The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-11-14

worn, displaying them on ali occasions,
thus exciting the admiration OF all her
friends
After the ceremony of placing the crown
upon his own head was concluded, Napo-
leon took that destined for the empress,
and after putting it for an instant upon his
own, placed it on The brow of Josephine,
who knelt before him on the platform of
his throne. "The appear ance of Jose
phine at this moment" says a historian,
s'was most touching. Even then she had
not forgotten that she was once an obscure
woman-tears of deep emotion fell from
her eyes-she remained for space kneel-
ing, with hands folded on her bosom, then
slowly and gracefully rising, fixed upon
husband a look of gratitude and tender
ness. Napoleon returned the glance. 1t
was a silent but conscious interchange of
the hopes, the promises, and the memo
| ries of earsr
In the exalted station to which she was
thus raised, the Empress of France, re-
tanned the singleness of heart, warmth of
affection, and disinterested generosity for
which she had before been distinguished.
The power and influence she possessed,
were valued only as means of diffusing
happiness more widely. and never did sor
row or misfortune 90 from the presence of
1.-The good Josephine" uncheered or un-
! aided by her muniicent kindness. As a
wife and mother, her devotion to the inter-
ests and happiness of her husband and
children knew no bounds-and as mistress
she was beloved almost to idolatry by her
dependents.
Her very failinga loaned to vi.tue's side."
for the plofuse expenditures of which she
has been accused, was caused chiefly by
bcnevoence which exceeded the limits
of prudence. Throughout all France, the
name of the empress was coupled with
blessings, for there was hardly family
: into which her active kindness had not
penetrated, carrying succor and consoia-
ton in time of need. OF her, as Philppa
of England, 1t might truly be said-.while
| Napoleon subdued Kingdoms, Josephine
conquered hearts" Even in his darkest
and stormiest moods, the Emperor con-
/ fessed the power of that finely modulated
! voice, whose very cadence was melody,
and her glance of winning tenderness, often
charmed him from his purpose, and shell
tered the unfortuu ate from the consequent
ces of his wrath.
Thus loving and beloved-the honored
consort Of the greatest man of his times
the pride and ornament Of the gayest court
of Europe; the fight Of every eve, and
theme of every tongue in her beautiful
/ father-and, the four years of Josephine's
! life as Empress glided rapidly away
Even then, however, she forgot not the
past, and looked forward 10 the future with
/ foreoodings too fatally realized.
There was weeping and CONSERVATION
! in the splendid apartments of Malmaison,
for the gentle mistress who had presided
/ in its walls, and whose smile made the
sunshine of lis inmates, was lying on the
bed of death. An insiduous disease had
/ been for days prostrating her system, but
with the lorgetfulness of self which mark
ed her character, she would not suffer the
usual routine of employments and amuse-
ments to be interrupted, until the violence
of her disorded had prostrated her to rise
no more. All that skill and affection
could devise TO prolong life so precious,
/ was tried in vain; the mandate had gone
forth, and nothing could arrest the ap-
/ proach of the king of terrors. But it was
! not the iatiered and envied empress of
/ France that there awaited his coming. A
repudiated wife, and an exiled queen, Jo-
| sehine had learned by bitter experience,
the vanity and uncertainty of earthly gran
deur. She had been compelled by a
course OF threats, entreaties, arguments
and commands on the part of him to whose
wishes her happiness was ever sacrificed
10 sign with her own hand, an act of sep
araiion from the husband so ardently be-
loved so tenderly regretted. She had re-
tired from the glitiering ,circ lie of which
she was the centre and the chief ornament
and in the comparative solitude of Nal
maison, had listened to the thunders of
artillery which pro claimed the union OF
| Napoleon with her rival, Maria Louisa OF
! Austria.
Through the long agony that preceded
the final separation, and The still more try
| ing scenes that followed it, not one word
of murmuring or reproach was heard from
Josephine 'He has wiIie6 it, the inter-
ests OF the French nation require the sac
rifice-l have only 10 obey was her in
variable answer to the indignant remon-
strances of the few who dared to oppose
the will of the Emperor. Once only, af-
ter listening long in silence to the arg,i
ments of her husband, she started up with
sudden energy, drew Napoleon to the
window, and pointing to the heavens, said
in firm but melancholy tone-"Bona-
} parie, behold that bright start Is mine!