Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-12-31

village of his youth, and where the most event
ful crisis of his life was passed.
In 1856, three out of the ten pseudo victims
of Davoust were still living in their old homes
and the people bethought them that the semi.
centennial anniversary Of such an event deserv-
ed special celebration. DIR. -, of Leip-
zig formerly the pastors son,) was invited to
be with them. He came-he would have como
from the ends of the earth---and after a solemn
religious service in the church, proceeded to
the very spot OH which he had stood and faced
the French muskets, and there related to the
children and grandchildren of those he had
saved the narrative which have here given in
less moving and eloquent words. Those who
were present described the scene as singularly
impressive and affecting. The three old men
sat near him as he spoke; and the emotions oi
that hour of trial were so wildly reproduced in
their minds that, at the close, they laughed and
wept as they had done on the same day fifty
years before.
In conclusion, the speaker referred to the
officer whose humane stratagem had preserved
their lives. "Since that day." said he, 81 have
never heard of him. l did not even learn his
name; but he is ever remembered in my pray
ers. Most probably he died soldiers death
on one of the many fields of slaughter which
intervened between Jena and Waterloo; but il
he should be living, it would cheer my last days
on earth if | could reach him with q single word
of gratitude"
In the same year there lived-and, no doubt
still is living-in Lyons, an invalidcd and pen
stoned captain Of the Napoleonc wars. After
life of vicissitudes, he found himself, in his
old age, alone, forgotten, poor. Men no better
and braver than he had achieved distinction by
some lucky chance; fortune had come to others
and others had begotten children to cheer and
vitalize their declining days. Him the world
had passed by, and for years he had been living
quiet, silent, pinched life, by the aid of his
scanty pension. His daily resort was a cafe
where he could see and read the principal Eu-
ropean journals, and perhaps measure the
changed politics of the present time by the ex-
perience of his past life
One day in November, 1856, he entered the
cafe as usual took his accustomed seat as he
was wont to do, and picked up the nearest pa
per. 1t happened TO be the Augburg Allege.
mene Zeitung; but he had spent some years in
Germany, and understood the language tolera.
bly,. His attention was attracted by letter
dated Jena. "Jena!" he thnks-"I was there
too what is going on there now" He reads
little further: celebration at Waldorfw Wal
dorf! the name is familiar where have heard
itP As he continues his perusal the old cap
tain's excitement SO unusual circumstance at
tracts the attention of all the other habitues Of
the cafe "GrdRd Dieu, Observation-Disclosures
the ten men-thc pastors sor Did / dream
such thing, or is this the same?"
Forgotten for years and years-effaced by
hundred other military adventures-overlaid
and lost in the crowded stores of soldier,
memory, the scene came to light again. The
pastors son still lived, still remembered, ant
thanked the preserver of his native village =
Many long year had passed since such glow
warmed the chambers of the old mans heart.
That evening he wrote to DIR. -, in Leip
zig. He was i'll, and but few months distan
from his last hour but the soldiers letter seem
ed like Providential answer to his prayers
and frightened the tiickering close of his life
A manly and afiectionatc correspondence wa
carried on between the two while the latter liv
ed. The circumstance became public, and th
deed was officially recognized in way mos
ilattering to the pride of Capt. Lamottc. Tn,
Grand Duke Of SAKE Weimer and the King o
Saxony conferred upon him the orders of thei
respective houses, which were followed soon af
ter by the Cross of the Legion of Honor from
Louis Napoleon and an increase of his pension
which assured him ease and comfort the rest o
his life. translation Of the Doctors nara
tive, published in the French papers, drew at
tention TO him and he was no longer u neglect
cd frequenter of the cafe. lie was known ant
honored, even without his three orders.
"Cast thy bread upon the waters, and tho,
shalt find it again after many days"