Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1856-11-26
AND THE WOOD
MA "

|
rode past forest where some woodmen were
cutting timber. Observing one of them
singing, the Emperor, with smile, turned
round to us and said. t
"Observe that man, though toiling hard
for his daily bread, seems to be quite hap
py."
The woodman observing so many persons
looking at him, made respectful bow and
approached us to inquire if we had lost our
way.
"No," said the Emperor, but tell me my
honest man, what makes you so cheerful?
What may you earn dayW te
"Three francs, your honor"
'Tbree francs" said the Emperor, "does
that support you and your family? Tell me
how you manage to do so?"
With pleasure, your honor, if you will
step aslittle way. With three francs / not
only keep my wife and family, but l also put
out money at interest, and pay off my old
debts"
Explain yourself?'
Willingly, your honor. keep my wife
and children; place money out at interest
by educating the latter at school, and pay off
my old debts by maintaining my aged faith
er and mother. So you see, your honor,
may well be happy"
excellent man," said Napoleon, "here
is Napoleon for you," tossing him the mon
ey. "Keep what you have now told me
secret. am your Emperor, and on pain of
my displeasure enjoin you to tell no one till
you have seen my face at least hundred
times"
"Sir, it shall be So"
joined us.
The same evening as he appeared thought
full, General Rasp asked him if anything un-
pleasant had occurred that day?
"No," said the Emperor "but met a
man this morning, who with three francs per
day, told me he kept bis family, placed mon
ey out at interest and paid all his old debts.
Gentlemen" continued the Emperor "you
will please me much if any of you can tell
me the meaning of what he said."
All of us were very anxious to please our
monarch, and knowing that he had spoken to
woodman, asked him if he knew to whom
he had spoken on the previous day?
The man said:
Excuse me, gentlemen, that | must not
tell YOU"
One of the party said:
A." l will give you fifty Napoleons to tell
me-"
The man said
"No, dare not"
"You shall have one hundred if you will
oblige us" rejoined our companion.
The woodman, after pausing minute or
two, said:
" Place the money in my hand, and will
tell YOU"
We placed it in his hand, and after he
had carefully examined every piece, he told
us all that had transpired
We rode off, and on our arrival at the
place, asked to be admitted to the Emperor,
when we expounded his riddle.
Napoleon, pale with anger said
Bring the woodman before me, dead or
alive!" d.
He was soon found, and ushered into the
presence of his angry monarch.
"Sirrah, how have you dared to break
your promise with me?'
"Sire," said the woodman, with great COM
posure, Il have not disobeyed your com
mands."
How, slave" said Napoleon, "dare you
tell me a lie."
"Sire," said the woodman, "you told me
| should tell no one until | had seen your
face one hundred times" Then putting his
hands deliberately into his pockets, he laid
the pieces of money one by one before the
Emperor, with the heads upwards. "There,
SIRE" continued he, have not seen your
face one hundred times?"
Napoleon burst into fit of laughter, gave
him slap in the face, called him clever
fellow, and made him captain in the artil-
lery, where he proved himself deserving of
his good fortune.
"Madam," said old Roger to his boarding
house keeper, " in primative countries beef is
often the legal tender, but madam" said he,
emphatically thrusting his fork into the steak,
{" all the laws in Christendom couldn't make
this beef tender"
On Thursday last lad named Charles o.
Jones, aged IL, was sentenced to the State
prison for life, in Lawrence, Mass, for setting
fire to dwelling in the day time. This is
the statute the Judge having no discretion in
tbo ,,,affar