Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-04-12


At anv risk I determined to travel to the eoun,
/ try. Whence proceeded 60 ardent, 80 impste-
Gus a desire to see once uors tho place whsre
I nv mother had Just died? / will tell you and
/ a. you have a mother. and as she loves you,
and az YOU love her. Won will underutand ne.
aWe peasants Of Moran are a simple and
confiding race. We have not received the in
siruetioD, nor attained the knowledge that
they have IN the cities; but We have cur bo-
/ lists, which the toWnsf0lks call superstitiOus.
What matters the name? Be they supersti-
I tions or belief, we have them, and clever would
be the man who could uproot them. Now, one
Of these beliefs to which we cling The most, is
that which attributes to The fret hower that
! blows In the grsVe-mould such a virtue that be
who gathers Il Is certain Of nsver forgetting
the dead, and OF never being forgotten BY them.
Belief, how dear, how sweet With It, death
has no tsrrorss for death, without forgetting,
or being forgot en-, Is but a sweet sleep, but
calm repose after long toll. That koweF--f
painted to see Il bud painted to gather II
abandoned my post and went on mywsy. Az
ter ten DAYS Of long and weary march, reach
ed nv mothers grave. The earth seemed vet
fresh; no flower appeared--I waited. Six
weeks elapsed, and then one lovely morning
saw a little blue flower" forget-me-not.D As
plucked SC, shed glad tears, for methought
that little flower was my mothers soul that
toe form OF that flower, she had gisen her
self to my heart ence more.
There was nothing now 10 detain mo In
the country, for my father had soon followed
nv mother to the grave, and bad plneksd nv
nrecious flower; what more did want2 Ire
membered ny mothers rbargs - Do thy
dutyis sought the gems d'armss, and / said,
an a deserter-arTest me- Ard
nov an TO die and II, as you assured me,
l. I a -
you viii do for me the only service that re-
quire. The flower which, at the risk OF my
life, plucked from the grave, is here, In a lit
tie case next TO my heart. Promise me that
YOU see that they do not take & from me. Il
s the link which unitss me to nv mother; and
II thought it would be hrokeB-oh should
not have the courage to die.
Say, do you promise to do what ask Of you ?"
q premise" said ths officer.
Your hand, dear sir, that may press It to
myheart. You are very kind to me, and II the
Almighty God were in bis omnlpotenee to
give me nv life second time, would devote
it to you.o
The friends parted.
The next day had dawned. They arrived at
the place Of execution, and already bad the IA
tai sentence been read. when the low murmur
that ran through the ranks changed into al
most desfening shouts:
AN A4ll F5ioA NllN PcANA A3eaiE AAfN
the Emperori'
He appeared, discounted from his horse
and then with bis short, quick step, be walked
up to the condemned.
Pierre" said he to bin. Pierre eazsd at
him, and made a effort to speak, but a snd-
den stupor seemed to eTsrwhelm him. Pier
re-" continued the Emperor, " remember your
words Of last night God gives thee life sec
ond time devote it not TO me, but to France
She, too, is kind mother! Love her az thou
didst thy first, thine own"
He then turned to depart, and greeting shouts
Of sdmiring love followed him till be was out
Of sight.
Some years after this, captain OF the Old
Guard fell mortally wounded on the field CT
Waterloo.
Amid the Gin Of the battle be was heard to
shout in bis death panEs:
Long live the Emperori France forever!
Nv mother My mothsro
Il was Pierre Pitois