Washington telegraph., 1855-06-13
From the Michigan Temperance .ldcocatel
The Soldiers Vow.
4 TRUE TALE.

u IALE.
One beautiful Indian simmer day, in the
autumn OF 1874. stranger appeared in
the streets of Hanover, New York. whose
garb bespoke the utmost poverty and desti-
tuition. As he staggered along. he was sur
rounded by crowd of village boys, who
amused themselves by Insulting him with
coarse jests and personal indignities. He
bore their abuse with exemplary patience
and begged them wait until he felt little
better and he would sing them fine song
His voice WIS thick with unnatural excess
and he was too weak TO Protect himself from
the rude jostlIng of the crowd and vet be
exhibited no other sense of his helpless and
forlorn condition. than a look of grief and
shame, which despite his efforts and smiles,
would occasionally oversprcad bis counten-
anee- Late in the afternoon, the writer,
then student. passed him in company with
friend, when our attention was arrested
by voice Of unusual power and beauty,
singing that fayOrlte national song os France
LA Pari-ienue" As he proceeded. great
number of students from the college gather
ed around him. and at the conclusion an in
voluntary expression Of delight broke from
the entire mass He was enthusiastically
eucOred. and afterwards the MarseilIaiSe
was called for The same rich. clear voice
rang OUT that wild melody, in the very words
which are wont to arouse the spirit of the
French soldier TO frenzy Tie admiration
Of the poor iHebEiaie's auditory was ROW
raised to the highest pitch. DESPITE his
;attered and filthy garments, his squalid
beard and brimless ha:. now that the fume
of liquor had ssIb-ided, his form apneared
symmetrical aud manly; and his face glow
ing with the sentiments 0f the patriotic song
and flushed with excitement at the ,inex-
peeted praise he was winning. assumed an
expression OF intelligence ana JOY that beau
ti!u!ly set off his really fine f,a.ures.-
What and who IS The stranger ?" was the
universal inquiry
His singing IS Incompatible. and his
English and French are bo;h iaultleSs.''-
Yes" said le. dropping bis eyes, ''and |
can give you German. or Spanish, or Italian,
As we'll; or Latin and Greek either" he
added eareleSsly- Ia reply to the many
questions That were siI9wered upon him with
the COIN he 50 much -eemcd to need, he at
length said in sad tone. AMI Slowly en-
deavoring to push IL: way through the
crowd: "Gentlcmen. | am peer vagabond,
entirely unworthy your kind Sympathy
Leave me to riy rags and wre;chedness,
and will 90 on my way" But cur curl
osIty vas too much excited 10 allow this.
aId amid loud cheers We escorted him to a
room where he was furnished with water
and an entire suit Cf coed clothes, the bar
ber's art was put in requi-i;iol. and after
an Incredibly short 'ime lie re-arpeared up
on the college steps. smiling and bovinc
gracefully, ni:;R oE as fine appearance and
Doble bearing a. ever eyes beheld. The
delight OF the crowd at this Transformation
was intense, and repeated shouts rent the
ar Give Us La Pari>ienne." echoed from
all sides. and az soon as silence could be cb
tanned, agaiH that clear rich voice uttered
those uEspIriDg words:
"Peuple Francais. peurIe De braves
La Liberte rOuvre ses bras
He was conducted TO the SPACIOUS chapel.
and there for two hours be held in audience
OF one thousand people spellbound by one
OF the most Interesting autobiogFaph;es that
1t was ever our lot 10 hear. Born in Paris.
OF wealthy parents. he had in early life
been thoroughly educated at the University
OF ":rtembure. and received The Masters
degree, lie sOnn after ioined the fortunes
OF Napoleon. and with the rank OF I.ieusen-
ant. was with him during all his campaigns
IN Egypt, in Italy. in Austria. in Russia.
and al Waterloo Ee had been engaged in
more than seventy battles His account of
scenes IN these battles and his description
Of places and cities we're EXPRESSED in choice
aId graphic terms aid on being compared
Will: history were found 10 correspond in ev
cry Particular He related many u,Iwri,ten
a'.l curious incidents IN the lif;, of Napoleon
Snich bad come under bis observation, and
Hiaily closed with touching acconnt of his
oSn career after the battle of Waterloo
ID the terrible route that follow ed that men,
Sfa0ie event his detachment Was chased
toy body of Prussian huSsars. and becon,-
ing scattered in riie night. he wandered for
'hree days in the woods and by-places with
Out fO'd or drink.
lhe chase being at length given over.
'n1 poor FrenchIuan sank down weary and
sex = With his wounds. and ready to die by
TIE r'ad side \ humane Dutch girl, dis
covering him in this situation brought Kim
,e'reshnenTs and cOrlial~. and among the
ia,'er flask Of brandy. Here said the
T,' Tu ."iuleF; was the beginning of my woes
tna angel OF mercy. with the best of nc
We ~.eS Drought ME tb1t flask. deadlv foe,
~"'vn was 10 prove mpre potent for evil to
n's '''hn all the burning suiiS of the Egypt an
eaa'iiPaisn' or the Intuleralle fro + and SHOWS
- III" i'uSSian 4: more fatal than the cannon
" seventy battleS; which kibd!ed in me
'u'fSt more Unsuitable than that which
.o.csd me to open my veins On the deser,
us OF the East. Til that dav, had