, 1862-02-08
The Soldiers Vow.

The Soldiers Vow
One beautiful Indian summer day in the au-
tumn of 1874, stranger appeared in the streets
of Hanover, New Hampshire, whose garb bespoke
the utmost poverty and destitution. AS he stag
gered along he was surrounded by crowd of vii
lage boys who amused themselves by insulting
him with jests and personal indignities. He bore
their abuse with exemplary patience, and begged
them to wait until he felt little better, when he
would sing them fine song. His voice was thick
with unnatural excess, and he was too weak to
protect himself from the rude ostlings of the
crowd ; yet he smiled on the tormentors and ex-
hibited no other sense of his heplessness and for
lOrn condition than look of grief and shame
which, despite his efforts and smiles, would seem
occasionally to overspread his countenance.
Late in the afternoon the writer, then student,
passed him in company with friend, when our
attention was arrested by voice of unusual pow
and beauty, singing the avorite national air of
France. AS he proceeded great number of
students from the college gathered around him,
of delight broke from the crowd. He was enthu-
siastcally encored and afterward Marseillaise was
called for The same rich, clear voice, rang out
that wild melody, in the very words which are
wont to arouse the spirit of the French soldier to
frenzy. The admiration of the poor inebriate's
auditory was now raised to the highest PITCH
Despite his tattered and filthy garments his
squald beard and shabby looks, his form appeared
symmetrical and manly; and his face glowing
with the sentiments of the patriotic song, and
flushed with excitement at the unexpected praise
he was winning, assumed an expression of intelli-
gence and joy that well set off his really fine fea
lures. "What and who is this stranger ?" was
the query of the bystanders
His singing is Incompatible, and his English
and French are faultless P"
"Yes," said he, dropping his eyes, 1 can give
you German, Spanish or Italian as WE'LL or Latin
or Greek either" he added carelessly.
In reply to the many questions that were show
cred upon him. with the coin he so much needed,
he at length said, in a sad tone, and slowly en-
deavoring to push his way through the crowd =
Gentlemen, am poor vagabond, entirely un-
worthy your kind sympathy. Leave me to rags
and wretchedness, to go on my way"
Our curiosity was too much excited to admit of
this, and amid loud cheers, we escorted him to
room, where he was furnished with water and new
clothes, and the barber's art put in requsition,
and in a short time he re-appeared upon the col
lege steps, smiling and bowing gracefully, man
of as fine appearance and noble bearing as eyes
ever beheld. The delight of the crowd at this
transformation was intense, and repeated shouts
rent the air, "Give us La Parsienne |" echoed
from all sides, and as soon as silence could be OBJ
tanned again that same clear, rich voice, gave ut
terance to the words of this inspiring song.
He was then conducted to the spacious chapel
and there he held an audience of one thousand
persons spell bound for two hours, by one of the
most interesting autobiographies that it was ever
our lot to hear
Born in Paris of wealthy parentage, he had in
early life been educated at the University of Wur-
temburg, and received the masters degree. He
soon after joined the fortunes of Napoleon, and
with the rank of Lieutenant, he was with him du-
ring all his campaigns in Egypt, in Italy, in Aus
tria, in Russia and at Waterloo
His accounts of scenes in these battles and his
description of places and cities, were all expressed
in choice and graphic terms and on being com
pared with history, were found to agree in every
particular He related many unwritten and Gu
rious incidents in the life of Napoleon, which had
come under his observation, and finally closed
with touching account of his own career after
the battle of Waterloo. In the terrible rout that
followed that memorable event, his detachment
was chased by body of Prussian hussars, and
becoming scattered in the night, he wandered
about for three days and nights in the woods and
by-places without food or drink.
The chase being at length given over the poor
Frenchman sat down weary and sick with his nu-
merous wounds, and ready to die by the roadside.
A humane Dutch girl, discovering him in this sit
uation, brought him refreshments and cordials,
and among the latter flask of brandy. "Here,"
said the old soldier, was the beginning of my
woes That angel of mercy, with the best of mo-
tives, brought me in the flask deadly foe, which
wac +o ,,rovo moro notent for evil IN mo than all