The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-01-22

sob, the words oil that saint! l hear them YET
sounding in my Now the duty of n soldier is
to obey, everywhere and always. Everywhere and
always have obeyed. 1t is, therefore, to go right
ahead, through every peril without hesitation without
reflections; and right ahead have gone, through
cry peril, without hesitation and without reflection.
Those who me marching steadily forward, with
balls flying about me, exclaimed, There goes
truly brave They ought rather to have said, There
goes one that loves his MOTHER
"One day it happened that I received letter, in
forming me that my mother was sick. The poor
dear wouan desired to so and see her; asked
leave Of abscnce-it was not granted. ] recalled
her last words, "!f you loue me, do your duty and
| was resigned. Soon after heard that she, my mo-
ther was dead. Then my brain turned. At
any price, at all hazards, determined TO return to
the country. Whence sprang this ardent, this inn
petu Gus longing, to visit the place where my mother
had just died / will confess to you the cause
Since you have n mother since you love her; since
she loves you; you comprehend me- We peas
ants of the Morvan are simple, credulous men. We
have neither the instruction nor the science that is
found in cities, but we have beliefs, which you
of the city call superstitions or what consequence
! is it whether they he called one or the other? We
have them, and skiru indeed, must he be who can
tear them from soul Now Of the beliefs
which we most firmly hold, is that which attributes
to the first flower that blows upon newly sodden
| grave, so great n virtue, that he who gathers that
flower can never forget the dead, be forgotten Of
them. Dear and charming belief With that thought,
death has nothing excite fear; for death, with
out rorgefuness, is nothing more than mild sleep
is only repose after long fatigucs
"And that flower! desired earnestly to it
spring up, wished to gather it, and l left the
camp After ten days steady, painfully walking, l
reached my mothers grave. The earth seemed to
be freshly heaped up. No flower had appeared.
waited-six weeks rolled away; then, in the first
dawn ola beautiful day, saw expanding little
! flower of azure blue. 1t of those flowers
which the people of the city call Myosoes but which
we country folks call 'Forget-me-not.'
"In gathering it, shed tears Of delight, for it
seemed to as if this flower the soul Of my
mother; that she had felt my presence, and under
the form OF this flower, she had returned to offer her.
/ self TO Nothing retained in the county, fol
my father followed any mother to the grave, and
had gathered my precious flower, and what moro
did need?
''I remembered my mothers counscs. 'do you,
| them, Il am deserter, arrest ME-
''Now l ain going to die, and if, as you have as
sured me, have friend in you, shall die without
a regret, for you will perform for the service that
l expect fiom you. The flower which went to gather
from the grave at the peri! Of my life is herehere,
in this little bundle, which is suspended my
heart. Promise me that You will see that no one
separates it from me- Tt is the link that unites me
with my mother, and If thought that it would be
broken, should die like a coward. You do solemn
ly promise to perform what ask of you?'
al do promise it,
''Oh, your hand; let me press it upon my heart
Oh, how good you are tonne; how, how love you !;
and if God, by his omnpotence, should restore
gain to life, that life would consecrate 10 you.''
The friends separated.
The next day, when the people had congregatcd
at the place designated for the execution and Just
an officer had read the fatal sentence there was beard
noise at distance and then loud cries ran along
the ranks of the army, "The Empcror-itis the En-
peror-long live the Emperor"
He rode up,and dsmounted from his horse. Then,
with his short rapid step, he walked directly to the
! prisoner. "Picrre,' said he.
Pierre looked at the Emperor, and he seemed ma
king an effort to speak, but he struck with an
immoveable stupor.
"Pierro'' continued the Emperor, ''recollect your
own words last night, God does again restore thee to
e' Consecrate that life mot to me, but to France.
She is good, a noble mother; love her thou ddst
thy other MOTHER
The Emperor withdrew amidst deofenng c'amors
| Of affection.
| Some years afterward Pierre, who had become a
captain in the Old Guard, fell the battle field Of
Waterloo and in the agony of death he collected his
whole mortal energies, and shouted with firm voice,
'Long live the Emperor! Long live France God
bless my mother"'
/ ADVICE TO YOUNG LADIES.
| Never be afraid of bushing Accept no present OF