The Shasta courier., 1867-01-05

on towards my regiment. | could see moth
ing 10 the darkness save the flashes of the
guns IN the picket skrmish but the long
rolls OF drums and the blasts of the bugles
toid me that the French camp was alarmed
ana that the troops were getting under arms
knew would be missed from my company
ana that there was no hope of escaping the
consequences Of my folly. Still | resolved
20 make an effort to regain the camp unseen,
hoping that might be able to take my place
IN he ranks before the Ii was formed. In
my excitement, however, | missed my way.
ana before knew where | was, | was right
opposite the camp Of the Imperial Guard
VINO had now gotten into line. | turned
aoout to retrace my steps. but. as | did So
heard the click of a musket lock, and then
came TIE sharp challenge:
70 goes there p
InE,a was no help for it. If | went back
should be shot by the sentinel So with a
feeling OF desperation, | answered friend,
and was told TO advance. To nv surprise
found that the sentry was my father. His
astonlshment was equal to my own. and
forgetting his character of sentinel, he de
manded angrily To know why was skulk-
Ing beyond the lines at such time, and |
explained to him the cause As we were
talking, group of horsemen drew near
My father challenged them, and received the
counter-gn, and they rode up.
who have you there, sentinel?' asked
the officer IN advance Of the rest.
My father glanced at him in surprise, and
then giving the salute, replied:
1t straggler who has deserted his
post, your majesty. have halted him here,
and was about to call for the guard. when
you came up"
a deserter eh?" exclaimed Napoleon,
shortly. =" A straggler? p? Shoot him on the
spot, sentinel. You know my orders.'
" Sire,' said my father, impulsively g 1t
is my son.
p" Your son, grenadier? Why then did
you not let him pass through the lines quiet
ly, without getting him into trouble?"
:" belong to the Guard SIRE" said my
father. firmly
. What! You refuse to shoot your son,
and yet are willing to deliver him to others,
who Will not spare him How Is this ?''
. Sire, | am an Old soldier. | was at
Arcola, al Lodi, at Marengo, and at Auster
litz, and know how to obey orders'
The Emperor than questioned me as to the
cause of my folly, and | told him frankly the
whole truth.
9 Yon are young" he said. sternly, and
that is much in your favor; but yonng men
must learn obedience. Grenadier," he add
ed, to my father, your son has deserved
death. 1t is your duty to shoot him down."
$ Sire" broke in my father quickly.
:. Silence ~ commanded the emperor
" A grenadier Of the Guard should know
how to obey. | myself will give the word of
command and you must do your duty"
. Ready" said Napoleon. My father 5
musket clicked sharply. : Present" The
gun covered me with deadly aim, and
closed my eyes as l listened for the word
+" fire"
1t did not come. however, and the next
moment heard the emperor say Recover
armsn'
s. My fathers musket fell to the ground,
and he sank on his knees at the emperor 5
feet. Napoleon's voice. was very kind and
suft now, and new hope sprang up in my
heart.
What is your name, grenadier ~ asked
Napoleon.
p" Paul Dampierre, sire" replied my faith
er, fateringly.
1t was a hard trial, my friend, y said the
emperor, kindly, 9 but you have borne it
nobly, and have proved yourself a true
Frenchman and soldier. Have you had
the cross yet?'
Yes, slre," the poor man stammered, l
won it at Austerlitz."
"Well then. Paul Dampiere, | make you
a seargent. Take back your boy. pardon
him for his fathers sake. Teach him his
duty, and make good soldier of him.
Young man. he added, to me, . let this be
a warning to you. and in the future, let
nothing tempt you from your duty"
The change was so sudden, that it made
me almost delirious with joy. | stammered
out my thanks, but could not make myself
intelligble. Then inappropriate as it was
at such place | swung my cap up, ana
shouted. Vice / Emperenr." at the top of
my lungs. and my fnther joined NE right
heartily The Emperor laughed. and turn
ed away. and as he did so, the line Of battle
caught up the shout, and rolled 1t through
the night for miles away.
Well, gentlemen, | learned a lesson that
night which have never forgotten. | have
tried ever since to do my duty, and | think
owe my present position to the kindness of
our greatest sovereign. There now, BoSquet
added the general, smiling as he turned to
is heroic comrade, = bave redeemed my
PROMISE and you now know how | met the
Emperor Napoleon the First"