Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-08-28
SELECT TALE.
Translated for tAs Eosfer Rarblr from he FreneA Of
Engese Scribe.
The Price of Life.
nv ou.vrrS = uAzrwgrr

TO announce to us that the Post-chaise was
ready nv mother and my sister threw them
selves into my arms.
= II is still time,' they said 'renouuce your
Journey, and remain with us
MY mother, l am gentleman, 1 am twen-
ty years old, and it is necessary, in order that
they may speak of me in the country, that l
should make my way, either in the army or at
the court
And tell me, Bernard, what will become
of me when YOU have gomez
You will be proud and happy in learning
the success of your son.
And ii you should be killed in some battle =
.What will il matter, What is life, One
thinks not of it when one is twenty years old,
and gentleman. You will see me return TO
YOU, nv mother, in few years, colonel, or
,natchald de camp. or with some fine Office at
Versailles
'Ah, well what will happen then,'
THAT shall receive respect and considers
tion.'
And thent'
That every one will raise his hat to me-
And them
That will esPcuse my cousin Henrietta,
see all my young sisters married, and live ever
afterwards with you, tranquil and happy, on
my estates in Brittany
And what hinders you from commencing
all this ,o-day' Did not your father leave to
you a fine fortunei Is there for twenty
leagues around more rich domain a more
beautiful chateau than that of La Roche Ber-
ndrd, Have you not the consideration and
the love of all your vassals, And when you
traverse the village, who does not salute you
by raising his hat Leave us not, my son !;
remain with your friends, with your sisters,
and with your old mother, to whom, perhaps,
if you depart, you will return no more. Go
manner of torments and cares, those days that
so rapidly pass away. Life is sweet thing,
and the sun shines nowhere more beautifully
than in Brittany
Of the salon to the beautiful alleys of my park,
the old chesnut-trees in flower, the llacs and
the honey -suckles, the perfume of which load
ed the air, and whose verdure shone in the sun.
In the ante-chamber were drawn up my garde-
ner, and all his family, who, sad and silent,
seemed TO say to me DO not go, young mas
ter, do not GO Hortense, my Oldest sister,
folded me in her arms, and Amelia, the young
est, who was in a corner of the room, occupied
in looking over the engravings in a volume OF
La Fontaine, approached and presented the
book to me.
Read, my brother, read,' she said weeping.
1t was the fable of the t,co pigeons rose
suddenly, and repulsed them all.
l am twenty years old, and a gentleman
honor and glory are necessary to me,-let me
depart
And rushed into the court. was about
to enter the post-chaise, when a woman ap-
peared upon the steps; it was Henrietta =
She wept not-she said not word-but, pale
and trembling, she restrained herself with diff
fculty With the white handkerchief which
she held in her hand, she made me sign Of
farewell, and fell down insensible. i hastened
to her, lifted her up, folded her in my arms
and swore to love her forever and at the
moment she was reviving, leaving her to the
care Of nv mother and sister, ran to my car.
rage. without stopping or turning my head
Had | seen Henrietta again, could not have
gone. In few minutes the post-chaise was
rolling along the highway.
For long time thought only of my sisters,
of Henrietta, Of my mother, and of all tha,
world which | was leaving behind me; bu,
these ideas were effaced in some measure as
the turrets of La Roche Bernard disappeared
from my sight, and soon dreams of ambition
and glory alone occupied my thoughts Wha
projects what castles in the air, what fine
actions created in my post-chaise. Riches
honors, dignities, success of all kinds-I re
fused nothing to myself; deserved every
thing, and l received it. Finally, rising il
grade as | advanced on my route, had be
come duke and peer, governor of prov.
ince, and Mdrechdl de France when arrived
at an inn in the evening. The voice of my
servant, modes,ly calling me Monsieur le Chez
a1ir, reused me from my dream, and cou-
pelled me to abdicate. The next day, and for
several others, had the same dreams, the
same exhiliratiea of spirit, for the joarney.was
long. / at last arrived in the neighborhood Of
Ledan, where was the house of the Duke o.
c., an old friend of my father, and protec
tor of my family. He was to present me a,
Versailles, and to obtain for me company o
dragons, through the credit Of sister of his
the Marquise de F-,a charming youns
woman, designated by public opinion as tn
successor of Madame de Pompadour, place
of which she claimed the title with all the
more justice because she had for a long time
discharged its honorable functions had ar
rived at Ledan in the evening, and not wishing
to visit the chateau Of my friend at 30 late al
hour, ! postponed my visit until the next day
and took up my quarters At the Armes-de
France, the frst hotel in the city, and the or
dinary resort of the officers; for Ledan Is ,
. garrison town, and a strong place. Ths
streets have q warlike aspect, and even III,
citizens have martial air, which seems to gay
to strangers, we are countrynesof the grea
Turenne.s ss|i