The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-11-20
Misfellanrons.
The Orphans Choice.
A Beautiful Story.
CHAPTER /.

thirteen wears of age, sat crying by thC
roadside, some distance from the Bois d,
Boulorne, near Palis. These childIel
much resemblcd each other, but were We
quite dissimilar. They both had darl
brown hair, large dark bright eyes, and
clear eomplexions; both were tall, slender
and graceful, and of the same height and
size but the brow OF one was high and
broad. while the other was low and mar
row one had a sweet, intelligent, and
loving expression of countenance, indicat
inc Judgement and fortitudc, while the
looks OF the other denoted fiery impet,
uosity and recklessncSs that would give
great energy in sudden emergency, but
which would soon weary under continued
annoyance.
As the children sat crying by the road
side. with their arms round each others
necks, an elderly, honest looking farmer
came singing round curve which had
hidden them from the view, and aston
ishcd by the sudden apparition of the lit
tie wecpcrs, he stopped short and cx-
claimed
"What, now, my pretty ones! Has
the mother bird flown awayl or have
YOU straycd away from your nests! Why
do You weep" ,
ALAS. we are orphans-Paulinc and
l." said the low-browcd one. ave have
nobody to care for us. We have come
here TO die"
'.Soul of my mother" exclaimed the
honest farmer, throwing up his hands
spirits so young and yet weary of wing.
Who could have imagined it, Are You
sisters!"
NO." replied the one who had been
called Pauline: "Camillc is my cousin
her father was my mothers brothcr.;'
By kind questioning, Jean ludelt, 0or
that was the farmers namc,) learned that
the little orphanshad come from Provence
TO Paris, with the mother OF Pauline, to
find an uncle, who would have protected
them; but, alas! the good man had died
before their arrival, the mother and aunt
soon died also; and now they were left
alone. without friend in the world.-
And Camille again said that they wished
TO die; but Pauline said that her mother
had taught her to trus, in God, and that
she should trust in Him.
"iIow intelligent they seem," solilo-
quised tile farmer, "and so handsome, too.
But Pauline is the angel, while Camille,
is the devil in pantalettes-that is plain
enough to be seen. can't leave them
here to dic-poor things; nor can |
support them at my home. My good
Marie would welcome them to be sure,
as she would any suffering creature, but
that will not keep them and us from
starving. wish the good Josephine was
Empress, I'd take them TO her; but this
new blue-cyed wife OF the little corporal
is rs cold and sour rs Dutch cheese
besides, she didn't know that saved her
husbands life in Egypt"
At that moment m open carriage,
drawn by six milk white horses, dashed
round the curve in the road, and rs
lIudelt lcapcd to one side 10 avoid the
carriage the Emperor and Empress, who
were taking one of their accustomed
morning rides, with enly position and
two tootmen for their attendants.
Napoleon had only recognized the old
soldier of Italy and Egypt, and with a
democratic impulse which gave him such
hold upon the masses, he ordered the
position to rein up, and then bcckon-d
lIudclt to approach. The latter beliey-
inc lis old comradc TO be both omniS-
cient and omnipotcnt, was frightened lest
he had OWNED uncomplimentary refec-
tions upon the character OF his "new blue
eyed wife !" but telling the children to
remain where they were, he approached
the carriage with a iluttering heart. The
Empcrors manner at once re-assurcd
him, however. Napoleon extended his
hand, and cordially grasping that of the
farmer. said: -.
"Ah, my brave comradc, is it yon,
then! And YOU have turned your sword
into ploughshare, eh! But as You
were not lancer, where did you get
Your pruning hook"
Then gaily pinching the check OF Maria
Louise, he laughingly added, "You see
that am familiar with the prophets
This brave man here saved my life in
Egypt. Do you not love him. l like
to meet INV old braves thus, in the garb
OF peace, aud smelling ofcloycr. But tell
me-" he said, more seriously, "are you
prospering. IIudelt. Are You safe
against want, in case of blight or sick
ness. Confdc in me-"
The good farmer, overwhelmed by this
spontaneous kindness on the part OF his
renowned master, could hardly articulatc
a word. But he finally managed TO say
that he did not own the farm he worked,
aud that he was far from being prepared
for any serious misiortunes.
AS soon rs the Emperor understood
this much, he impetuously interrupted
uudclt, and said: "Leave that to me.
Give me your address. Your family shall
be provided for before the sun goes down.
And now il YOU have any particular re-
quest to make, speak. Don't hesitate
We did not hesitate at Loki or at Mount
Tabor, did we! ell, Hudelt" said Napo-
leon. with beaming smile.
While the Emperor was speaking, HUI
delt had been earnestly thinking OF the
two orphans and whether he had better
present their case TO his old MASTER
Napoleon's las, word and friendly smile
gave him courage, and he said, AYES, sire
1 have request to make, but not for
myself"
'.Por whom, then !" quickly said Ma
poleon.
Hudelt at once stated the case OF the
two orphans: and the Emperor at once
said:
airing them hither, and tell them who
| | am as you come along"
/ Al. Il "A.