The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-06-20
THE VALUE OF LIFE.
AN EXTRACT FROM A MEMOIR OF A
GENTLEMAN OF BRITANNY
Translated for the Atlas from the French OF
Eugene Scribe.

Translated for the Atlas from the French of
Eugene Scribe.
And Joseph, opening the door ofthe par
lor, came 10 inform MS the post chaise was
ready. My mother and sister threw their
arms around me.
"There syet time" "gve up all thoughts
of this Journey"
"Moiher," said ]. 81 am gentleman; am
twenty years old, it is time became some
thing in the world, that should push my way
either in the army or at court"
"And when you have gone, Bernard, tell
me what will become of me?"
"You will be proud and happy to hear OF
| the success of your son."
"And should you be killed in some batte!'
sand what i'll should! what is life? Is il
| " should think only of glory. And in few
years you will see me returning TO you, eli
Their colonel or a marshal, or else holding an
honorable post ut Versailles"
swell, otwlat good will that be?"
81 shall be respected and of consequence"
"And then?"
"Then every one viii take off his hat when
| he meets me. ! shall marry my cousin Hen
rietta; will see my young sisters well mar
ried, and we will all live with you in tranquil
ity aud happiness, ON my lands in Brittany"
"And who prevents you from doing the
same now? Has not your father left you the
finest fortune in the whole country? Is there
richer domain or a more beautiful castle
for twenty leagues around, than that ofRoche
Bernard? Do you not take your tenants into
your accounts. Are there not enough TO sa-
lutte you when you cross the village? Do not
leave us, my son: remain near thy friends,
with thy sisters; with thy old mother, whom
wheiyou return, you will perhaps no longer
tiud among the living: do not go, and waste
in vain search for glory, or shorten, by cares
aud torments of all kinds, your days which
at best pass but too quickly. Life is a pleas
ant thing, my son, and the sun of Brittany is
so beautiful"
So saying, she pointed, through the parlor
windows, 10 tire beautiful avenues ol'my park,
the old chestnut trees in bloom, the lilucs, the
honeysuckIes, whose blossoms periumed the
air, and whose verdure sparkled i'll the sun
light In the antechamber stood the garden
or aud his whole family, who, sad and silent,
all seemed TO say to me, do moi depart young
ster, do not leave us!
HortenSia; my eldest sister, pressed me into
her arms, aud Amelia, my little sister, who
was in n corner of the hall, engaged in look
ing nj the engravings ola volume ofFontninc,
approached me, offering me the book.
II was the fable ofthe "J'wo Pigeons"
rose hastily aud put them all hack.
II am twenty years old, am II gentleman
and must earn honorund glory; let me 60"
rushed out into the court yard. Twas a
bout to ascend the post chaise, when wo-
man appeared upon the steps of the staircase.
1T was Henrietta She did not weep, she did
not say one word. But pale and trcmuous
she could hardly support herself. With her
white handkerchief which she held in her
hand she gave me II last sign of adieu, aud
fell scnseless. ran TO her, raised her, and
pressed her in my arms, and sworc an eter-
nal love for her, and at the moment she came
to herself leaving her TO the care ofluy moth
err and sister, FASTENED to my carriage with
ont stopping and without turning my head.
i'll had looked at Henrietta should not have
gone.
A few moments after, the post chaise was
rolling along the main road.
For long time | thought only ofmy sisters,
my mother, of Henrietta, and the happiness
was leaving behind me. Butfhesc thoughts
were all effaced as soon as the turrets OF Roche
Bernard were concealed from my sight, and
my mind was soon filed only by dreams of
ambition and glory.
What castles in the air what fine exploits
performed, in my post cbaise. Wealth, hon
or, dgnities. success of all kinds-l denied
myself nothing. AT last, rising in rank, as
proceeded on the road, l became Duke
and Peer, Governor ola province, and n
Marshal of France, when Preached, III the
evening, my inn. The voice of my domestic,
calling me by the simple title of squire, COM
PEELED mo to return TO myself aud TO abdi-
cate my borrowed titles. The next day and
the following, the same dream, the same in
toxicatiou cpsned: for my journey was long
one.
repaired to the environs of Sedan, to the
house fthe Duke of c., an old friend of my
father, and patron ofour family. He was TO
take me with him to Paris, where he was en-
pected at the end of the month. He was TO
present me mt Versailles, aud obtain for me
the command of n company OF dragons,
through the influence of his sster,the March
ioness Off, young and charming woman,
generally regarded as the successor ofMad-
anne Pompadour, whose place and title she
claimed with justice, as she had long fulfilled
its honorable functions.
Iarrived in the evening at Sedan, and it be-
ing then too late to repair 10 the castle ofmy
protector, delayed my visit until the next
day, and put up at the French firms, the best
hotel in the city, and general rendezvous
for all the officers; for Sedan is garrisoned
city, a strong place. The streets have awar-
like aspect and even the citizens have mar
tial appearance, that seemed to say to stran-
gers, awe are copatriots of the great Tur-
enne."
/ cat at the public table, and inquired the
way to the castle ofmy patron, situated three
leagues from the city. "Any one will show
voup said they to me, che is well known in
the country. 1t was in that castle that the
great warrior, The Marshal Fabert, died"
The conversation turned upon the Marshal,
as was very natural among young soldiers.
They spoke ofhis battles, his great exploits,