The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-06
VOL. VIII.

dame Trompette had followed the army as q
Ufvandiere, or suttler hence her military tastes
and habits. She had seen much hard service.
and undergone with heroism the dangers and
fatigues Of the Russian campaign, during
which she had rendered the lieutenant the sie.
nal service Of amputating his arm. The Lieu
tenant loved to tell the tale to his comrades,
and never failed doing so when they met on
festive occasions. It was after the battle of
Leipsic where his arm was shattered by can
non ball. Madame Trompette discovered him
on the field, lying ON q heap of dead, in the
course of her charitable search after the
wounded. He was insensible when she found
him, but was restored to consciousness by q
little brandy, from her flask. Being severely
hurt, and weak from loss of blood it was some
time before he could sit up; but with the
young girls assistance, he at length propped
himself up against the dead bodies, whilst she
proceeded to make an attempt to dress his arm
This, however, she found impossible, the bones
being so badly shattered; and to increase her
alarm, hemorrhsge recommended so that there
was imminent danger of the poor fellows
bleeding to death The Lieutenant. suggested
that she should amputate the limb as well as
she could, and, in the absence of surgical in
struments, bade her get his clasp knife out of
his pocket. With an amount of nerve and
self possession equal to the trying circumstan-
ces in which she was placed, the young woman
followed the instructions of the Lieutenant, and
accomplished the operation marvellously well,
considering. At any rate, it effected the OBJ.
ject, for it relieved the suferings of the Lieu
tenant, and the bleeding being checked by a
ligatcre, frightened by the insertion, as a tour
niquet of the clasp knife, the wounded man
was enabled to crawl to the ambulance, where,
at the end CT five days, the amputation was
more skilfully performed, little higher up.
The Lieutenant then made his way to the CAPT.
tai, and ultimately obtained admission to the
Involides* Being now unfit for war, he took
to studying politics, and in course of time &C.
quired considerable ascendency over his COM
panions, who regarded him as an oracle in
such matters. They did not, however, place
the same faith in "the star of Bonaparte~ as
he did, and could not bring themselves to be-
lieve in his prediction that it would be again
in the ascendant some day. He maintained
his theory notwithstanding, and even prided
himself on holding q singular opinion.
The episode above related will explain the
intimacy between him and the Corporaps wife,
though, in sober truth, she was not less q IA
vorite with the whole of her large circle of
military friends. Indeed, the vivandisre in the
French army is its protege for she it is whose
kind hand relieves the suffering of the wound
ed soldier, or assuages his anguish when dying
Not a man but would die for her, and that
would not think himself bound in honor to
avenge any insult offered her.
AS for Madame Trompette, she was bred
and born in camp. Her father was a trooper
of the ancient school, and her mother had fol-
lowed the dangerous occupation of suttler to
the regiment Both were killed afield, during
the wars of the Republic, little Marion being
oh nd fn ha Of he coI1
who brought her up with as much tenderness
as though every man had a paternal right to
her. In fact she was literally the child of the
regiment to whose fortunes she had remained
faithful until she became unfit for service, when
she retired, with the Corporal, on the pension
allowed them by Government. Even after
wards, however, she continued to regard the
regiment as her own, and to look patronizingly
upon her successors in Office so that she still
kept up old associations and thus exercised no
inconsiderable influence in o particular direc-
ton.
She soon lighted fire in the little iron stove
that stood in the centre of the Lieutenants only
apartment and set out the table, in arranging
which she was presently aided by the Lieuten-
ant himself She then disclosed the contents
of her basket greatly to the delight of her host,
who complimented her, over and over again,
on the remarkable talent she possessed in the
commissariat branch of their profession.
Eyes, yes; leave an old trooper alone for
that" she observed, as she broke four eggs into
basin, and proceeded to Manufacture an
omelette. "War don't do much good, perhaps,
Lieutenant; but it makes people handy that
have to do with it,"
The Lieutenant assented to the proposition,
though his MANNED limb did not present alto
gether happy illustration of the fact. They
got On remarkably well, however, and in the
course of half an hour, sat down to an impro-
vised dejeuner la fourchette which certainly
reflected great credit upon the culinary re-
sources of both parties. What with the cold
bouiHi,f which Madame Tromrette converted
into relishing dish by the addition of oil and
vinegar and the usual condiments with the
German sausage she had brought the ONE
lette little fruit from the Leutenants stores
| the Rochefort cheese the fresh butter and the
Lieutenant's new loaf, brought in the nick of
| time by the baker of the establishment the
wine he had promised; the coffee, and a little
confectionery; they got up breakfast by no
means despicable, and to which they soon ad-
| dressed themselves with keen appreciation
Of its excellence.
In the course of the repast, Madame from
petite took the opportunity of informing the
Lieutenant of the precise object of her visit.
"Dost thou know, comrade," said she, "that
we have launched out into politicsa"
"Who-o-oo? Yoo-oo-u! The Co-o-or-poral
and tho-o-o ou?" stammered he, looking up.
"Yes!" she answered, "we're likely to be-
come somebodies."
The Lieutenant shook his head disspprov.
ingly, -, ,,,,
with politics but thyself, old mustache," re-
marked she. But and nv CORPORAL have
had an offer made -
The Lieutenant did not interrupt her by
speaking, for he could not get out what be
wanted TO say. He accomplished the object
however, by humping the handle of his fork
upon the table, and at last managed TO get out
the word, CO. CO. conspirators."
Look here" she resumed, drawing from
her pocket and laying upon the table the rou
leau of gold pieces.
"Sa-a,a-a-a-prsment!n exclaimed he: "Bo
o-ought!"
"Not so fast, Lieutenant said Madame
Trompette; listen to me, now, and when thou
hast heard all, give me thy advice.n
The Lieutenant made another sign of assent
and settled himself down to listen. swallowing
as preliminary, a small glass of cognac, afte1
hob-nobbing. with his guest, to whom he had
presented q similar dose.
Madame Trompette proceeded to relate the
occurrence of the previous evening" keeping
carefully back, until the very latest moment
the name of the parsonage who had appealed
30 strongly to the martial feelings and the 10y
altv of her husband to the memory of the de
ceased Emperor: The Lieutenant gradually
became interested, then excited and when q
length his guest came to the climax, his feel
inos 40 oyercame him that he burst into b