Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-06-09

replied: " Yes, sir, l am musician; and
if you only save my life, will play all
day and all night too, for you, if you
please F"
Well. you may thank your stars for
it I" said ths gentleman, laughing.
" Come, children. let him go. There!
| give you twenty kopecks to drink"
Thank you, sir: there he is for YOU"
% saying. they loosed their hold upon
poor Lejeune, who, on finding himself
safe IN the sleigh, was SO bewlldered
with joy, that he laughed and cried, and
bowed, and smiled TO all around him.
HIS gratitude was so expansive, that he
not only thanked the nobleman, but also
the coschman, and the very moujiks, too,
who had been on the point OF drowning
him five minutes before. A moment
more, and he found himself whirlins
along By the side of his preserver, who,
observing that he was quite blue and
Shrivelled with cold, kindly wrapped a
fur mantle round him. In short time
they drew up before large house, and
were received at the door by several SER
wants, to whose care Francois was con-
| signed They conducted him into a
warm apartment chafed his half.frozen
| limbs, and clothed him in q snit of COM
portable garments. Then they set food
before hlm. of which the poor boy gladly
partook, as he was quite exhausted with
hunger. His benefactor now appeal ID,
and addressing them in his own pecullsr
! dialect ofFrench-"Mossie, mossie, yene.
vene, D." beckcning the youth at the same
time to follow him.
Lejeune obeyed, and soon found him
self in the presence Of two young ladies.
8 70 weru SeaCed st WORK "a a large draw
Ing-room. "Here, my children" said
their father, ." is gentleman who will
instruct you in music and French Fe
viii teach you the true Partisan accent.
You have long been teasing me for a
master, and have just been so lucky as
to pick up one for you at SmolenSk."
Then advancing towards an old spinet
that stood at one end of the apartment.
he turned to Lejeune: "Allonn, allon,
teSe, vous nous voir votre talent; ioue,
| joue; soye pas hontec."
Poor Francois was nearly at his wits
end on receiving this command for the
| drum was his only instrument, and never
IN his life had he even touched 4 piano
forte. However, he felt that his life was
| prOpably hanging on the result of this
moment, and so assuming An air of con.
fidence, and bowling low to the ladies, he
seated himself before the instrument.
At first he placed his hands gently upon
It, and moving his fingers like drum
| sticks In time with some favorite repi-
mental air, he began to hum the tune,
while he swayed his head and body from
right to left, and with all the importanc.
of tirs.-rate professor. He was won't
in after life to describe the whole scene
very humorously. 81 expected every
moment" he said, that my preseryer
would have called in a couple lackeys,
and ordered them to pitch me out into
the snow but on casting furtive glance
towards them, perceived that he was
nodding significantly towards his daugh-
ters, as if to make them remark what a
treasure he had procured for them; so
took courage, struck the instrument
boldly, sang my song more emphatically
and took still greater airs upon myself:
whereupon the worthy gentleman clapped
his hands with delight, cried out bravo.
and in a few minutes came over, and
farniliarly on the shoulder saying: Tire
bienn, ire bienne je vols que vous save
vous allie couche allie"
i Never was an order more readily
| Obeyed; for poor Francois was worn out
with fatigue and excitement, so that he
needed not to "woo soft slumbers to his
dropping lids"
About fortnight afterwards Leieune's
patron received visit from g nobleman
of higher rank than himself, man of tai
ent and education, who took so great a
fancy to the young drummer, that be
asked his host fhe would consent to yield
hiIn TO his protection. This was grant
ed; and Lejeune now found himself
placedunder Veryfavorablecircum
for his new friend not only treated him
kindly, but gave him good education.
Some years later, be married him TO a
young lady, q protege of his wife, and
the marriage proved prosperous and
happy one. ejeune, in accordance with
the desire of his patron, entered the Rus
sian service, and through the influence
Of this nOblemsn he acquired personal,
and subsequently hereditary nobility. In
after life, be became allied by the mar
riage Of his only daughter with a die
tinguished nobleman named Lebysaheif,
who was high in power in the government
of Orel; and for the sake of being near
his child, whom he tenderly loved, Fran
co.'s Lejeune-or, as he was now called,
Franz lvanovitch Lejeune-came toreside
d in that part of the country. 1t was here
we first met him and made his acquaint-
snce. We remember him well-a lively,
courteous little man, with dark eyes and
gray hair. His usual attire was black
velvet surtout.
| Most probably the ci-devant French
drummer still dwells in the far east of
Russia, among his adopted countrymen !;
but when he hears of the gallant deeds
of his true cOmpatriotes upon the heights
! Of Scbastonol who knows hut that his