The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-08

mousse - SteuDen, III oWltZcTtdHu. Tor then, u
now, Stsuben was the last post-station befor
commencing the ascent of the Arlberg. TIL
travellers, two in number, wore military cloak
and foraging caps; but what the precise ra.k
or to what asm Of the service they belonged
not even the prying observations of the hos
could fathom. Their orders were for fresi
horses Immediately, to cross the mountain, ant
although the snow-drift was falling fast, and tn.
night dark AS pitch, they peremptorily insisted
on proceeding. The post regulations Of thoss
days were not very stringent and arbitrary as
u postmaster may seem now-a-days, he was
nothing to the autocrat that once ruled the com
ings and gongs of unhappy travellers.
When ne averred that his horses had done
enough--that it WAS saints day--that the
weather was too bad, or his postillions too
weary-the case was hopeless, and the traveller
was consigned, without appeal, to the consola-
tons Of his own philosophy.
| 1t CHANGED, on this occasion, that the whole
disp0sabie cavalry Of the post consisted of two
blind mares, which were both old and weak To
tempt the cravings Of the commissary, who, a
few days before, had seized on all the draught
cattle to convey stores to Feldkirch, at that lime
menaced by French force under Massena.
The officers, however, were urgent in their de-
mand 1t was OF the utmost Importance that they
should reach Ipspruck by the following evening.
AT last, half by menace, half by entrcaty, it was
arranged that the two old mares should be har-
messed to the carriage, the host demonstrating
all the while on the inability Of the expedient,
and. averring that, without Vorspaen, 4 relay of
horses, to lead ut the steepest parts OF the noun
tain, the attempt would be fruitless.
"Nay," added he, "if you doubt me, ask the
boy who is sleeping yonder, and has been drv-
ing the Vorspann for years over the Arlberg."
The travellers turned and beheld on heap Of
straw, in the corner Of the Kitchen poor little
boy, whose ragged uniform of position had evil
IDENTITY reached him at third or fourth hand, SO
large was 1t, and SO loosely did it hang around
his slender figure. He was sleeping soundy,
as well as he might, for he had twice crossed the
mountain to ST. Christoph on that same day.
sand this book" said one Of the travellers
taking very tattered and we'll thumbed volume,
which had dropped from the sleepers fingers,
"has this poor little fellow time to read p
"He contrives to do it, somehow" said the
host, laughing; "nay, more, as you may see
there, he has begun to teach himself French
Since he heard that the French army was about
to invade us, he has never ceased his studies,
sitting up half the night working at that old
grammar there, and for which he gave all his
months earnings"
Sand what may be his reason for this ?" said
the elder traveller, evidently interested in the
recital M
He has got the notion, that if the French
succeed in forcing the pass of Feldkirch and en-
ter the Tyrol, that, as he will be constantly en-
gagged as Vorspann on the mountain, his knowl-
edge of French would enable him to discover
many secrets OF the enemy, as no one would
ever suspect poor creature like him Of having
learned foreign llngunge."
A i Al. i. 4
patriotic one % Yrs
phan; but then his Tyrol blood runs warm and
thick in his veins! ~
sand what progress has he made :"
81 cannot answer you, mein Herr for none,
hereabont knows anything of French-nor,
suppose, had he ever the opportunity of testing
the requirement himself. They are driven back,
am told?'
"For the present." said the elder stranger,
grayely; shut we shall need all the reserves at
lnspruck TO hold our ground whenever they re
new the attack"
The sleeper was now aroused to take the sad
dle for in the absence of the regular position
the Vorspann was obliged to take his place
Still but half awake, the little fellow stood up,
and mechanically buttoning up his worn jacket,
he took his whip and prepared for the road. The
| travellers were soon ready, and ere many
minutes elapsed the caleche had left the village
and, with the best pace the old mares could nc
compsh, was breasting the snow-drift and the
first rise of the mountain. After about an hours
driving, during which Joseph had exhibited his
| utmost skill in taking advantage of every avail
able bit of trotting ground, they came at length
to the commencement of the steep ascent; and
there, hanging his whip on the saddle peak, the
| little fellow pOt down N raIiaya hio caftlo rs
they toiled up the precipitous ascent lie had
not gone far, wi en-, happening to drop beside the
cdleche what did he hear but the sounds Of that
very language upon which all his day and night
dreams were set All that he had remarked Of
the two travellers was, that they wore cloaks of
military cut and foraging caps, and now he heard
them conversing in French The whole train of
events on which his mind so long had been
dwelling came now forcibly before him. aFeld-
krch had been forced, the French were already
masters of the pass in few days they would
lie over the Arlburg and in possession of all
Tyrol:' Such was the terrible series of events
few words of French revealed to his excited
imagination. With this conviction he drew
nearer and nearer the door, Till he could hear
the very words they spoke. For the truth was
that the travellers, by way of amusing them
selves with the poor boys eccentric devotion,
Hau Ho soOneT seen nun WltTln eaT-SlOt Oh the
carriage than they began speaking French to-
gether. And when they perceived that they had
gained his attention, the younger one, in tone
Of assumed warmth exclaimed, "If we do but
reach Inspruck in time, the whole country is our
own"
Then suddenly changing to German, he cried
out,--"Holla, Norspann, we are pressed for
time. Spring into the saddle, my lad, and use
your spurs well, and we shall have Bairish
ducat for your stage"
As if obedient to the command, Joseph
mounted at once ); and steep as the road was,
| by dint of spurs, whip, and voice, he struck
into haf-shufflng canter, the very utmost
speed his boast could accomplish With many
shock and bound, the cdleche sprung rronr
side to side the narrow road, while the same
what last spoke called out
$50 much for patriotism The promise of a
dncat would open Tyrol from Bregenz to Trent y
The words were not well uttered when loud
cry rent the air; the horses sprang abruptly to
az and fI. -.