The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-05-18

~ S''hV III tne gloom
We had felt d; first, but sat awkward and
u at ease, unable to utter a word, and
wen ashamed 10 look at each other.
Come, said the general, Il see how
Is, nave broken in upon a very han
~ party; must make the only amends
my power, | shall be the story teller
Tor thls evening" As he s,id his he
looked around The i.ule circle, by some
seeming magic Of his own, 10 an inslan,
Ne had won ns every one. We drew
nur chars closer towards him, and lis.
'ened eagerly for his tale. Few people
save such as live much among children,
ar take The trouble 10 study their tone
Il feeling and thinking. are aware how
Tar reality snrpasses IN interest the force
II mere fiction. The fac, s, with them,
lar more han all the art of The narrative
'nd II you cauuot say "this was true, ,"
more than half Of the pleasure your sto.
ry coniers is lost forever. Whether the
general knew this or that his memory
supplied him more easily hsn his ina
Sna'lon, | cannot say, but his tale was
: iiiile incident in The siege Of Toulon,
where drummer boy was killed, hav-
ing returned to the breach, after the al
ack was repuIsed, to seek for a little
! cockade OF ribhon his moth1r had fisteu|
d on his cap that morning. Simple as
was the story, he told IL with subdued
and tender palhos that made our hearts
thrill, and filed every eye around him,
ST was poor thing, il's Irue," said he;
I"lhat knct of ribbon, but ii was glory 10
rescue ii from the enemy--his hear,
vas on the time he should show it,
Iolood-slalned and torn, and say | took
II iIom The ground amid the grjpe-saol
and he musketry. was the only iv-
ing thing there, that moment, and see
bore It away triumphanlIy, As the
general spoke he unbutloned the breasr
: 1t his uniform, and took forth small
liece Of crumPIed ribbon, fastened in
ne shape Of a cuckade. 'HHpre it is,''
b was for this he died" We could scarce
see il through our ears Poor Annette
! 0eli her hands upon her face, aud sob
bed violently.
keep it my sweet child" said tn,
general, as he attached the cockade to
' rer shoulder; "il is a glorious emblem,
md well worthy TO be worn by one 50
'ure aud SO fair, as you are"
| Annette looked up,and as she did her
yes fell upon The tricoior that huog
| If -t,,1l.I,.r kntnI
ticoIor--the badge of that parry, Who's
= ,'ueIly she had thought Of by day and
reamed OF by night. She turned dead
r y pale, aud sat with lips compressed,
+ aud clenched hands, uuable 10 speak OF
,lltir.
"What is it, are you III, child?" said
u he general suddenly.
T. "Annelte, love--Anneiie, dearest,
T. said my un:le, trembling with anxiety
"whst is the matter Z"
I 81 is that" cried fercely, pointing
10 the kno' ,on which her eyes were ben
with a shrinking horror, | well knew
q he meaning OF, 'iI is that"
y The general bent on me look o
passionate meaning, as with kissing
{ Que, he said, DO you mean lhis:"
eyes, said |, tearing i, away, AM
ItrampIIog il beneath my feet; yes! il i
not a NosIles can wear The badge of 10
fanny aud crime. The blood stained lrI
color will find slight favor here 70
"Hush boy--hush, for heavens sake
! cried my uncle, trembling with fear
The caution came too Iale. The gener
al taking note book from his pocket
opened it eisurely, and then turoing TO
wards the ViScount, said, This youth
name, s?'
"Duchesne; Henri DucheSne!"
"And his age'"
Fourteen in March," replied my
uncle, as his eyes filled up; while h
added in half whisper, 'f you mea,
he conscrplion, general he has already
supplied substitute.
+ "No matter if he had sent twenty
y .uch defect of education needs correc
ion; he shall Join the evies al TouIon il
! three days-in three days, mark me -
u Depend upon il sir said he, turning t.
me, you snail learn a lesson beneall
Il that lricolour, you'll be somewhat lon
! in forgetting, Dumolle, look to ihs.'-
r With This direction TO his aid d-de-csmp
Al he arose--and before my poor unhspp,
apcla cnuih rnonvar III, soIC IN