The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-11-14
By JOHN G. GIVEN.1
SCENES Nv
THE LIFE OF AN EMPRESS.
BY MRS. 8. T. MARTYN.

'.FEmIE, what news from port to-day?
Has lie Vainqueur yet arrived g
The faithful creature thus addressed,
answered slowly and with evident reluc
tance:-
mo, Missy, de big ship neber come
when Missy want him, and de lille ship
bring only rum and oackee. But keep up
heart, Missy, de good news is long
coming, but de bad news fly berry fast"
There was deeper shade of sadness
or the brow of the first speaker, as she
sank languidly among the pillows of the
sofa on which she was reclining, and
reading, gave herself up to melancholy
reverie. And yet sadness seemed by no
means the natural expression of that
charming countenance, in which, as in an
open volume, all gentle thoughts and wo-
manly affec tions were written. The fca-
lures were small and finely modelled. the
profile inclining to Grecian, but without
any statue-like coldness of outliae. fhe
eyes of deepest, darkest blue, so full of
brilliancy and feeling when fully turned
on any one, were usually half concealed
beneath their long and silken lashes. Her
hair OF ''glossy chesnut brown harmon>
ICED delightfully."- with clear and transpa-
rent complexion, and a neck Of dazzling
whiteness. Her eyebrows were shade
darker, regularly arched, and pencilled
with extreme delicacy. TO this were
added faultess symmetry of person,
and a lightness and elasticity Of move
ment, which impaired something almost
aerial to her perfectly graceful carriage.
Such was Josephine de Beauharnais,
when still in early womanhOod, she re-
turned from France TO her native isle TO
seek refuge from sorrow amid the scenes
and friends of her childhood. She had
sailed from its shores few short years
previous, young and happy bride, about
20 visit with her hearts chosen, the beau
tifui land of his nativity, and OF her own
brightest day dreams-she had come back
TO her home, solitary wanderer, with
heart chilled By the conviction that he on
whom she had lavished her wealth of af-
fection was unworthy of the precious
boon. He had exhausted even her patient
love by his excessive pro1igacy and ha-
bitual neglect, and with her two children
she had departed for Martnico, leaving
him still in Paris. But though far distant,
that unworthy husband was still fondly
remembered, and she clung to the hope
that every vessel might bring the blessed
tidings of his return TO virtue, or possibly
the guilty but beloved prodigal once more
10 his peaceful home. But month after
month flew by, and still no news came
from ala belle France" to gladden. the
heart OF the deserted wife. .'He has for
gotten me-" was her bitter reflection,
"amid the gaiety and dissipation of the
great city, no thought of wife or children
can find entrance. Unkind could aught
on earth Danish him even for one moment
from my memory :" Absorbed i'll thought,
the youthful mother was unconscious
even of the presence of her children, until
the sound of their voices in eager dispute,
which the faithful Femie in vain cndea-
vored TO soohe, reused her from her reve-
rie. "What is the meaning of this :" she
enquired with surprise, as she saw the
flushed cheek and sparkling eye of her
son. Your sister is in tears, my dear
Eugene, why have you grived her - The
spirited boy answered promptly, "Mam-
ma, we have only been playing at The
game of king and queen, and | made you
queen, but Hortense said you should
no, be crowned, fer that queens were not
always happy, but | determined you
should be my queen; and mamma, SO you
shall be a queen. in spite of all the silly
girls or old women in the world" Jose
phine gazed with maternal pride and
fondness on the beautiful boy who stood
before her, like young Antinous, his
breast heaving, and his countenance glow
ing with strong emotion, bu: his words
had touched some hidden spring of feeling
within her breast, for her rich voice trem-
bled like the Eolian harp when the wind
sweeps over lis strings, as she drew her
daughter TO her arms. and tenderly kissing
her cheek, exclaimed-"So, ma ma gnon,ae,
you are unwilling 10 have your mother
become queen! Content yourself, dar-
ling. there is little probability of such an
event; though" she added more gravely,
turning toward Femie, who, as her foster
sister, was her confidential attendant; sit,
Is singular that the childish fancy Of this
boy should bring SO vividly to my mind a
predic,ion uttered long ago by an aged
sybh with whom l accidentally met, when
In company with party of young associ-
sses." Feoie's dark eyes expressed