True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-02-08
q RAGAN, Editor and Proprietor.

PFoJecls !! WhaG air casues WnaI glorious
deeds, created for myself in my post
chaise! Riches, honorS, dignities, success
in everything, I denied myself nothing;
I deserved and granted myself all. At
last, clevating myself in rank, as advanc-
ed on the way, became duke and peer,
provincial governor, and marshal of France.
When /. arrived at my inn in the evening,
the voice Of my servant, who modestly
called me monsieur le che0alier, alone for
ccd me to abdicate and return to myself.
The next and following days, I had the
same dreams, the same intoxication, for
my journey was long. was going to the
environs of Sedan, to the residence of the
Duke of c., an old friend of my father
and protector of my family. He was to
take me with him to Paris, where he was
expected at the end of the month, to pre-
sent me at Versailles, and procure for me
company of dragons, through the credit
of his sister the marchioness de +, a
young and charming woman, designated
by general opinion for the survivorship of
Madame dc Pompadour-a place the title
of which she claimed with so much the
more of justice, as she had for long time
fulfilled its honorable functions. Iarrived
at Sedan in the evening, and not being
able, Mt that hour to go to the castle of my
protector, l put off my visit till the next
day, and went to lodge at the Armes de
France, the finest hotel of the town, and
the ordinary rendezvous of all officers, for
Sedan is garrisoned town--a strong place
The streets have warlike aspect, and the
citizens a martial tournure, which seems to
say to strangers, we are compatriots of the
great Turenne.' suppcd at the ordinary,
and inquired the way to the castle of the
Duke de C., situated three leagues
from the town.
They answered me: Every person can
point it out to you; it is so well known in
the country 1t was in this castle died a
great warrior, celebrated man-Marshal
Fabert.'
The conversation turned on Marshal
Fabert. Among young soldiers it was
very natural. They spoke of his bat
ties, of his exploits, of his modesty,
which caused him to refuse letters of no.
bility, which Louis XIV. rendered him.
Above everything they talked of the in
conceivable happiness, which, from n SIM
pie soldier, had brought him to the rank of
Marshal of France; him, a man of no fam
lily, and the son of a printer. This was
the only example they could then cite, of
like fortune, which, even in the time of
Fabert, appeared so extraord dinary, that the
common people did not hesitate to ascribe
his elevation to supernatural causes. 1t
was said that from his infancy, he applied
himself to magic and sorcery; that he had
made compact with the devil. And our
innkeeper awho, to the Stiffness of a Cham
penois, joined the credulity of our peasants
of Bretagne, averred to us with great cool
ness, that at the castle of the Duke de
c., where Fabert died, black man,
whom no person knew, had been seen to
penetrate his chamber and disappear, car
rying away with him the soul of the Mar
shal, which he had hitherto purchased,
and which belonged to him; and that even
now in the month of May, the epoch Of
Fabert's death, there might be seen in the
evening, a small light carried by the black
man.
This story enlivened our dessert, and
we drank bottle of Champagne to the fa-
miliar demon of Fabert, beseeching it to
take us also under its protection, and to
gain for us battles like those of Collioure
and La Marfee.
The next dayI arose at an early hour,
and went to the castle of the Duke de c.,
an immense Gothic manor, which at any
other time, would not have remarked,
but which I regarded, I acknowledge with
curiosity mingled with emotion, recalling
to memory the story which, the evening
before, the innkeeperof the Armes de
France had told us. The valet to whom
I spoke, replied that he did not know
whether his master. was to be seen, and es-
pecially whether he could receive me. I
gave him my name and he went out, leav-
ing me alone in kind of fenciug-school
room, decorated with the emblems of the
chase and with family portraits. l WAITED
some time and no one came. This career
Of glory and honor Of which I had dream