Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-09-11

N"u' Tour years before, when he lett Lyons,
had almost promised to be his bride
Victor Chnpcroau was the son of = soldier
/ who was killed in the riots of the silk weav-
/ erS at Lvons.in 1884. His mother previous
To- her marriage, had been in
nooleman's family in the country; and
when she was loft widow, with an infant
IN her arms, her former mistress showed
/ hrr great Kindness. established her as u
lingere (l grttcr up of fine lnen) in the
/ suburb of Fourvicrcs. introducing her to
/ the notice of several influential families IN
| the neirhhorhood. Jeannie's industry and
| skill procured her plenty of customers and
/ she was thus enabled not only to support
| her child honestly, but also TO give him the
/ advantage of good cducati ion.
When Victor reached the age Of fifteen
nothing would satisfy him but that he must
be soldier as his father had been before
| him and after many II struggle, and much
secret grief, his mother gave her clnsent.-
| To lose her cheerful boy was a hard trial
to the poor woman, but she bore it with
true resignation, and, instead of folding her
/ hands in despair, only worked more dill
| gently that she might lay by a store for her
only child For three years she saw him
frequently, as his regiment was stationed
! in Lyons, or in some neighborng place but
after that time it was sent to Marseilles /;
/ and when, in two years, the war broke out
with Russia, she received hasty line from
| Victor, to say that he was to embark that
| day for the Crimea, without the opportuni-
| ty of bidding her farewell.
| 1t was indeed with an anxious and loving
/ heart that the poor mother joined her
prayers to the many strong supple 'tons
which rose from all parts of the land for
the safety OF loved ones who were fighting
/ in the iar off East. Occasionally she heard
/ from her son. who wrote whenever he had
time but sometimes the letters were lost,
and sometimes they were written on the
eve OF an assault and then came the sick
ening suspense as to the result.
But Mt last all France rang with the
glad tiiings that Sebastopol was taken
taken, however with such loss of life
that many widow and orphan were the
fruits OF all the glory; and Jeannie knew
that Nictors regiment had been one of the
first to rush up the death-hill of the
Malakon, and she dreaded the post. lest.
instead OF the bold writing of her son, 1t
should bring her a cold official letter, to
tell her that her only child had followed his
father to soldiers grave.
But Il happier state was in store for her;
shr received IA letter from Victor, full of
thauklulnpss that he had been spared =,
when his companions on both sides were
moved down IN their desperate rush upon
the Mnlakoil; and the mother read with
pride that he had been one of the first to
enter the fort which had procured for him
/ tie special notice of his comman ling officer
S.mn months after, when the welooLe
peace was proclaimed, Jeanne set herself
to work to prepare the house for his re
. ttrn. nnd ourly in the afternoon ON Whlch
| our story commences, as she was kneehnE
down On the floor, arranging some linen
which she had Just ironed. i'll IL basket, She
felt two hrnds laid upon her shoulders
and. starting up. found elseIf in the arms,
of her soldier son.
Four wears absence had altered him much
the slight boy was become firm and active
man, and the Eastern climate had Drowned
hi, fair skin, there was the same bright hon
est expression, and the same loving heart
and the mother rcjoined to find him unchang-
ed in all but personal appearance.
Home looks very comfortable after the
trenches. said Victor as he glanced around
the neat -oum. with its bright stone, white
walls. and well cared for furniture, that
Old press and the little table, look to Inc
like particular friends, and here is actually
nv own iavorite chair ready for me. But
what IA new cushion it has why, mother
| saw nothing prettier than this in the
Turkish bazaar at CUnstantlnople.
1T was made by CAtharinc Mercler's MIN
ble fingers answered she, in preparation
for your return.
This piece of information was evidently
very gratifying to the young man, Tor he re-
garded the cushion more carefully and ten
derly and as he bent over the embroidered
flowers, said in Il low voice,
How is Catharlne, mother
blooming as rose, and brisk as mar
motto. Every Sunday she comes across II
time to accompany me to mass, ana ther
she spends the rest Of the day here. IL
winter, Pierre comes to fetch his daughter
home, but in summer we 90 to the Prone
made, and af erwards | sup with them
And do YOU think she remembers me
asked Victor.
Pray do you thiuk, said his mother
smiling, that the prettiest girl in Lyons
who might have been married well twenty
time, would come and spend all her Sun
days and iete days with stupid old wo
man. if that old woman had not a certain
absent soldier son y
Victor laughed as he selzed his brigh
little mother in his arms, and kissed hel
, again and again,
All but you know, said he, that sh
= was a sad lirt four years ago, and hav
5 always heard that such disease increase
r with age.
Wei, you must remember that Catha
riue lost her mother when she was an IN
, FAINT, and has been her father = spole'
t child besides, she has had many admirers
' and 1t is but natural that young girl
1 r head should be somewhat turned by tn
I Glttery she has received. Why, | hay
= even been told that her father employer
i the rich Monsieur Lubin, would give hi
right hand, to say nothing Of half his iOl
c tune, to marry her.
And what does Catharine say to such
l. magnificent proposal asked Victor wit
II "a clouded brow,
e 1T is said, that she tells him she doe
3 not care "a pin for him. huthe will persi'
ID in being at the house every day, and Is hC
- very shadow; and there is no knowing VIII;
Il perseverance, might not have lone, if he
e iayorlte lover had not returned to clan
* her, but. with all her little lolies, Catha
le rine is true at heart she is an eXc,ller
re daughter, and VIII be a good wife,
L. And how does Pierre get on-is he sti
ct ipurneyman weaver
ly .Oh. no. he is become a glsf d'atcliel
in liv5s in the third story OF the same hOu
re where he formerly lived the ninth, hi
er the whole fiat 10 himself and his loom
in employs several men unde him, and is I
ne puted to be the most sklliul weaver
p- Lyons.
ID. Mother, see the rair has ceased;
lst think. il you will give me omething to ca
ar will Just 20 across to tie Merciers
nd night. | shall soon retur, but dor
in think shall sleep till hae seen Cath0
gh inc What weather it is, added he, poi
to to the window, and loking upon t
for world without; 1T looks Il II 1t had be
lie, raining for month
ust We have had ten days incessant raj
md and the lower parts of thcity are iloodt
WI it is to be hoped that We shall have II
ing weather soon. or am ahid the rivers "
ow be rising much higher
rat Busting about, she Don prepared
meal for her son, and whe it was dispat,
um- ed, she sent him forth VIII many iniul