Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-04-19
NAPOLEON AND THE SAILOR BOY.


my at Boulougne on tho British Chan
mel, one of his ships captured an
English vessel, among whose crow
was fine, sturdy, young English sail
or. This lad was permitted to wa -
der about within the French lines
and often did hc stand on tho shore
and gaze over the waters of the Chan.
mel, while he thought upon his homo
in England, and of his dearly loved
mother. AT length his longing to cs.
cape grow 80 intense that ho deter
mined, at all hazards, to make an at
tempt.
One day, as he stood near tho water,
watching the ight of number of
birds which took their course towards
England, and vainly wished that he
could accompany them in their rapid
flight, he saw an empty holshcad como
fioat'ng slowly towards the beach, i'm
pcl!ed by the breeze. At onco a
though, that he could make
use of it in forwarding his plans,
took poss, ssion OF his mind. He care
fully hid it away and began to work
from day t. day in forming it into Il
clumsy boat. 1t was tedious un.
dcrtalSirg, as lc was compelled to use
the greatest prccaution TO avoid at
tracting notice or exciting the suspi
eious Of his captor'.
But at length, after many weary
days of labor, he saw his boat, such
rs it was, flushed. 1t was an uu-
slightly craft, untarrcd, without COM
pass, keel, sail, or ruddcr. He had
procured from some ncighboring trees,
supply Of willow sprouts which he
had woven around it in order to
strengthen it. The thought of launch,
ing for th in such frail vessel upon
tho stormy soa, WAS enough to alright
the boldest sailor who ever trod n
deck. Yet, impoIled by his love of
home and Of his mother, he was about
to. make serious effort in this rude
contrivance to cross the British
Channel.
On darK ana sturu,y night, lie
managed ~ get MS Uoa. TO the wa
tcr's edge, and was just about to pu.
10 sea when to his sore dismay, he
was caught iT the very act by u
French guard. Great was the ridi-
cule heaped upon him by tho soldiers,
as they examined his tub.
But at length, by some means or;
other, tho story reached tho cars Of
Napoleon himself, whose curiosity
was was excited, aud who Or
dered the lad and his vessel to be
both brought into his presence: AT.
ter looking ut them for moment, he
exclaimed, -.
Crash young man, you must havo a
sweetheart in England, whom you
dearly love, or you would never have
thought of making a voyage in such
a thing as that"
"No, sir" replied the lad, /" I have
no sweetheart; bnt have a mother
whom dearly love-. and HON have
not seen forlmany years. 1t was my
longing to see her that led me to at.
tempt escaping" :
"And SO you shalt see hor," said
Napoleon.
Thus saying, ho gave the young tar
piece Of gold, and commanded that
ho should be- forwarded nnder flag
of truce, 10 his native country. He
arrivedthere safely, and although he
lived many years in poverty, never
would he spend or 10 any way part
with the gold coin given him by Ma
p"l,eon Ronaparte:-' -,.-s..A
You,sec how tho filial affection of
this young sailor met withits reward.
L. is one of tho surest evidences. of a
noble Character, to SEQ a son honor
and love his mother. God looks with
appreciation on such u feeling, .nnd
will be sure to reward it. He has him.
self commanded, "Honor thy father
and thy mother so that thy days be
long upon the land Which the Lord
thy God giyeth thee" And tins com.
mand il most.signifoantly referred. to
in the New Testament as "the first
comm andment with promise" Boys
land girls .too-never fail to love
your, mothers. Whenever you, find
yoursloye to your: mothers growing
faint and feeble, be shre that. sin and
Satan are gainioga y fearful foothold in
your hearts- rts-.s%G sVisitor.
Teashing men morals is as though
| had q clock that would notgo, andT
turned ronnd one Of the. cog. wheols I,