Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-04-14
BY VIM. T.. Their.
STORY OF A SOLDIER.


towards Paris. My health had been for
some time, unsettled, and the journey was
undertaken somewhat rashly, particularly
as neither friend nor personal attendant was
with me at the time. The consequence
was stoppage to my travel. had borne
up for time at the cost of much sulferinp.
but was forced, when about thirty miles on
my way, to take advantage of my arrival at
small, neat-looking village, and make a
halt. The cabaret before which landed
was very clean and promising in its appear
ance, and | flattered myself that, if necessa-
ry to stay few days, all would be right and
comfortable in such quarters. But | was
disappointed IN my expectation of getting
these quarters. The only two beds in the
house fit for an invalid, were taken up by
strangers.
What is to be done, then, good hostess p
said here ! must remain, sleep where
may Il know not what to do, sir was the
reply; though it is possible that one of the
strangers may give up his bed to YOU i
should not like to be troublesome but
The hostess interrupted me by calling to
an elderly man who sat on bench at the
door in conversation with another person.
'Jaques,' cried she, come hither. Here is
gentleman who wishes to have a bed
We have no spare one can Bertha put him
up? The individual to whom these words
were addressed was a fine, hale-ooking man.
about fifty or so. He had that uprightncss
OF department which at once marks the
veteran of war Il doubt not but Bertha
can give him quarters for night or two,
1t he wishes it, said Jaques, in cheerful
tone; and he looks i'll, too but Bertha will
take care OF him, promise him, if he can
get her to take him in charge We'll.
well show the gentleman the way to your
cottage returned the hostess but Jaques.
don't promise too much. You are not IA
nous for keeping your promisesl Ma fol,
nor are you = retorted Jaques; and the pair
showed their teeth at once in peculiarly
broad and hearty laugh. You will find
every thing comfortable, sir, with Jaques and
his dame,' said the hostess, when she had
brought her merriment to close. And so
was at once handed over to my new friend,
nothing reluctant, | must say; for liked
his countenance, and was even better pleased
at the thought Of lodging in cottage than
in cabaret, however neat and clean.
did find everything comfortable in the
cottage of Jaques. His wife-a tidy, round
faced, pretty matron, well nigh ten wears
younger than himself to appearance
made Inc welcome with degree of ready
warmth which highly gratiied me. She
seemed Just the very person for an individ-
ual to quarter himself with; and so found
1t to be. But enough Of mysell-to my sto-
ry.
In passing occasionally between the cab
aret and the cottage Of Jaques during the
few days of my residence there, | had an
opportunity of hearing the hostess and Ja-
ques repeat their significant banter, once or
twice regarding promiSe-kecping 1t seemed
to be a standing joke between them, of
venerable age. This excited nv curiosity
and one day asked Monsieur Jaques if il
meant anything particular which it was
proper TO tell me. Oh, yes proper enough /
to be told said Jaques, with laugh; but
II is long story, and fear would weary
your honor. NO fear of that said /: Il
am an untirable story-seeker' Thus en-
couraged, Jaques related to me his history
Il was drawn for the conscription,' said
he, in my nineteenth year. That was no
very advanced age, sir; yet, before that
time, had contrved to imagine myself in |
love, and to make all sorts of weghty VOWS
OF fidelity to pretty little cousin of my
own, who had Just then reached her fifteenth |
year. Well, | was drawn for the wars, as
| said and though man enough to be a
soldier, ] was child enough to cry, with
great earnestness and sincerity, when 1
came to part with my pretty cousin Marie .
We had 10 help for it, however, so we
promised to be faithful as never two were
before, and we separated.
The emperor continued Jaqucs, touch
ing his hat as if his living master had been
blore him to receive the salute)-the empe-
ror was at that time fighting the whole
world, and beating all the world, and | fol-
lowed him for many long day, without ev-
er seeing home, and without ever hearing
word from home that could be depended up-
on. Through all Italy and Germany fol-
lowed the heels of my master, liking the oc-
cupaton very well after had got accustomed
to 1t. The thing that kept us comfortable,
sir was that we never had any fears of be-
ing beaten while the emperor was with us.
But though not beaten, one can be wound
ed and so it was with me sometime before
the emperor entered Berlin. / did not 90 in
10 the hospital, however, but preferred going
about with my comrades, conceaing my
hurt, though suffered much but in Pots
dam all this sort of work came to an end
was quartered in the town; and when the
emperor moved on and entered Berlin,
was unable to follow. My wound-it was
IN the arm, sir-became so bad that could
not move but had fallen into good hands.
The house in which was lodged GER
taInly promised lutte to appearance 1t
was the humble home IF a noor yon,an ,ybo