Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1855-12-20
Yesterday, on my arrival at Strasburg,
learned thY crime and cnndem nafinn

now that have come. / would say to thee,
Pierre, 1t is often sad thought for a man
about to die, t,atabe has not friend near
him to whom he might open his heart, and
lntrast with some secret commission to
discharge when he should be no more. Ii
thou wilt accept me, will be 10 thee that
friend"
81 thank you, comrade," replied Pierre.
4 "Why. hast thou nothing to say to me !''
"Nothing."
"What not one word of adieu 10 thy
sweetheart-to thy sister :"
"a sweetheart sister never had
either"
40 thy father %
ale is no more. Two months ago be
died in my arms!'
"Thy mother. then Z"
"My mother !''-and Pierre, " hose voice
suddenly and totally changed, repeated,
"my mo.her!" All, comrade, do no, utter
that name, for l have never heard that
name-l have neve: said it in my heart
without feeling melted like child and
even now, methinks, if Were to speak of
| her,"
"What then!''
"The tears would come-and tears do
! Hot oeGOtHc Iidu. continued ne
-" tears, when ! have but a few hours to
live! All there would not be much
courage ia that?"
Thou art too stern. comrade. / think
| | have, thank God, as much courage as
other people; and yet would not be
ashamed Of weeping, were l to speak of
! my mother" -....
! "Are you serious I" said Pierre, eagerly
seizing thu officers hand. You, a man
and soldier, and not ashamed to weep!"
"When speaking of my mother, Ger
tainly not. My mother is so good, so
kind ; she loves me much, and |, too, love
her dearly"
"She loves you, and you love her -
Oh! then. may indeed tell you all. My
heart is tull-it must have vent; and how
ever strange my feelings appear to you,
am sure you will not laugh at them. Lis
ten, then, for what you said just now is
quite true. A man is glad. when about to
die, to have heart into which he can pour
out his own. Will you listen to me -
Surely, l will listen, Pierre. A dying
man must ever excite compassionate SYM
pathy."
"fou must know that since I came in
to this world ever loved but one being
that being was my mother. But her |
loved as none love--with all that Was in
me Of life and energy. While yet babe
] used 10 read her eyes, as she read mine;
guessed her thoughts and she knew miue
She was the heart Of my heart, and the
heart Of hers. | have never had either
sweetheart or wife; never had friend
my mother was everything TO me. Well,
was summoned 10 take up arms and when
they told me | must leave her, in par
oxysm Of despair | declared they might
drag me limb from limb, bat never should
they take me from her alive. With one
word spoken in her holy fortiiude and
strong courage, she changed my whole
purpose PIERRE said she you must go:
it is my wish, knelt before her, and
said, Il will go, mother,'-' Pierre she
added. thou hast been good son, and
thank GOD for it but the duties Of son
are not the only ones a man has TO fulfill.
| Every CITIZEN owes himself TO his country
i, calls thee-obey! Thou art going to be
a soldier. From this moment thy life is no
longer thine own. 1t is thy country's-y
II its Interest demands it.lay i, down cheer
fully. IL it be the will Of God that thou
shouId'st die before me, should weep for
thee my hearts tears; but l would say,
I. lie gave, and He has taken away, blessed
be the name OF the Lord - Go now. and
il thou love thy mother, do thy duty
Oh! how precious those holy words-l
have never forgotten them. DO thy Duty
she said. Now the duty Of a soldier was
always, and in all things, TO obey-and in
all things aud always, obeyed. II was
go straight forward-to face danger with
ooe o,f ca.onI thnnot,s
Those who saw me thus seek, as il " ere,
to meet the bullets. said, There is brave
feiiow!' They might have better said,
!. There is a man who loves his mother =
One day letter brought nre the ,idings
that she was iii-my own poor mother -
longed TO go 10 her. asked for leave OF
absence-it was not granted remembef-
ed her last words. Ii thou love thy
mother, do thy duty submitted. A
iit.le after heard that she was dead
Oh! then my senses forsook meat any
risk determined TO travel to the county.
Whence proceeded SO ardent, SO impe,uous
a desire to see once more place where
my mother had just died will tell you
and as you have a mother, and as she
loves you. and you love her, you will under
|, stand sae. We peasants OF Morvan are
simple and coniiding race. We have not
, received the instruction, nor attained the
knowledge that they have in the cities
, but we have our beliefs. which the town
|, folks call supersti,ions. What matters the
name Be they supers.isions or beliefs.
have them. and clever would be the man
. that could uproot them. Now, one Of these
beliefs TO which we cling the most. is that
which attributes TO the 6rst flower which
blows in The grave mould. such virtue
that he who gathers il is certainzof never
forgetting the dead. and Of never being
forgotten by them. Belief, how dear. how
. sweet. With it death has no terross-fof
death. without forgetting OF being forgotten.
is but sweet sleep and calm repose after
! long toll. That doweE-I painted 10 see
|. |, bnd--l painted to gather il !. abandoned
: my post. and went on my way. Alter ten
. days Of long and weary march, reached
my mothers grave. The earth seemed YET
!, airesh-no flower. / waited Six weeks
elapsed. and then one lovely morning saw