire! these shows of state steal all true Joy
from u.s.
s.Then why seek them!' answered Joseph
inc.
The emperor made noreply. "You are now
the first of men," she continued, ''why not
quit war, turn ambition out Of your councils,
bend your thoughts on the good Of France,
and live at home among those that love you!"
.sJosephine," said he, turning his face from
her, sit is not l. it is France demands the sa-
crifce.''
"Are you sure Of that, my lord!" said his
wife; shave you probed your heart to the bot
tom, is it not ambition that prompts you to
seek reasons for repudiating me! for think not,
Napoleon, misunderstood you; are you sure
it is the love Of France?"
Every word she spoke touched him to the
quick; and rising hastily, he replied, ''madam,
have my reasons; good evening"
'.S.ay, sire,' said she, taking hold Of his
arm, tive must not part in anger. submit.
Since you wish il, submit: c!;eessa!!y. 1t is
not in my nature to oppose your will; l love
you too deeply. Nor shall cease to love You,
Napoleon. because am TO leave your throne
and your side. If you still go On victorious,
shall rejoice with you---if reverse comes, |
pray for you morning and night; and in the
hope that sometimes you will think ofme."
Hardened as he was, Napoleon had loved
his wife deeply and long; her submission to
his stern resolvc---her calm, but moufnful dig.
nity---her mistaken love, moved even him;
and for a moment affection struggled with
ambition. He turned to embrace her again. |
But in that moment. her face and form had
changed. Her eye and her whole person SEEM
ed inspired. He felt himselfin the presence
Of a superior being. She led hin to the win
dow, and threw it open. A thin mist rested
upon the Seine, and over the gardens Of the !
paIace;--ail around was silent;---among the |
stars then before them, one was far brighter
than the rest--she pointed to it.
ssSire!" she said, ssthat star is mine---to that.
and pot TO yours, was promised empire; thro'
me, and through my destinies, you have ris-
en-; part from me you fall. The spirit Of her
that foresaws my rise TO royalty, even now \