The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-12-09

A polite, welldressed man, asked if MIR.
- resided there, and receiving an
affirmative answer, handed to Mrs. - -
O letter, which he had been instructed by
the French Consul TO deliver.
The letter was foreign one, with the
post-mark Paris, and was addressed in
French to "Monsieur ct Madame -.
"Open and read it, my dear" family and
not very hopefully asked the despondent
husband. Eagerly his more sanguine part
ner broke the seal, and, quickly running
her eyes over the letter, exclaimed in
tone full of emotion and joy, "lt has come
at last" and throwing her arms around
her husband, embraced him with the fond
est devotion and most ecstatic happiness.
They we're both silent for some moments
and indeed, it was sometime before they
could recover their oomposure sufficiently
to comprehend the full character of the
agreeable intelligence which had so op-
portunely reached them. Then it was,
the wife with affectionato pride and exul-
| tation read carefully and slowly to her
husband the joyful information that by
the will of fMadame De B., recently
deceased ather hotel, in rue ST. Honore,
Paris thesaid Nine S. became entitled to
legacy in money Of one hundred and
twenty-five thousand francs, with certain
other contingent interests in the estote Of
the testatrix. We need not attempt to de-
scribe what can be 50 much more forci-
bly, imagined, the happiness which this
letter diffused through their humble house
hold, a few minutes before plunged in
grief and despair. On inquiry at the
French Consulate the facts stated in the
letter were fully verified, and prompt
steps taken to place the legatees in the
enjoyment of their bequests. This has
been since accomplished, and our typo
and his worthy family are now placed in
comfortable and independent cireumstan'
ces. Long may they enjoy good for
tune, which they have Justly earned by
the fidelity and fortitude with which they
bore the pangs and humiliations of pow
erty
In their future employment and read
ing, there is chapter in modern history,
the perusul of which must ever be to
them a source of happiness and pleasure,
that are rarely experienced by even the
most enthusiastic students OF the annals
of modern valor. This is The chapter in
the history of the great Napoleon, which
records the heroic but terrible sacrifice of
the splendid French sqsdron of Aboukir,
where the great Nelson achieved his
most brilliant victory, and French valor
and determination shone even with
brighter luster in defeat and disaster
than 10 the most glorious victories. The
unfort tunate squadron was commanded
by Admiral DeBruys, devoted and
trusted friend of Napoleon. Desperately
wounded early in the action, the Admiral
refused to leave his quarterback, exclaim-
lug, ''An Admiral ought to die giving
orders and so fell by cannor-ball,
and breathed his last, waving his sword
to en- encourage his men. To his widow
Napoleon addressed the following letter:
"Ypur husband has been killed by a
cannon-ball, while combating, on his
quarterback. He died without suffering
the death the most easy and envied by tho
brave. feel warmly for your grief. The
moment which separates US from the
Of, ,'ect we love is terrible we feel insulated
on eA rth we almost experience the con-
yulsions of the last agony; the faculties of
the sonl ar,,' annihilated; its connection
with the earth is preserved only across q
vail which distorss everything We feel
id such situation that there is nothing
which still binds us to life; that is it even
far be tier to- die; but when, after such |
first and unavoidable throes, we press our
children to our hearts, tears and more
tender sentiments arise, and life becomes
bearable for their sakes. Yes, Madame,
they will open the fountains OF your heart
YOU will watch their childhood, educate |
their youth; you will speak to them OF their
father of your present grief, and of the
loss which they and the RePablic have
sustained in his death After having
resumed your interest in life, by the chord
of maternal love, you will, perhaps ieei
some consolation from the friendship ana
warm interest which shall ever take IN
the widow of my friend"
Nor did the generousity OF the great
warrior end here. His warm interest IN
the widow of his friend was further mani
tested by the settlement upon her OF
handsome estate, in the enjoyment OF
which she lived to great old age, survlv-
ing her children, and largely increasing
her estate. Her death occurred lew |
months ago, and in the dispositions OF
her great property she did not forget the
poor relatives of her heroic husband
who had emigrated to the United States
and one of whom was the happy and
faithful wife of our friend, from whose
private history we have taken the liberty
to abstract this interesting chapter
Literally true, itprescnts drama in real
life quite equal in interest to the happiest
conceptions and inventions of the ro-
mancers and playwrights. The incidents
are remarkably similar to those which
constitute the plot Of Douglas Jerrolds
domestic drama of The Rent Day" and
the genius Of the poet is alone and
needed to impart to them all the vivid
interest and impressive pathos which
have given to that famous drama it's
strong hold upon the popular tastes and
feelings. '''
HARRISON Il COLLINS
HtENTRAL BEEHIVE GALLERY, cor