The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1860-11-29

that at the bottom of this affair there
was some strange mystery, it was de-
termined that the execution of Pierre
should be delayed.
He was carried back to his military
prison, and it was announced to him
that, as a mark ofspecial favor, he had
three days given him to press for par
don. He shrugged his shoulders and
made no reply.
In the middle Of the night on which
was to dawn the day fixed for the exc
cution, the door of Pierre's dungeon
turned softly on its hinges, and sub
altern officer advanced to the side of
the campbell i'll which the condemned
was TRANQUILITY sleeping,ss and after gaz-
ing on him some time in silence, awoke
him.
'The hour, then, is at last come"
"No, PIERRE replied the officer; "It
is not yet the hour, but it will soon
come"
"And what you want with me until
then?" know thee we'll. l saw the at
Austerlitz, and bravely didst thou bear
myself. From that day, Pierre, l have
for thee regard no less warm than
sincere. Yesterday, on my arrival at
Strasburg, learned the crime and
condemnation. | have prevailed on
the jallor, who is relation Of mine, to
allow me 70 see thee. And now that
have come, would say to thee, Pierre
it is often a sad thought for a mar
about to die, that he has not friend
near him to whom he might open his
heart, and intrust with some sacred
commission to discharge when he
should be no more. 1t thou wilt &C.
cept me, l will be to thee that friend. =
81 thank you, 7'comrade," said Pierre.
"Why hast thou nothing to say to
me?"
Nothing"
What not one word of adieu to
thy sweethea cart ?-to thy sister
"a sweetheart? sister? l never had
oither."
ITO thy father?"
"He is no more. Two months ago
he died in my arms"
"Thy mother, then?"
'.My mother!''-said Pierre, whose
voice suddenly and totally changed,
peated-"my mother! All, comrade,
do notlutter that name, for l have new
er heard that name-I have never said
it in my heart-without feeling melted
like child; and even now, me thinks,
lif were to speak Of her"
"What then?''
"The tears would come-and tears
| do not become a man.
Tears!' continued he, "tears, when ]
have but few hours to live! All! there
would not be much courage in that''
"ThOu art too stern, comrade. think
| have, thank good, as much courage
as other people; and yet would not
be ashamed of weeping, were / to speak
o. my ,Aother."
care you serious?" said Pierre, ea>
gerly Selling the officers baud. You,
a man and soldier, and not ashamed
to weep"
"W hen speaking of my mother? Ger
tainly not. My mother is so good, Sc
kind. She loves me much, and /, too
love her dearly"
"She loves you? and you love her.
Oh! then | may, indeed, tell.you all. Ny
heart is full-it must have vent; and,
however strange my feelings appear tc
you; am sure you will not laugh al
them. Listen, then; for what you said
just now is quite true. A man is glad
when about to die, to have heart into
which he can pour out his own. Will
you flisten to me, and not laugh at me-?
"Surely will listen, Pierre A dy.
ing man must ever excite compassion.
ate sympathy"
"You must know that since l came
into this world, never loved but one
being-that being was my mother. But
her | loved as none loved, with all that
was i'll me otlife and energy. While
yet a babe, used to read her eyes. as
she read mine; l guessed her thoughts
and she knew mine. She was the heart
of my heart and l the heart of hers. ]
have never had either sweethe art OF
wife; | never had friend; my mother
was everything to me. Well, l was
summoned to take up arms; and when
they told me must leave her,in par
oxysm of despair / declared they might
drag me limb from limb, but never
should they take me from her alive.
With one word spoken in her holy for
titude and strong courage, she changed
my whole purpose.
"'Pierre, said she, you must got
is my WISH
81 knelt before her, and l said, Il
will go, mother
Pierre she added, thou hast been
a good son, ana thank God for it; but
the duties of son are not the only
ones man has to fulfil. Every citi-
zen owes himself to his country; it calls
thee-obey! Thou art going to be SOL
der. From this moment thy life is no
longer thine own; it is thy countr's.
1t its interests demand it, lay it down
chcerfuly. If it be the will of God that
thou shouldst die before me, l should
weep for thee my hearts tears; but
would say, HE gave, and he has tax
en- away, blessed he the name of the
LordI' 60, now, and if thou love thy
mother, do thy duty Oh! how pre-
cious those holy words | have never
forgotten them. Go do thy duty she
said. Now, the duty of soldier was
always, and in all things, to obey; and
IN all things, and always, l obeyed. 1t
was to 60 straight forward---face dan
ger without hesitation-without Sec
ond thought. Those who saw me thus,
as it were, seek to meet the bullets,
said, There is a brave fellow!' They
might have BETTER said, There's man
who loves his mother!'
Gone day letter brought me the
tidings that she was ill-my own poor
mother!-I longed to go to her. TASK
ed for leave of absence; 1t was not
granted. remembered her last words
IF thou lowest thy mother, do thy du-