The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-11-20

D 'SOul Of my motherw exclaimed Hu
delt as he turned and took Pauline by thu
hand, '.it's strange that you shoald have
made such choice. What was it your
mother said on her dying day!-Ah, !
rcmember-The humble may rise ant
carry us with them, while the great may
, fall and bury us in their ruin. That
, sounds as wise as though it were written
in book. Come, Your cousin is on the
way to the Tuileries; You shall be wei.
come to peasants hut"
cIAPrERI
Napoleon did not forget the promise
he made to Hudelt on the morning OF the
orphans choice of their guardians. The
farm with all its stock and implements,
had been legally conveyed to Hudclt that
same afternoon; and from that day he
prospercd. -...t...
Three years had passed and Hudelt
had become rich-that is, rich for a
French farmer. His son Pierre, had also
prospered under the instruction Of the
good parish priest, who propesicd that
Pierre, by his writings, would one day
make the country proud of him, and die
member of the Academy. And Maria,
Picrrc's mother, said there was not q
more discerning man in France than the
priest. Pauline had developed into a
Iinaiden Of exquisite loveliness-tall, blythe
and graceful, intelligent and swect-teln-
pcrcd. Pierre loved Pauline, and she
loved Pierre; and the good priest bless
cd their betrothal, at which Jean and
Maria danced rs they had done at their
own, and declared that they felt young
over again. ..
Camille, too, had become beauty
She had been sent to the best schools
and had outstrippcd all her mates in the
acquisition of knowledge. Graceful as
the willow, delicate and refined as the
violent, yet possessing the fire and masclc
of lcopardess, her vivacity, cloquence,
and picturesque grace of attitude and
movement, drew all eyes after her and
stirred the depth of many hearts. But
Camille was ambitious, she remembered
what the Emperor had said the first time
he saw her, and she resolved that no less
a parsonage than marshal of the empire
should call her his wife. But she was
polite; and knowing that the ensign of
the present was the marshal of the future,
she was polite and atfablc to all, and took
especial pains not to give offence to any.
She had seen Pauline but twice in three
ycars--oncc Mt the farm and once at
Paris--and OH these occasions she bchav-
cd SO coolly, and gave Pauline to distinct
" understand that she did not wish the ac-
Guaintancc kept up, that the poor girl,
after paroxisms of grief, had resigned her
celfto the idea ofbcing forgotten by her
impcrous and williul cousin.
The spring of 1914 had come; and Ma
poleon, whose veteran troops had perish
ed amid the SHOWS of Russia, with few
thousand raw recruits, was making those
prodigious displays OF military genius
which kept the millions of allies at bay,
and excited the admiration even OF his
bitterest foes. Bcset on all sides by over
whclming numbers, and betrayed by his
own officers, his spirit was aroused to
pitch OF energy such as he had never
before exhibited. The enthusiasm Of the
old days of Lodi bridge and Arcolas
marches, once more stirred his soul, and
the marvels of the Italian campaign were
Reproduced on larger scale and bloodier
fields. The rapidity of his movements,
the consumlnatc skill ofhis combinations,
and the terrific energy with which he
dealt his blows, so bcwildered and APP
palled his foes, that the allies named him
hundred thousand men man-that being
the number of soldiers to which they con-
sidercd him alone to be equal.
In their manGuvrcs and marches, the
armies sometimes came so near the ham
let in which Hudclt lived, thht the roar
of the battle would often make the win
dows rattle. Those were exciting times
for farmers. They would quit their work.
gather round in groups and talk over the
battles which they had fought under the
little corporal, as they all delighted To call
the Emperor. Aud rs day after day
fresh accounts came of his wonderful
achievements, the old military fire was
aroused, and they talked of forming a
company and marching to his camp
But one evening sad news calnc-Alar-
mont ha surrendered Paris; and they
now knew that the little corporars doom
was closing around him. lie could have
thrown u hostile world in arms, but how
could he with domestic treachcry. One
evening, after the knot Of neighbors, now
accustomed to gather at lludelts, had
dispersed, and the family were about TO
retire, the tramping of horses was heard
without, and soon the clank and jingle of
metal sounded in the air. The family
ran to the window and saw by the bright
moonlight troop of horscmen winding
along the road. Hudclt gazed for mo-
ment and exclaimed,,,.Mother of my soul.
it is he" and rushed from the house.
AT the same time, all recognized in the
leader Of the troops the well known out
line OF Napoleon's form. The farmer
salutcd his old commander; they dis
mounted; the horses were hitched to the
fence, and while the Emperor entered the
house with his old comradc the troops
eagerly stretched themselves on the grass
by the roadside.
Napoleon at once put the family at ease
by the simplicity and cordiality Of his
greeting and when Marie, at a signal
from her husband, retired with him into
the kitchen, she declared tho Emperor
was not half 80 "stuck up as their old
landlord. After rapidly surveying the
room, Napoleon stcppedto Pauline's side,
and gently pinching her cheek, asked If
she remembered him, aud without wait
ing for an answer, said
"Hudelt has used you well, hope
Your cousins has done finely, but she has
/ NOT ,,, rr,.,I 4, ,..o.a,t ~