The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-11-14

Vienna. Faithful TO her engagement, Constance
more beautiful than ever, from secret sadness
which veiied her regard. had invited her lovers to
meet her there. She the first TO arrive and to
salute. with tear. and regret, the unoccuped
place OF the brother in arms who had fallen in the
battle. When the rest were assembled, they went
over, together, the episodes of the campaign-so
short, yet 40 glorious, and then they discussed their
hopes and the rights Of each one to avors and re-
wards for each thus hoped to raise himself in the
eyes Of the young girl.
But spirit was wanting to the scene. Constance
had lost her gaiety, her repartess, generally 80
lively, 80 jovial and quick. ianquisbed. and were
given slowly and with difficulty. AT last came
the dessert. Without waiting for the other 10
speak, Cons'ance, after having filed her glass,
arose." Brothers," said she, yon are all young
and brilliant officers of the future Listen for the
last time. and without interruption to the vivaIi-
diere ofthe 10th. Let us spa ak with open hearts,
what would be FOR You with the title of wife, the
poor uneducaed young girl An obstacle to yonr
fortune; more titan this, humiliation and a re-
morse have seen my mother weep, and re-
member it. This hand, which you have done me
the honor to seek, give il to him who will have
need Of it 70 sustain him, aud perhaps earn his
bread The choice Of Constance is vet an homag
to the fraternity farms, for it fixes itself upon the
most unfortunate among you let us drink then to
the poor motilaied c0mrade, extended on his bed
Of pain, at the hospital Of Vienna, where am
gong 10 shut myself up. todie sis,e of t,hariiy,
or TO leave it the wife Of The wounded soldisr.''
She put her glass. to her lips, but bending be.
neath the weight of her emotions, for in this sub.
lime decree she was pronounciRg an eternal sepa.
ration from the regiment she loved SO WE'LL she fell
faintlng in her chair. Not single voice protested
against her noble devotion-sobs alone replied Il
her. When she recovered her consciousness, she
found her nine lovers, their bayouets on theil
shoulders ready to conduct her to ihe hospital Ar.
rived there, she placed herself by the bed-sid d
the invalid soldier, and renewed the vow she had
made at the restaurant. Ten days afterwards, .
letter with the Imperial seal placed in the hand
OF the ex- visandiere Of the 10Th He of the eagle
eye, who knew how to find out and reward every
virtue, endowed the young girl with an annuity q
loUo francs, reversible TO her children, for, sale
the letter, you deserve to be mother"
Five months later, Constance left the hospita
the wife Of the mutilated quarter-mas,er, and du
ring the eleven years they lived together she
had cause to regret the choice she had made
Her ancient lovers often came to see her, anc
Though they had become officers, and had nearly
all married rich wives and lived in luxury, they
spent many pleasant hour in the vivandere,,
cottage The nine became, each in his turn, god
fathers to the nine children of whom Constano.
became the happy mother. At last her HUSBAND
died, blessing her with his last breath; then, one
after the other, her children passed away also
lWo died lighting for their country Three, two
daughters and a son, were killed by dreadful rail
road accident, which occurred some twelve years
ago. and within two years afterwards the unfor
tunate mother buried her other four, and was thu,
left alone upon the earth. Bnt her noble courage
did not iorsake her. She turned her thoughts Il
God, and gave her occupations to the poor and
sick. 1t was principally among the soldiers tha
she exercised the most good, and within the las
few years her little house in the Montmartre hat
become a veritable private military hospital. Here
many poor soldier, without parents, friends o.
money, came to- receive the motherly cares ant
counsel of widow Constance. She preserved al
her faculties to the last and died as beautifully 4,
she had lived, leaving, her little annuity to he
''children," the sick soldiers of the French army