Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1851-12-17
THR DEATH OF JOSEPHINE.

AAAGa vi
Darkness and clouds surrounded the
pathway of Napoleon. In vain he strug-
gled to retrieve his fortune. The lasten-
gagement at Leipsic decided his fortunes
for the time, and consigned him to Elba.
Napoleon was an exile, but in his re-
tirement he did not forget the only being
he ever really loved, his Josephine. He
Immediately addressed letter to her,
breathing the same spirit towards her that
he had always manifested, rather congrat-
ulating himself that his head and spirit
were freed from the enormous weight of
care and intimating that hereafter his
pen should be substitute for the sword.
The world said he, has yet only
seen me in profile. shall now show
myself in full. How many things have
to disclose. How many are the men up
on whom false estimate has been placed.
l have heaped benefits upon millions of
wretches What have they done in the
end for me? They have all BETRAYED
me-yes, all. 1 except from this number
the good Eugene and yourself. Adieu
my dear Josephine. Be resigned, as 1
am, and never forget him who never for
got, and never will forget you. Farewell,
Josephine. NAroLEoN.'
Upon reading these tidings so terrible,
Josephine was overwhelmed with grief,
and Immediately answered his letter,
breathing the same spirit of devotion to
him, who was once her husband, that
had always characterized her noble heart,
and entreating him to say but the word,
and she would fly to him. The remain
ing circumstances connected with her i'll
ness and death we give in the language
of Mr. Abbott.
A few days after this letter was writ
ten, the Emperor Alexander, with num-
Der of illustrious guests dineJ with jose
Phine at Malmaison. In the evening
twilight, the party went out upon the
beautiful lawn in front of the house for
recreation. Josephine, whose health had
become exceedingly precarious through
care and sorrow, being regardless of her
self in devotion to her friends took vio-
lent cold. The next day she was worse.
Without any very definite form of disease,
she day after day grew more faint and
feeble, until it was evident that her final
change was at hand. Eugene and Hor-
tense, her most affectionate children were
by her day and night. They commune
Gated to her the judgment of her ply
sician, that death was near. She heard
the tidings with perfect composure, and
called for clergyman to administer to
her the last rites of religion.
Just after this solemnity the Emperor
Alexander entered the room. Eugene
and Hortense, bathed in tears were kneel-
ing at their mothers side. Josephine
beckoned to the Emperor to approach
her, and said to him and her children,
{ have always desired the happiness of
France. l did all in my power to con-
tribute to it, and can say with truth to
all of you now present, at my last mo-
that the first wife of Napoleon ne
yer caused single tear to flow
She then called for the portrait of the
Emperor she gazed upon it long and
tenderly; and then fervently pressing it
in her clasped hands to her bosom, faint
ly articulated the following prayer:
20 God watch over Napoleon while
he remains in the desert of this world
Alas I! though he hath committed great
faults, hath he not expiated them by great
sufferings ? Just God, thou hast looked
into his heart, and hast seen by how ar
dent desire for useful and durable i'm
provements he was animated. Deign to
approve my last potion. And may this
image of my husband bear me witness
that my latest wish and latest prayer were
for him and my children
1t was, the Goth of May, 1914. Al
tranquil summers day, was fading into
serene and beautiful evening"
The rays Of the setting sun, struggling
through the foliage of the open window,
shone cheerfully upon the bed where the
Empress was dying. The vesper songs
Of the birds which filed the groves of
foated sweetly upon the ear,
and the gentle spirit of Josephine lulled
to repose by these sweet anthems, sank
into its last sleep. Gazing upon the por-
trait of the Emperor, she exclaimed
L'isle d'Elbe,-Napolen = and died.
Alexander, as he gazed upon her life
less remains; burst into tears, and uttered |
The following affecting yet just tribute of
respect to her memory She is no more;
hat woman who France named the benif- |
cent, that angel of goodness is no more.
Those who have known Josephine can ne
Ter forget her. She dies regretted by her
offspring, her friends and her contempt
aries
For four days her body remained
in state for its burial. During
his time more than 10000 of the people !
# France visited her beloved remains
IN the I'd of June, at noon, the funer-
i procession moved from Malmaison
o Ruel, where her remains was deposi-
ed in tomb of the village church. The
uneral services were conducted with the
,restest magnifcence, as, the sove-
eigns of the allied armies united with the
'rench in doing honor to her memory
When all had left the church but Eugene
nd Hortense, they knelt beside their
1Other's grave, and for long time min