Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-05-15

"You must not know that since / came
into this world, never loved but one be-
ing-that being was my mother. But her
/ loved as none loved-with all that was in
me of life and energy. While yet babe,
| used TO read her eyes, as she read mine /;
| guessed her thoughts and she knew mine.
She was the heart of my heart, and the
heart of hers. / have never had either
sweetheart or wife | never had a friend !;
my mother was everything 10 me. Well,
l was summoned to take up arms and
when they told me ] must leave her, in a
paroxysm of despair declared they might
drag me limb from limb, but never should
they take me from her alive. With one
word spoken in her holy foriitude and
strong courage, she changed my whole pur-
pose"
"'Pierre,' said she, 'you must go-it is
my wish''
81 knelt before her, and I said, Il will
go, mother.'
"'Perre,' she adeed, 'thou hast been a
good son, and thank God for it but the
duties of a son are not the only ones man
has TO fulfil. Every citizen owes himself
TO his country it calls thee-obey Thou
art going 10 be a soldier. From this mo-
ment thy life is no longer thine own it is
lay it down cheeriully. II it be the will
OF God that thou shoud'st die before me, l
should weep for thee my hearts tears; but
l would say, ale gave, and He has taken
away, blessed be the name of the Lord ="
Go, now, and if thou love thy mother, do
thy duty Oh how precious those holy
words | have never forgotten them. DO
thy duty she said. Now, the duty of
soldier was always, and in all things, 70
obey; and in all things and always, obey
ed. 1t was 10 60 straight torward-to face
danger without hesitation, withou. second
thought. Those who saw me thus, as it
were to seek TO meet the bullets, said,
There is a brave iellow' They might
have better said there is man who loves
his mother'
''One day later brought me the tidings
she was iIl-my own poor mother. long
ed to 90 to her. asked for leave of alb
sence it was not granted. remembered
her last wordS-'If thou love thy mother,
do thy Guty.' submitted. A little while
after heard that she was dead. Oh then
my senses forsook me; at any risk deter
mined to travel to the country. Whence
| preceded so ardent, so impetuous desire
to see once more place where my mother
had Just died ! will tell you: and as you
have mother, and as she loves you, and as
you love her, you will understand me.
awe peasants Of Morvan are a simple
and confding race. We have not received
the instruction, nor attained the knowledge
that they have in the cities; but we have
our beliefs, which the towntolks call super
sttions. What matters the name? Be
| they SupersttionS or beliefs, we have them,
| and clever would be the man that could
uproot them. Now, one of these beliefs to
which we cling most, is that which atri-
butes TO the first flower that blows in the
grave mould, such virtue that he who
gathers it is certain OF never forgetting the
dead, and of never being forgotten by them.
Belief how dear how sweet With it,
death has no terrorS-for death, without
forgetting, or being forgotten, is but sweet
sleep, but calm repose after long toll
That tlower-l painted to see it bud-I
painted to gather it l abandoned my post
aud went on my way. After ten days of
long and weary march, ! reached my mo-
theirs grave. The earth seemed yet fresh
no flower appeared. waited. Six
weeks elapsed andthen one lovely morning
l saw little blue ilower-'Forget me not.
As | plucked it, shed glad tears, for me-
thought that little flower was my mothers
soul! that she had felt that was near, and
that under the form of that flower had given
herself, TO my heart once more.
"There was nothing now 10 detain me in
the country, for my father had soon followed
my mother to the grave, and had plucked
my precious flower; what more did / want
| remembered my mothers charge-do thy
duty | sought the gems d'armes, and | said
81 am a deserter-arreSt me- ....
And now l am to die; and if, as you assu'
red me, have in you friend, die with
out regret, for you will do me the only
service require. The flower which a
the risk of my life, plucked from the
grave, is here, in a little case next to my
heart. Promise me that you will see that
they do not take it from me. 1t is the linl
which unites me TO my mother; and if
thought il would be broaen-oh l Shoulc
not have the courage to die. -.
Say, do you promise TO do what | ask o
you?"
81 PROMISE" said the officer.
"Your hand, that l may press il TO my
heart. You are very kind TO me; and
the Almighty God were in his omnipotenc'
to give me my lie second time, woul'
devote it to you"
The friends parted.
/. The next day had 4wned. They arri
we'd al the place OF execution; and alread.
had the fatal sentence been read, when tn
low murmer that ran through the ranks
changed into almost deafening shouts
"The Emperor. the Emperor Long liv
the Emperor
r He appeared, dismounted from his horse
and then, with his short, quick step, h
walked up 10 the condemned.
Y "Pierre," said he to him. Pierre gaze
: at him, and made an effort to speak, but
! sudden stupor seemed to overwhelm bin
: "Pierre," continued the Emperor, "remem
IS Der your own words of last night. Go