Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1851-11-29

LOuS, unfortunate Heu! OO! 4 VIII SeIlu you
a priest to afford you the last succors of re-
Hgion. Think upon. France and your God!
from this moment you belong no more to this
world
The soldiers cast themselves at Joachim's
feet, not to ask for mercy, but for his pardon,
before death. AS they were leaving the
apartment Joachim recalled them. ListenH
he said: if I should grant you your lives,
would you live henceforth like honest men p
Nc. we wish to die,' replied one of the SOL
ders; I'VE have deserved death; let them
shoot US; tits just
But if I do not wish to have you shot?'
cried Joachim, wherefore would you die,
when would have you live? l have never
givenAhe word to FIRE, except at the enemy,
and cannot bear ogive it against those who
are my brothers, who are Frenchmen, although
guilty.
And Joachim wept like woman-Ae, the
bravest of men! Was he not, Messieurs?' 2
And we wept also around the arm chair of
the Countess de Lpano, who spoke SO touch
ingly of her heroic husband.
After pause she continued her narrative.
Listen to me- said Joachim in a Eilder
tone. You are great culprits, but am glad
to fnd that you have energy of character;
you will second my project well. I grant you
your lives, but it is necessary that you should
tomorrow be thought dead by the world;
above all, by your regiment Tomorrow, near
nightfall, you will be led out of the Pisan gate
npon the glacis; you will receive the fire of a
platoon, at twenty PAGES distance, and you
will fall dead; at this moment the last file of
your regiment will pass across the place of ex-
ecution; the obscurity of the evening will fa-
vor the deception. A man, of whose fidelity
am assured, will place you upon tumbrel,
and transport you TO the cemetery. Here you
will find change of clothing wherewith to
disguise yourselves as sailors, and a thousand
francs will be counted out to each of you you
will remain concealed for few days in on inn
which will be pointed out to you; in two or
three days an American vessel will sail for
New Orleans; there you will go to pass your
days, and live like honest msn-do you hear
You will be taken on board as soon as the
wind is favorable. Be prudent follow my ad-
vice exactly. Go; will take care of your
families!' ----4-g----.-
The soldiers bathed MuraPs feet with their
tears. and repeated, again and again that they
would do as he had directed them. -.
All passed as Joachim had arranged it A
severe example was given to the regiment;
but there was no blood spilled, and the EN-
peror, happily deceived. thanked Murat for
having sacrificed but three lives to the de-
mands of discipline. The Emperor was never
of the generous stratagem to which
my husband resorted in this affair; it was for
a long time secret between myself and few
of our faithful friends, who have never betray-
ed it. There is now no indiscretion in di-
vulging it, and divulge it therefore for your
sakes' .-....... ....
After this narrative, Murat's widow, too
deeply moved to prolong the conversation, re-
tired to her apartment We likewise were
much affected; we kept silence. Every eye
was turned upon the magnificent portrait,
painted by LIE Gtos 1t represents King Mu-
rat in striking attitude, galloping along the
shore of the bay of Naples. Mount Vesuvius
Murat and Vesuviusl two volcanoes, face to
face.
The conclusion of this narrative was re-
counted to me, several months afterwards, by
a person very intimate with the imperial fam
lily. 1t is like the romantic denouement of a
drama; which seems to belong less to real
life than to the imagination of the novelist.
Upon the borders of a forest in the vicinity
of New Orleans, huntsman knocked at the
door of modest farm house, to seek shelter
from violent storm. 1t was in the autumn
of 1880. The hospitable door was opened,
and the stranger was led by an aged woman
into a neat apartment plainly furnished, and
almost entirely hung with Partisan Autographs,
representing our principal deeds of arms.
1T appears said the stranger in the French
language, that my kind star has led me a.
mong fellow-coxntrymen.'
Monsieur is Frenchman, doubtless . said
the old woman
Yes, madame, and good Frenchman too.
l have even relatives here in this apartment
MY son is in the garden; will go and call
him; he will be very glad to see you
is your son Frenchman also?
yes, sir
This reply was uttered with some hesita-
ton; she then added with more confidence:
He has dwelt long while in this country,
and, God be praised be does not repent it
This farm belongs to him. We live comforta-
bly, and respectfully, and have no cause to
complain of our fortune
At this moment the master of the house
entered the apartment.
This gentleman said the mother, has done
US the honor to repose, for awhile, beneath
our roof. until the storm has passed over;
he is fellow countryman; he is a French
man.
The proprietor of the farm made military
salutation, and stammered out few words OF
civility. The face of the stranger produced a
singular impression upon him, and he was so
agitated that he could not reply to his ques-
tions. At last he ventured, with difficulty, to
address him.
Monsieur he said, you will find my re-
quest indiscrete, perhaps, but am constrain-
ed to inquire your name. Excuse me-your
face
MY friend, replied the hunter, this is
the only question cannot answer. It would
be easy for me to deceive you, by giving you
a false name, but prefer to be silent A
man who bears my name knows not how to
lie. Now that have refused to tell you my
name, do not venture to demand yours
The master of the housa did NOT rep1v