Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-02-27

ted. .-..
II. All communications from persons ir
the service must be transmitted through
the Office of the Adjutant General, and all
communications from subordinates must be
duly forwarded through their Commanding
Officer, or they will not be considered.
NoTE.-All communications from, camps
should contain, in addition to the spec;fca
ton of the Regiment, tie name Of the post
office TO qchicb ansacer should be addressed
J. P. BENJAMIN,
Secretary Of War.
Our Country, and What we Owe it.
The following interesting story (says the
N. O. Crescent is taken from an English
translation of French book styled can
Attic Philosopher in Paris," and the sub
joined account is given by one who enter
ed the French army at the age of Is,
serving at atJemappes, where Louis Philippe
first distinguished himself, aud throughout
the wars of the republic and of the empire,
closing at Waterloo. 1t is commended to
the young men of our country at this crisis
in her fate Upon being asked why he
became soldier SO early, the Freuchman
said:
1 did not really think about it. then
worked at toy making, and never dreamt
that France could ask me for anything else
than to make her draughtboards, shuttle
cocks, and cups and balls. But had an
uncle at Vincennes, whom I went to see
from time to time; Fontenoy veteran,
in the same rank Of life as myself, but with
ability enough to have risen to that Of mar
shal. Uniuckily, iu those days there was
no way for common people to get on. My
uncle, whose services would have got him
made prince under the other, had then
retired with the mere rank of sub,lieuten.
ant. But you should, have seen him in
his uniform, his cross of St. Louis, his
wooden leg, his white moustaehes, and his
noble oountenance. You would have said
that he was portrait Of one Of those old
heroes in powdered hair which are at Yer
sailles!
Every time visited him he said some.
thing which remained i.ed in my memory.
But one day | found him quite grave.
"Jerome," said he, lido you know what
is going on on the frontier?"
"No, Lieutenant" replied I.
"Well," resumed he, "our country is in
danger !"
l did not we'll understand him, and yet
itseemed something to me.
"Perhaps you have never thought what
your country means," continued he, placing
his hand on my shoulder: sit is ali that
you have loved? This country that you
see, these houses, these trees, these girls
who 60 along there laughing-this is your
country! The laws which protect you, the
bread which pays for your work, the words
you interchange with others, the Joy and
grief which come to you from the men and
things among which you live-this is your
country. The little room where you used
to see your mother, the remepbeances
she has left you, the earth where she rests
this is your country! You see it, you
breathe it everywhere! Think to yourself,
my son, of your rights and your duties,
your affections and your wants, your past
and your present blessings; write them all
under a single name, and that name will be
your country?"
| was trembling with emotion, and great
tears were in my eyes.
"Ah! I understand" cried I, "it is our
home In large, it is that part of the world
where God has placed our body and our
soul"
"You are right, Jerome, continued the
old soldier; SO you comprehend also what
We owe it."
"Truly," resumed l, "we owe it all that
we are; It's question of love-"
"And of honesty, my son." concluded
he; "the member cf family who does not
contribute bis share of work or happiness
fails in his duty, and is bad kinsman the
member of bis partnership who does not en-
rich it with all his might, with all his cour-
age and with all his heart, defrauds it of
what belongs to it, and is dishonest man !;
it is the same with him who enjoys the ad-
vantages ofhaviug country, and does not
accept the burdens of it; he forefeits his
bonor, and is a bad citizen
"And what must one do, lieutenant. to
be good citizen p asked I.
"Do for your country what you would do
for your father and mother" said he.
I did not answer at the moment, my
heart was swelling and the blood boiling
in my veins; but, on returning along the
road, my uncle's words we're, so to speak,
written up before my eyes.
repeated, edo for your country what
would do for your father and mother" And
nv country is in danger. an enemy attacks