The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-19
WASHINGTON, D. c, THURSDAY, JULY 49, 1855

its antiquity, and thinks the birds upon it are
very discreditable performances as works of
art. Talk to her of the fountains, now! They
are something like, and have use but block
of granite, with things people call "horror-
gliphs;" pooh nonsense
They turn into the Rue du Fdubourg st.
Honore, keeping in direct course, until they
find themselves at the portal Of the Elysee Bour-
bon, the residence of the Prince President.
The sentinel at the gate looks inauisitively at
them as they cross the threshold, and recogni-
ses them at once as old troopers, by their gait.
He follows them with his eyes across the court
yard to the grand entrance, where, he hazards
the opinion, their triumphal march will receive
a check. liveried domestic does in fact ar
rest them at the door, but he is presently all
civility. The sentinel wonders-as much as a
soldier is permitted the luxury of thinking on
his own account-how it is they are so readily
admitted, when, to his knowledge, more import
ant personages have been denied the e,,tree that
morning, and whether there may not be some
special virtue in that slip of paper which the
humble-looking visiters present, and which acts
as a talisman.
In no wise disconnected by the pomposity OF
the iveried menials they encounter on their
way to the Princes Cabinet, the Corporal and
them into an ante-chamber, where he leaves
them, consigning them first to the care of an
officer-in-waiting, whom the Corporal and his
companion salute respectfully, and to whom
they surrender their talismanic paper.
"An old soldier?" remarks the officer, ad
dressing Trompette.
"Of the old guard" quickly responds Mad
anne, and / also"
The officer smiles. He perceives at glance
who is first in command. He is interested in
them, and chats familiarly with them on the
subject of their campaigning experience. Mad
anne Trompette is in the midst of the battle Of
Waterloo, when bell rings. The officer begs
pardon for leaving her, but-and he intimates
by significant glance at the door, that he is
required. He exchanges few words with
another officer who has just quilted the inner
apartment, and then, reckoning to the Corpo
raj and his wife, throws open the door, and in
PRODUCES them by name to the Prince President
who is standing with his back to the fire.
Corporal Trompette and Madame draw them
selves up, and make the military salute, which
the Prince responds to by gracious smile and
a slight inclination of the head.
"Well, my friends" he says, "you see | have
not forgotten you. You rendered me ser
vice, and | am not ungrateful."
There is great condescension and kindness
in the tone of his voice, and his countenance-
usually so impassive-beams with a pleasing
expression. He evidently enjoys the embarrass
ment of the worthy Corporal and of his spouse
who both stand quite erect, in the attitude Of
attention" and 80 taken aback, for the moment
as to be incapable of making any reply.
"Thou hast seen hard service, Corporal
resumes the Prince, addressing him now in
right military style.
You may say that, mon Prince" responds
he.
"Thou art sixty years of age" observes the
Prince.
"Not rung yet, General" chimes in the Ser
geant-major, gathering courage. "He wants
say | have seen more service than my old
moustache, here"
"Ahl how SOP" inquiries the Prince
"Why, you see, SIRE" resumes she, II was
born in '94, in the camp, and / followed the
army till the Prussians betrayed US at Water
loo. That makes twenty-one years service IL
all, besides the campaigns"
"Indeed, yes good service" observes the
Prince. "And thou hadst fifteen years. ser
vice." he continues, fixing his eyes on the
Corporal, "when the wreck of the old army
retreated to the banks of the Loire
"Besides campaigns" answers the Corpo
raj. "Iwas one of the brigands of the Loire,
General, and | am proud of it."
"Thou vert drummer-boy at Marengo
eh ?" inquiries the Prince.
"True, on the faith of a trooper" respond.
the Sergeantmajor.
"And thou vert at Austerlitz," remarks the
Prince.
"And my wife too, Prince" says the Cor
poral.
IL IL
wife, "but / was of some use at the ambu
lance"
"She don't say what she did, Prince" re
marks the Corporal. "You see she's not one
to brag much. But she was as brave on the
! field, looking after the wounded, as any soldier
or officer that was in the thickest of the fight
and it properly hailed balls and bullets, prom
Use you. Oh, she's famous good hand in the
! field, and can fire and charge like any grena
der"
az do not doubt it." observes the Prince
az perceive by the register at the War Office,
he continues, speaking to the Corporal, q tina
thou took part in the campaigns in Prussia
Spain, Russia, and France, and fought at Water
loo. Thou vert wounded, too, in Spain, a
Leipsic, and at Montmirail."
81 had that honor" replies the Corporal.
alt was an English sabre, General, that lief
/
in the Sergeantmajor.
"Wen," resumes the Prince for services
such as thine, thou hast had but poor reward
For Marengo, thou vert made corporal; fo
Austerlitz, thou should'st have been made
sub-officer at least; for the Prussian campaign
thou hadst a right to thy epaulettes; for tn,
campaigns of Russia and of France, thou Ger
tainly earned one epaulette CRANES depin
ards, + and for Waterloo, the other. Well
Colonel Trompette, art thou satisfied? Thy
promotion has been we'll earned, though
comes little late"
After the disaster at Waterloo the remnant of tn
old guard fell back the Loire and called by tn
Bourbons the "brigands of the Loire"
Large bullionn epauletes of this kind denote tn
rank of a superior officer. Two epauleues a graine
depinards worn by colonies OF regiments
CHAP. xxx TO BE CONCLUDED IN OUR NEXT.
BATTLE AMONG BEEs-TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER
OF THE INvADERs.-A gentleman living nea
Adrian relates a singular circumstance which
occurred on his farm. A few days ago, new
swarm came out of their paternal hive, ant
gathered around their young queen in the warm
sun.lit atmosphere. But instead of going t,
some neighboring tree or shrub, and forming
hanging cluster, as has invariably been the rul,
with all predecessors with whom we have eve
been acquainted, tney settleo on hlve ant
began murderous attack upon the peaceabl'
inmates.
The unsuspecting workers were taken b,
surprise, and many of them were killed by tn,
invaders before they became fully aroused
when the conflict became quite obstinate. Th'
fact that most of the working bees of the hive
were out gathering honey gave the new swarm
all the advantage, and though the battle laste'
all day they finally triumphed: Thousands o
dead bodies were dragged to the entrance ant
thrown ON the ground each hour. - I6Led