Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-11-24

Pierre PItols heard the sentence read
with uufinching nerve. He was warmly
urged 10 plead for mercy, but he refused. [
As every one guessed that at the bottom
of this affair there was some strange mys-
terry, it was determined that the exc
cution of Pierre should be delayed. He
was carried back to the military prison,
and it was announced to him that, as a
mark of special favor, lie had three days.
given him to press for pardon. He shrug-
ged his soldiers, and made no reply.
In the middle of that night on which
was to dawn the day fixed for the execu-
ton, the door Of Pierle's dungeon turned
softly on its hinges, and subaltern officer
advanced to the side of the campbell in
which the condemned was TRANQUILITY sleep
ing, and after gazing on him some tine in
silence, awoke him.
/ Pierre opened his eyes, and staring
about him, said, the hour then, is at last
come !
No, Pierre replied the officer; it is
not yet the hour; but it will soon come
And what want you with me until
then 2
'Dost thou not know me, Pierre. No
matter, I know thee well. saw thee at
Austerlitz-and bravely didst thou bear
thyself. From that day, Pierre, I have
had regard for thee, regard no less
warm than sincere. Yesterday, on my
arrival at Strasburg, learned thy crime
and condemnation. / have prevailed on
the goaler, who is relation of mine, to
allow me to see thee. And now that |
have come, would say to thee, Pierre, it
is often sad thought for a man about to
die, that he has not friend near him to
whom he might open his heart, and in
trust with some secret commission to dis
charge when he should be no more If
thou wilt accept me, / will be to thee that
fliend.'
l thank you, comrade,' replied Pierre.
why; hast thou nothing to say to NE 4
Nothing
What not one word of adieu to thy
sweetheart to thy sister?
"A sweetheart a sister? [ never had
either
TO thy father?'
lie 10 no .44oro. Two months ago ne
died in my armsn
: THY mother, then!
y My mother !-and Pierre, whose voice
suddenly and totally changed, repeated,
my mother! All, comrade, do not utter
that name, for | have never heard that
;, name-I have never said it in my heart
. without feeling melted like child and
n even now, me thinks, if were to speak OF
her,
= What thenP
\ The tears would come-and tears dc
:. not become a man. Tearsr continued he
- tears, when l have but few hours tc
~ live All there would not be much cour
age in that!
!, Thou art too stern, comrade; thinl
= have, thank God, as much courage a!
,' other people, and yet l would not b.
ashamed of weeping, were l to speak O
,e my mother
10 Are you serious! said Pierre, eagerl
seizing the officers hand. 'You, ma
q and soldier, and not ashamed to weep
10 when speaking of my mother! Ger
ve tainly not. My mother is so good, S
kind; she loves me much, and |, too, Low
, her dearly
X. She loves you, and you love her Oh
of then, | may indeed tell you all. My hear
# is full-it must have vent; and howeve
mt strange my feelings appear to you, I al
sure you will not laugh at them. Lister
N. then, for what you said just now is quit
! true A man is glad, when about to di
~ to have heart into which he can poi
p. out bis own. Will you listen to me, and nj
laugh at me?
III Surely will listen, Pierre. A dyin
of man must excite compassionate sympathy
,as 'You must know that since came int
ro this world | never loved but one being
ed that being was my mother. But her
en- loved as none love-with all that was
NE of life and energy. While yet bal
ed. used to read her eyes, as she read min
de- l guessed her thoughts and she kne
eg- mine. She was the heart of my heart, al
zee. | the heart of hers. | have never had e
Gle. ther sweetheart or wife; never had
ser, friend ; my mother was everything to n
the Well, | was summoned to take up arm
ose and when they told NE l must leave b
ou, in paroxysm of despair, l declared th
or might drag me limb from limb, but ne,
ud should they take me from her alive. WI
ted one word spoken in her holy fortitude a
ome strong courage, she changed my VIII
90 purpose Pierre said she, you n,
,uld 60 +; it is my WISH l knelt before her, a
quit | said, : will 60, mother Pierre :
r to added, thou bast been good son, an
to thank God for it but the duties ef
are not the only ones man has to ful
sed, Every citizen owes hiu.sef to his countl