The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-03-28

rience in government and discipl nc
on shipboard." .........,....
A Touching Incident. ..
In the campaign of Napoleon in
Russia, while the French army wae
retreating from Moscow. there lay
in poor low cottage, in u village.
an invalid boy. This village was
exactly in the course of the retreat
ing army, and already tho reports
Of its approach had reached and OK
cited the terrified inhabitants. In
their turn they began to make pre-
parations for retreat, for they knew
there was no hope for them from
tho banda Of the soldiery, seeking
their own preservation, AMI giving
no quarters. Every one who had
strength to fly fled. somo tr,ing to
take with them their worldly goods,
some to conceal them. Tle little
village was fast growing deserted. -
Some burnt their housos or disman.
tied them The old were p|ac d in
wagons, and the young hurried their
families away with them.
But in the little cottage there was
none of this hustle. The poor Grip
pled boy could not move from his
bed. Tho widowed mother had no
friends near enough to spare a
thought for her in this time Of trou
ble, when everv one thought only
OF those nearest to him and OF him
self. What chance OF fight was
there for her and her young child
ren, AMONG whom was he crippled
boy. ....l ..
1t was evening, aud the sound OF
distant voices aad OF preparations
had died away. ...
Tie poor boy was wake'ul with
terror now urging his mother to
leave him to his fate, now dreading
est che should take him at his word
and leave him behind. ...
Tho noighbors are just going
away. hear them no longer" he
said II am so selfish, | have kept
you here. Take the little girls with
you, it il not too late. And | am
safe; vino would hurt poor, help
lees boyT .. ...- ..t..
"Wo are all safc." answered
tho mother, "God will not leave Us,
though all else forsake US"
"But what can help usl" persist.
cd the boy, "Who can defend us
from their cruelty2 Such stories az
| have hoard OF the ravsgcs o. these
men. They arc not mon, they are
wild beasts. Oh why was | made
so weak--so weak as 10 be utterly
usclessl Not strength enough even
to fly"
"Thero is a sure wall for the dc
fcncelcss," answered the mother. -
"God will build us sure wall"
you arc my strength now" said
the boy, Il thank God that you did
not desert me. | am 80 weak,
cling to you. Do not leave me. -
Indeed | fancy can zee the cruel
soldiers hurrying in. We are toe
poor to satisfy them, and they wonld
pour their vengeance npon us.--
! And yet you ought to leave me. -
What right have to keep you herei
And ! shall suffer more ii see you
suffer-" 4 .... ...l r.I
God will be our refuge and de-
fence" still said the mother, and q,
length. with low quiet words, she
stilled the anxious boy till he too,
slept like tho sisters. The morning
came Of the day that VAS to bring
tho dreaded enemy. The mother
and children opcEed their ewes to
find that "a sure wall" had indeed
been built for their defense. The
snow had begu, to 'all the evening
before. Through the night it had
collected rapidly. A high wind
had blown tho sIow in dri ts against
tho low house, so that it had entirely
covered it. A low shed behind pro-
tected the way TO tho out house,
where the animals we're, and for a
few days the mother and children
kept themselves alive within theil
cottage, shnt in and concealed BY
the heavy btrricadc of snow.
1t was during that time that the
drcadeh scourge passed over the vii.
iayc. Every house was ransacked,
all the wcaltkier ones deprived o,
their Injuries, and the poorer ones
deprived of their nee ,ssiries, Iu,
the low-roofed cottage lay sheltered
beneath It's wall of snow, which, ir
the silent night. had gathered around
II. God had prot .cted the defence
less with a "sure wall"
AN lNsATABLE SoUTiERNER =
Meath ragged Palmetto, a South