The Van Buren press., 1867-07-19
The Midnight Friend.
Bl I'D. RruLEy.


Twas midnight. Gloom and darkness
reigned in majestic terror over the French
metropolis The rain and slect which
drove through the streets the lIvelonS
day had subsidized, and nought Was heart
save the droppings from the esves O
Misery this was thy day---this day tliou
hast sccumulated the many cups already
filed now overflow with voc. But, bark!
the dreadful silence ofthe night is broken.
A footstcp is heard A stranger. mas.
ked, In martial cloak, approached, and
as he passed the row of low dwellings on
Notre Dame, he was startled by voice,
crying in the most pitiful and childest
tones, - a'g .f sta41 1t1 Iaa4ss
Monsieur, please give me one poor
sou; my motiilicr is sick and dying with
hunger '~., I9-1.iuli a5i ngt. lss7ili
These words certainly reached the
strangers heart; he stopped, aud as he
turned, the moon broke from its wonted
obscurity. and he boheld child, half
clad, standing in doorway. das8 aaiuai
4" lia What is your name p ,4.a
=" Napoleon, SIR replied the child.
+" "Napoleon' repeated the stranger
with astonishmcnt. Where is your
mother, child? Lead me TO her"
They both entered the house Want
and poverty appeared to be the sole oc.
cupants of the miserable attic. On pal
let OF straw in the corner Law poor
apology for woman The dishevelled
hair, the deep sunkcn eye, the pale, hol-
low cheek, and the withered form. told
at once that there lay the fruit Of hunger
and misery. The stranger approached
the bedside, knelt, took the delicate hand
and gazed on the thin form. Ha e'l
Dear reader, have you ever in your
lifetime been present at.thc death bed ofa
dear friend or relative, and as you bent
over the outline Of shadow that is for n
moment poised between mortal and inn.
mortal---earth and cterhity--was il not
solemn moment With shuddcr you
wish yourself far from scene Of drumn
in which yon must play part Here
knclt the man who had faced millions OF
foes; here knelt the soldier who had tIaf-
cd dangers and death here stood tho
hero of forty battles, and As his eyes
rested on the wretched form before him,
tears ran down his cheeks, and his wtyo3o
sr~.,y vhouls with can otion. sss4 -s,.-. =, "a
Her eyes opened; they had one EXPIRES
sion, and in them You read volume of
trouble. As SHE beheld the soldier kncel-
ing before her she sank back; bat he
gently raised her head. resting 1t on his
knee, and asked her If the boy was her
son. t... ,f( eeo
YES was the feeble reply as.s s,laa
;" Why did you name him after tho Em.
peror OF Francc?'' 3asoa .ei 81 lstso,
1t was my husbands wish. joan
Reause, Of the Old Guard, who died de-
Tending his king and his country" .liis 4
/" What" almost gasped the stranger.
I" My companion in arms, Jean, and his
wife and child in want! 1t cannot BE-:
do you not receive pension r. a
Also, sir, no." she replied, in weak
and ialtering voice. 81 presented my
claim, but never received, sou; and now
my life is drawing to close, beq,natl,
my soul to my Saviour, and my boy to
Napoleon and his country. My boy!
0 my brave boy! May the God Of mercy
watch over thee, and in the hour of thy
country's danger, protect thou her rights,
or die as thy noble father didv' a..
The hero started to his feet exclaim,
ilig, ,n.,, af.,aa
I" Thou must shalt not die! thou
art worth a whole regiment OF soldiers.
oh, why have not all mothers taught
their children thus? II they had they
would have all been heroes.
Drawing a purse from his bosom he
gave it to the boy saying A,'@
"Good madam, Thy wants shall be
supplied thy midnight friend is Napol-
con, Emperor Of France" ~.
my sire!' lispcd the woman, almost
dead with fright, while the boy lay pros
trnte at the Enperor's feet
"Good woman, ] will procure you at
tendants for the night; here is check
for thousand pounds, payable to-mor.
row. Know me no more as Napoleon,
the Conqucror, but as Napoleon, the
Father the Fatherless = and with these
words the great and good man left the
house, 'a irT A Hh i4e
"Thc night Is passed; joy comctll with to-
morrow"
1t was not long before the lady was re-
stored to perfect health, and moved
among the most fashionable Partisan
beauties. The boy lived to lived to bless
his country, and won distinguished hon,
ors on the tented field
VI. N84l