Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-03-19


About ten o'clock one evening towards the
close Of the last century, when France was
convulsod by the horrors and outrages Of the
Revolution, small room in an unfrequented
street of Paris, contained a solitary occupant.
He appeared TO be a young man Of about
twenty-five years of age. lie was slender,
but not tall, and the smallness of his figure
was contrasted with the largeness of his head
His countenance, palid and care-worn, was
characterized by an expression Of frmness,
and by the piercing brilliancy of his eyes,
He sat at a small table, in his diminutive a
partment, perusing letter which lay open
before him. When he had finished, he rose
hastily from his chair, and began pacing the
room, uttering with energetic gestures, the
following sentences :--"Can this be so Is
it possible that am reduced to the want of
even the necessaries of life! Must my ac-
/ tons be clogged by the need of a few pieces
| of yellow metal 1t must not be so. Cursed,
cursed gold r. he exclaimed, clenching n coin
in his hand fnriously, and tossing il to the
othor end of the room. But in a few mo-
ments he picked it up again, and continued {:
1.-The ungrateful wrctches 1t was J. who
beat off the enemy, who, but for my interpo-
sition might now be revelling in Paris. And
/ yet, they refuse me employment, and keep
me here starving. When | asked for some
/ position, the reply was, | was too young.
The fools They do not know that study
and experience compensate for the lack Of
years And l told them as much. And not
only must bear my own troubles, but those
of my relatives. My mother writes that she
is in a destitute condition. ] cannot help
her ~ After a short pause, he cried with
sudden energv "But | have a remedy :
Why should ! drag on this miserable life I;
| will not do it" And seizing pistol from
the table he applied it to his head "But
no, he said, after a moments pause 'not in
this way / will rush to the Seine and CON
ceal alike my body and my fate from the eye
Of man" Saying this, he hastily rushed
from his room, and down the narrow stairs,
and issued into the street. Walking in 81
lencc for about half an hour, he came upon a
bridge over the Seine Casting his eye
about to see that no one was present, he
strobe to one side of the bridge, and after
looking over, went to the opposite side and
prepared himself for a run and plunge But,
just at this moment he felt a hand on his
shoulder, and a voice accosted him "What,
no my friend so YOU would drown yourself,
would you Good heavens Napoleon - the
stranger continued, sis this you Alas, what
could have brought you here Z" "That which
is the inducer of all suicides, misery" was
the mournful answer of Napoleon. MISERY
But what caused your misery" "Thc lack
of money" "Pshaw, is that all - said the
stranger "You certainly can't be so desti-
tuto as to think of killing yourself Come
my good friend, when a man has enough ia
f eat and wear, he should not think Of death. -
f "But | have only one dollar said Napoleon
f "and my mother is starving for want of
money" "Is it possible ~ said the stranger
u had no idea that it had come TO this. But
here is purse of gold Take it, and relieve
} your mother" Napoleon eagerly clutchod
| the gold, and hurried away The stranger
looked after him with astonishmont, and pur-
I sued his course
e Several years after the above event, a mar
, was vending his way in a thiny populated
portion Of the suberbs of Paris. The tray
f eller, seated on horseback, was proceeding
] slowly, and seemed absorbed in deep medita-
/ tion. A few hundred yards in front of him
, lay the river Seine As soon as he had
reached the river, he paced slowly along it.
{ bank until he came 20 large bridge, wher
: dismounting from his horse, be tied it 20
post, and walked esurcly along until he
f came TO particular spot, whore he stopped
| The bridge was deserted and had the appear
. ance of having been long fallen into disuso.
a Tho horsoman seemed struck with sudden
emotion at the sight and as he stood at one
G side looking over into the clear blue water
, apparently inadvertently, he uttered his
y thoughts aloud; "With what thoughts d,
+ these places inspire me What mighty eff
{ feet have those still, deep waters beneath mi
d bad on the dostinics Of tho world Here,
a few years ago, in the dead Of night, met
$ man, destitute and fricndless, about to hur
himself into the waves. | prevented him
d And now, that man, raised to the pinnacle o
s fame, is master of the fortunes and Treasures
k of the world - "And has como to thanh
G and reward you, Demasis e. uttered voice
= behind him, and Immediately he found him
), self locked in the embrace Of man. "Na
: poleon !" cried Dcmass. and cordially re
n turned the embrace. "But,' he continued
is 81 beg your majesty's pardon for my freedom.
10 l"Stop, stop" cried Napoleon; ''away witt