The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-09-04

G"FOio', II 10 quCstiou VI CouuttJ IL
is not now question of the Emperor,
but whether France shall be dismember-
ed. 1t is whether the flag of the nation,
that glorious tricolor which waved at Ma
rengo aud Austerlitz, shall be traied in
the dust, or shall still bring tears to the
eyes of Frenchmen when they see it, in
foreign lands, floating from the mast
head"
We will not dwell on the parting of
husband and wife Natalie bore up hero
ically. Not Lady Russell, when leaving
her lord on that sad morninc of his execu
tlou. controlled herself mure nobly, than
did Natalie now. But when The door
had closed OH Henri, when she heard the
clatter of his horses feet down the street,
then she flung herself on her bed, aud
wept as if her heart was breaking.
1t was an eventful winter. A battle
was fought almost daily. Like lion in
the tolls. Napoleon turned first IN one
and then on another of his foes, and al
ways unex pectedly In the brightest
days of his intellect re had never beeu
SO terrible as now Henri was foremost
in all these battles Once he saved the
E,nperors life The cross Of the legion
of honor soon decked his breast. He re-
ceived the decoration from Napoleons $
own hand, on the very day that he heard
Natalie had presented him with sou.
But the genius Of the Emperor and the
valor OF his trsopS were OF no avail Treach.
cry was at work at iaris, while Napoleon
was absent in Champagne The capital
was surrendered The Emperor was
forced to abdicate
Every one knows whas followed. The
Bourbons ca,ue bach, forgetting nothing,
as was said, and 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
in his favor the king fled; a constitu-
zion was proclaimed Ouce mUre the
young count buckIed on his sword
Again say. 90, was lis wife es heroic
parling," and again and again. | will stay
at hnne aud pray. ! think. sometimes.
1t is harder for women than for men, You
lave the excitement of the campaign
But we can only wait and wait, from one
dreary day to another, we can only pray
and pray through the sleepless hours of
the night. Do not suppose, because say
this, would keep you lack. Go, and
may God crown you with victory: or ii
uut-"
If not" said her husband, interrupt
ing her. Il Will stay Cn the battle field y
A as ! it was prediction. A few days
later, when the old Guard at the end of
that terrible Waterloo, closed up their
ranks. aud TO the demand to lay down
their arms. replied: The Guard dies,
but never surrenders," !" Henri de Tanker
vile, fighting. with the bravest, and fight
ing longest almost of all, sank under a
dozen Wounds.
id his wife regret what she had done
No, no, she replied, in answer to tie
cruel reproaches of her sister, Il would
send him forth agail, if could [ would
rather be the widow. thousand times
over" she added with flushing eyes, "of
s,dier who had died for his country,
than the petted wife Of one who had tail
ed France in her hour of need, for such
would either be a coward or traitor"
Nor did she ever think otherwise. In
after years, rich and titled suiturs soliei
ted her hand but she lived faithful to
the memory of her lost Henri Her chief
cons iatlon was to take her child. as soon
as he was able to understand her, aud
showing him the cross of the legion of
honor. which his father had won in battle,
! p int atterward to the portrait which hung
overhead, and bid him emulate the hero
lsm aud patriotism Of the departed
s. 1t Is prouder Inheritance to you. dar.
ling, she would say, kissing him passion
alely. "than if he had left you throne.
Think how your heart will glow, in years
to come, when you see men pointing to
/ you and saying, Ills father, too, was 10
the graud army"