Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-09-12

that has dled for liberty. Ii Is not now queS!
tion of the Emperor 1t is question of coun-
try. II is not whether Napoleon shall reign,
hut whether France shall be dismenbered 1t
is whether the flag of the nation, that glorious
tricolor wtioh waved at Marcngo and Austeritz,
shall he trailed in the dust, or shall bring tears
70 the eyes of Frenchmen when they ZEE it, in
foreign land>, floating from the masthead.
We vii! not dwell on the parting Of husband
and wife Natalie bore up herocallY Not
Lndy Russell, when leaving her lord on that sad
mornng of his execution. controlled herself
more uohy, than did Natalie now. But when
the door had closed on Henri, when she heard
the cater of his horses feet down the street,
then she flung herself on her bed aud wept as
if her heart was hrelking.
It was an eventful winter. A battle was
fought almost daily. Like lion in the tolls,
Napoleon turned first on ore and then on an.
other Of his foes. and always unexpectedly ln
the brightest days of his intellect he had never
been so terrible as now Henri was foremost
in all these hattl S. Once he saved the Emper.
or's life. The cross of the legion Of honor soon
decked his breast. He received the decoration
from Napoleons own hand, on the very day
that he heard Natalie had presented him with a
son. But the genius Of the Emperor and the
w or OF his troops were Of no avail. Treaahery
was at work a, Paris while Napoleon was absen'
in Champagne. The capital was surrendered
The Emperor was forced to ahdicate.
Every one knows what followed. The Bour
bous me back, forgetting nothing as was said
aud forgiving nothing.
'Ah my bleeding country Henri would cry
to his young wife. At other times it was, oh,
for one hour by the old Emperor
AT last the nation could bear it no longer
Napoleon landed the army rose 10 his favor
the king fed; a constitution was proclnimed.--'
Once more the young count buckled on his
sword.
Again say. 60 was his wi ie's heroic part
ing, and again aud again will stay at home
and pray. | think sometimes it is harder Tor
women than for men. You have the excite
ment of the campaign. But we can only wait
and wait, from one dreary day to another, We
hours Of the night Do not suppose. because
say this would keep you back. Go, and may
God crown you with victory; or if not
If not said her husband, interruptng her
Il will stay on the battlefield.
Alas ! it was prediction. A few days later
when the old Guard, at the cud Of that terrible
Waterloo closed up their ranks, and to the de-
mand to lay down their arms. replied, The
Guard dies, but never surrenders. Henri dc
Tankervie, fighting with the bravest, and fight
ing longest almost of all, sank under dozen
wounds
Did his wife regret what she had done
No, no. she cried. in answer to the cruel re-
proaches of her sister i would send him forth
ugan, if could. | would rather be the widow
thousand times over. she added. with flashing
eyes, of soldier who had died for his country
than the petted wife OF one who had failed
France in her hour of need, for such would be
either Il coward or traitor
Nor did she ever think otherwise. In after
years, rich and titled sutors solicited her hand
but she lived faithfully to the memory of hel
lost Henri. Her chief consolation was to take
her child. as soon as he was able to understand
| her, and showing him The cross of the legion o.
honor, which his father had won in battle, pon
afterwards to The portrai. which hung overhead
and bid him emulate the heroism and patriotism
of the departed
1t is prouder inheritance to you, darling,
she would say, kissing him passiouately, thar
if he had left you throne. Think how you
hear, will glow in years to come, when you set
men pointing to you, and saying His father
too, was one Of the grand army