The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-07
Price OF Two, T,wp.o, Po,atoe. in 1903.

The following anecdote of the first Ma
PoLEoN is related in a letter from cores
pondent who was in the French military
serviee, and who vouches for its au-
thehticity: +. g.. .,.ot >. En- d.
| The evening before the battle of Ulm,
when Napoleon the First, in company with
Marshal. Berthier, was walking .incognito
through the camp and listening to the talk
of his soldiers, he saw in a group nOts Far
off a grenadier of the guard. who was
roasting some potatoes ia the. ashes. ,..
81 should like roasted potato above
all things" said the emperor to the mar
shal; "ask the owner of them if he will
sell one.'' -.. a..t.-. h.
In obedience to the order, Berthier ad-
vanced to the group and asked to whom
the potatoes belonged.
"They are mine.' i.....F
"Will you sell me one?" said Berther.
81 have only five, said the grenadier,
"and that's hardly enough for my
supper"
81 Will give you two Napoleons if you
will sell me one," continued Berthier.
81 don't want your gold," said the
grenadier; 81 shall be killed, perhaps, to-
morrow, and l don't want the enemy to
find me with an empty stomach"
Berthier reported the soldiers answer
to the emperor, who was standing little
in the background. ...
"Let's see if / shall be luckier than
you," said the latter; and, going up close
to the grenadier, he asked him if he would
sell potato. .
"Not by long shot," answered the
grenadier; 81 haven't enough for my
self"
But you may set your own price, f"
said Napoleon. "Come, I am hungry,
and haven't eaten to-day"
81 tell you l haven't enough for my
SELF" repeated the grenadier; "besides
all that, do you think don't know you in
spite of your disguise?"
"Who am /, then ?" inquired Ma
poleon.
"Bah! {" said the grenadier. "The lit
tie corporal, as they call you. Ana 1
right2"
"Well," said Napoleon, "since you
know me, will you sell me potato3 I"
"No," said the grenadier "but you
would have me come and dine with You
when we get back to Paris, you NAV SUD
with me tonight
"Done, said Napoleon, "on the word
Of little corporal!-on the word of an
emperor"
"Well and good" said the grenadier.
Our potatoes ought to be done by this
time. There are the two largest ones !;
the rest III eat myself"
The emperor sat down and ate his pota-
toes, and then returned with Berthier to
his tent, merely remarking, "The rogue
Is a good soldier, I'll wager"
Two months afterwards, Napoleon the
Great was in the midst of brilliant court
at the Tuilleries, and asjust sitting down
to dine, when word was brought him that
grenadier was without, trying to force
the guard at the door, saying that he had
been invited by the emperor.
" Let him in" said his majesty.
The soldier entered, presented arms
and said to Napoleon "Do you remem-
Der once having supped with me off my
roasted potatoes ?"
"Oh, is that you? Yes, yes, remem-
Der, said the emperor; and so you have
come to dine with me, have you? Russian
lay another cover on your table for that
brave fellow"
Again the greDadier presented arms, and
said: "A grenadier of the guards does not
eat with lackeys. Your majesty told me
should eat with you, that was the bar
gain; and, trusting to your word, have
come hither."
True, true, said the emperor, clay a
cover here near me; lay aside your armor,
mon ami, and draw up to the table"
Dinner over, the grenadier went to his
usual place, lookup bis carbine, and, turn
ing to the emperor, presented arms. "a
mere private" be said, sought not to dine
at the table of his emperor.
''Ah! understand you, said Napoleon.