Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-06-09
v t.NtNtf STAR.
FoRTUsFs OF AFlgrcH RussJAv

Il FORTUNES OF A Z ERGH RUSSIAN.
There dwelt at Orleans, some forty or
fifty years ago. worthy young couple
named Jeane and Marie Leieune. They
were poor in worldly goods, but rich in
the Joyousness and insouciance of a
youthful life. AS time went on, they
became wealthy in sons also; but those
were not destined to be the stay of their
parents IN advancing life, for as each one
OF them grew up TO manhood. he found
himself, either from choice or necessity.
enrolled IN the service of Napoleon the
Great. One only boy remained to cheer
the parentai home. He was still child,
and darling of his mother, who fondly
hoped to keep him always by her side,
and with this view she labored hard to
inStil into his mind love of peace and
hatred of war. Vain, however, were Door
Marie's endeavors for Francois, even In
his earliest boyhood, listened with svidity
to tales of war and glory: and when the
note of preparation sounded throughout
France for the great Russian campaign,
his imagination became so inflamed by a
love of military adventure, that he flung
himself iato the vortex Of that gigantic
enterprise, and soon found himself in the
midst o. the grande armee, serving a.
drummer In a distinguished regiment.
The position of Francois was not, truly
very distinguished one, but be alread,
regarded himself as a hero; fer did ne
not serve /" "lEmpereur, and was he not
enc Of the grande armse by whom Rus
| sia was to be overrun and conquered 2
Now and then thought or sigh woul,.
be given tO his good mother, who had
wept so bitterly at his departure hu,
nc was gay, Eght-hearted boy, and
scaa became fayorite of his comrades.
so that each grayer thought quickly van
lShed from MS mind, and no dreamt only
OF the glorieS that lay before him.
On the entry Of the French into Nos.
COW, no one held his head higher than
Francois Lejeune, and he beat his drum
with an air Of as much importance as if
the success Of the whole expedition de-
ip2nGed on the flourish of the drum
sticks. Bat now a new leaf In the pages
of his life was about to be opened. Mos
cow was burnt, and the French army
began its disastrous retrest amid all the
iincjemencies of Russian winter. Fran
co.'s was obliged, like his comrades, to
set out on his hOmeward way amid
] the com bined miSerins of war, famine,
and ice. His fingers soon lost their
t; powcr; his drum became silent; and
before ne reached Smolensk, this fsvorite
/ companion Of his march had dropped
| from his hands and sank into the wintry
snow.
AT Smolensk our hero's strength failed
him: and, pinched alike with cold and
hunger, he fell out Of the ranks, and was
made prisoner by some Russian serfS,
who shut him up in dreary mill, where
! he lay more dead than alive during a
night Of intense cold. He was aroused
! from this state Of torpor on the following
morning; by finding himself once more
in the clutches of his barbarous captors
who dragged him along causeway, one
side Of which vas bordered by a frozen
river. Some of the party began to dig a
hole in the ice, while others gave him Il
understand, by very iniellig gible signs,
that it vas intended for his accommods.
tion. The terrified youth besous ht them
TO spare him, 81 d asked their pity for his
mothers sake" SO tender mother that
she WoQld break her heart if be did moi
return to her" This pitccus appeal had
no effect upon the peasants, who, O
course, did not understand single worc
of what he was saying. Some laughed
| at tha cFranUaOacc Of bic Io,ou,no. -
mimicked his impassioned gestures; and
one o: them had just collared the unhap.
/ py Francois, with the intention of plum.
ging hlm into the river, when suddenly
Was heard the merry tinkling of bells
and there came dashing along the cause.
way handsome sleigh, drawn by thret
beautiful little Viatken horses. Seated
in the sleigh, wrapt up in costly furs
was a stout, hale-lOoking gentleman.
What are you about there, my chill
dren g. inquired he of the serts.
I'VE are only drowning a French
man"
"Oh is that all ?" rejoined he.
monsieur. monsieur 7" cried the un
happy drummer, as he struggled to FIRE,
himself from the hands of the serfs.
" Very fine, int eed 20 muttered tn,
fur. clad gentleman, in an angry and su
percilious tone. Every fine, indeed
Here is fellow who comes among us tc
do all the mischief he can sets fire II
Moscow tears down the cross from tht
cupOla of Ivan the Great; and now, for.
sooth, it is 'Mossie-MOssie.' All, ha
we are crest-fallen now; but death anc
destruction to the scoundrels Come, le
US get on, Filka, continued he address
ing his coachman, and throwing himssl
back in his comfortable seat.
A touch OF the whip is given, and The
fiery little steeds are darting forward
when suddenly some new thought seemi
to have occurred to the nobleman, who
calls out, " Stop, Filka."
-" Pray, sir, do you understand mu
sic 81 inquired he in Russian of the trem.
bling drummer. ..s g.. O.. .o... ,
"Sauvez moi, mon bon monsieur. sau.
yeZ moi - cried cut aieuna in an .1on,