Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-10-19

would very gladly give up my life for you
if my country did not require 1t. Annet-
te, beloved Annette, there is after all,
something higher even than love, aud that
is duty. You, on the contraynec what is
there to keep you here! France does
not need you you may leave your coun-
try without It's remarking the loss of one
girl, whose name it perhaps does not
know, and who never can be useful to
her country.
You are under a mistake, Richard,
replied she, too, love my country, and
| should wish that my children, If ever
had any, should love it as l do. Duty
calls you back to America; my happi-
ness and my peace attach me to France
you love your lakes, your rivers, your
forests; love the little duck-p"nd at
AuteuiI, on whose banks was born. As
a child played by its waters, and the very
sickly trees, of which you speak so con-
temptuously, were witnesses Of the happl-
ness of my youth. Fare -you.well, Mr..
Richard. must 60 and water my faith
er's sugar peas, and 60 and make the
cheese, and cream the milk for Madame
Helvetus'
Annette rose up from the stone bench,
arranged her dress little, and then, evI-
dently disconccrned, went with streaming
tears into the kitchen garden, where her
father had been walking about all the
morning with the waterng-can.
My dear friend, said Madame Hell
vctus to Franklin, you are better Cit
more useful and necessary to your coun-
try than he is; could you decide wholly
to give up your America! Would you
be willing to end your days in France,
near the duck pond Of Auteull, far from
your great rivers, your immense lakes (;
your sun, which rises over the undisturb-
ed forests! |, for my part, think as An
nette does, prefer to that new world
which you are making free, the little in
significant duck-pond Of Auteuil. The
story which YOU told me, added she, is
a charming one, but what do you say to
that which we have just now heardP
Franklin made no reply he kissed the
hand of the lady whom he loved, and
then went Immediately to Cabanis, to
consult him on the best means of regula.
ting his health during his long voyage.
A few days afterwards both Richard
and himself set sail from Havre to Amer
| ica, where, as it is well known, shortly ai
ter his arrival in Philadelphia, he was
chosen Minister of State.
Annette neither left France nor the
duck-pond of Auteui. The next year
she married one Of her nelghbors, who
took up arms in the year l19S. During
the power Of Napoleon, Annette greatly
distinguished herself, and in 1879 hel
husband Gell on the bed of honor, high
lily renowned for his military achieve
ments.
!, AS regarded Madame Helvetus, she
| also renamed steadlast and true 10 her
attachments to Autcuil. She always dt
tracted to her the most distinguished
men of the age, and Tugot, Carat, Des'
Itus-Tracy, and Bern'n st. Pierre succeed
ed to Benz. Franklin. One day when Bon
aparte, at that time First Consul, wa
walking with her in the garden, she sal'
to him, General, you can have no idci
how happy one can be on i,le plot o
+ ground not above three acres IN extent .
Il That was very true, as coming iron
the lips Of 4 woman who refused to mar
nv Franklin, and who, out of love to hel
native land, chose to end her days in the
quiet retirement in which she had passe'
thirty happy years.