Saturday morning visitor., 1848-11-25

his way; and when few months after
wards learned the event of the fatal
strife, in which so many of his country
men had fallen, l felt severe pang for
the probable fate of the open-hearted
Frenchman.
Let me now return TO Charleroi. II
was lovely evening, and when had ia
ken some refreshment, left my auberge
to stroll little way into the country
Chance led me 10 the banks of the Meuse,
and as there could be no pleasanter path
than by river side, | followed that which
led up the stream. When had proceed
ed about two miles, as near as | could
guess, and when Just about 10 retrace my
steps, upon sudllen turning, / came in
sight Of a cottage which for beauty had
never seen equalled; it stood about hun
dred yards from the river, with garden
sloping down to the stream. The cottage
was cream colored, of one story only, and
almost completely covered with the jas
mine tree. The garden was one blow of
early spring flowers: auriculas, polyan-
thuses, primroses, doffadils, and many
others which my botanical knowledge does
not permit me to name. thought l had
never beheld spot of more sweet retire.
ment, or one that could more agreeably
live IN all my days. | was standing ga
zing upon it, thinking how happy its in
mates might probably be, and had laid my
hand upon the little wicket gate that led
up the garden, merely by way Of resting
my arm, when the door Of the cottrge O.
pened, and lady and then a gentleman
appeared. ! recognized them in mo-
ment il was Durande and his Elize.
We hear much commonplace talk about
the insincerity of the French: wish TO
God all the world had half the sincerity
Of the French colonel at Civet. 1t has
been my lot often to meet with kind re-
ception from strangers, and therefore it is
that / think more favorably of mankind
than msanthropes would make us believe
mankind deserves 10 be thought Of. This
colonel had been rising rapidly in the
French army, rising TO power and riches !;
but through the Intervention of my coun-
try, his master had been humbled, the ar
my to which he had belonged beaten, and
he had to endure the humiliation OF seeing
an English guard mounted at the palace
gates of his king; yet if had been di-
rectly instrumental in making his fortune,
| could not have been received with great
: er kindness; but indeed, after had pass
: ed night under his roof, it seemed to me
that he had but little 10 regret in the fall
, of his patron, and he appeared TO feel no
regret. Living in beautiful country, in
his own cottage, with wealth and seeming
: competence, blessed with the endearmenis
of domestic liie-an affectiona:e wife
: and two sweet children, could he regret
that the clang OF arms had passed away
Glory could indeed no more circle hi.
brows with the wreath Of victory; but
peace might be around him, and the inter-
, change of affection and kind Offices might
hallow his name, and light him through
all the journey of life.
! "My income," said he sis 5000 francs
! year 9l2o sterling.) Half of tina,
sum is my pay, and the other half is the
interest OF my wife's fortune. have the
cottage besides; have all desire; we
: live as we wish TO live. There are my
. books-rioia mes licres," said he; mo,
y many, but choice. Here are my music
books: Josephine and | sing duets.
workin my garden, from which we have
fruit, and flowers and vegetables, as many
: as we desire. have little horse in my
: stable sometimes ride him, and then
!, walk beside her. / have boat on the
river, and in warm evenings we row OH
together, and sometimes we take liitlt
r Henri Mathilde is too young. And al
: Charleroi have one or two friends whom
| | see sometimes. live nearly thousand
e francs within my income, so that / hav,
| no cares. For every deserving stranger
: | have bed, and place at my table,
r You see how we live" added he, Oh,
n conversation happening during dinner,
). "stay with me as long as it is agreeable
| to you. We win make you as comfor,a
e ble as we can; and when you 90 away
e do not forget the cream-colored cottage a
L Civet, and never pass withiti fifty mile
IS OF us without coming TO see US"
y Josephine looked all that her husban,
y said: and though il would be absurd L
nj suppose any real sympathy between per
. sons who knew so little Of each other a
myself and my entertainer, and yet afle
t having been, during many months alone
. this address made me feel my lopelines
.t the more, and made me begin 10 doubt
q nature had designed me for solitude. w
!" cordially shook hands at parting, and,
in stepped into the boat which was to glid
A. down the river.
i. mentioned inths first chapter, l thinl
:, that this register is written from nemor,
al csnnOt,' therefore, tell more than recol
"a lect; and It is odd enough, that tax in
q rsemOry ss will, ! sannCsrecall anyshin