The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-05-26
The soldier. Vow. TRUE TALE.

One beautiful Indian summer day, in the
autumn of 1874, stranger appeared in the
streets of Hanover N. H., whose garb bespoke
the utmost poverty and destitution. AS he
staggered along, he was surrounded by a crowd
of village boys, who amused themselves by in
sulting him with coarse jests and personal in
dignities. He bore their abuse. with exemplary
patience, and begged them to wait till he felt q
little better, and he would sing them fine song
His voice was thick with unnatural excess,
and he was too weak to protect himself from
the rude jostlings of the crowd, yet he smiled
on the tOrmentors, and exhibited no other sense
Of his helpless and forlorn condition than q look
Of grief and shame, which, despite his efforts
and smiles, would occasionally overspread his
countenance l".
Late in the afternoon, the writer, then stu
dent, passed him in company with friend
when our attention was arrested by a voice Of
unusual power and beauty, singing the favorite
national song Of France, La Parisienne As
be proceeded, great number of students from
the college gathered round him, and at the con-
clusion an involuntary expression of delight
broke from the entire mass. He was enthusi-
astically encored and afterwards the Marseil-
la1se called for. The same rich, clear vorre
rang out that wild melody, in the very w.on
which are wont to arouse the spirit Of
French soldier to frenzy. The admirati'euse'
the poor inebriate's auditory was now ranl les
the highest pitch Despite his tattereocais,
filthy garments, his squalid beard and brilar le
hat, now that the fumes of liquor had subsi,.
his form appeared symmetrical and manly ;a..,
his face glowing with the sentiments Of tn
patriotic song, and, flushed with excitement le
the unexpected praise he was winning, assume
| of into1 o,,l 4l,%
tifully set off his really fine features. "What
and who is this stranger 2" was the universal
inquiry. ..
"His singing is Incompatible, and his Eng
lish and French are both faultless"
EYES," said he, dropping his eyes, a. can
give you German, or Spanish, or Italian, as
well, or Latin and Greek either" he added care
lessly.
In reply to the many questions that were
showered upon him with tho nnin ho ca ,annL
needed he at length said, in sad tone, and
slowly endeavoring to push his way through the
crowd: "Gentlemen, am poor vagabond
entirely unworthy your kind sympathy. Leave
me to rags and wretchedness, to 20 on my
way" ........... ....I.. ..,
Our curiosity was too much excited to allow
this, and, amid loud cheers, we escorted him to
room, where he was furnished with water and
good clothes, and the BARRIERS art put in regui-
sition, and after an incredibly short time, he
reappeared upon the college steps. smiling and
bowling. gracefully, man Of as fine appearance
and noble bearing as eyes ever beheld. The
delight of the crowd at this transformation was
intense, and repeated shouts rent the air !:
"Give us La Pa,7sienne!" echoed from all
sides, and as soon as silence could be obtained
again, that clear, rich voice uttered those in
spring words:
Peuple Francois, peuple de braves,
| La Liberte rouvre Sc bras"
| He was then conducted to the spacious
chapel, and there he held an audience Of one
thousand persons spel[bound for two hours, by
one of the most interesting autobiographies
that it was ever our lot to hear. Born in
Paris, Of wealthy parents, he had in early life
been thoroughly educated at the University Of
Wittemberg, and received the Masters degree.
He soon after joined the fortunes Of Napoleon,
and with the rank Of Lieutenant, was with
him during all his campaigns in Egypt, in Italy,
in Austria, in Russia, and at Waterloo.
His account of scenes in these battles, and his
description of places and cities were expressed
in choice and graphic terms, and, on being COM
pared with history, were found to correspond
in every particular. He related MANY unwrit-