The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-01-24
NAPOLEON AND THE SAIL
OR BOY.

In the year 1909 the French fotilla
lay at Boulogne, waiting for an oppor-
tunity to make descent upon the
southern shores of England. Day after
day Napoleon Bonaparte paced the
beach, sweeping with his telescope the
blue expanse of the Channel, watching
the appearance and disappearance of
the English fleet.
Among the Englishmen who were
prisoners at Boulogne was sailor boy,
who was permitted to ramble abeut the
town and sea shore-it being reckoned
impossible for him to make his escape.
One day as he was wandering along
the beach gazing sorrowfully across the
waves towards the white cliffs of dear
England, and thinking OF his home
among the green lanes of Kent, he saw
an empty hogshead floating shorewards
with the advancing tide. AS soon as
the depth of the water would permit he
ran into the sea and seized the barrel,
showed it to land, rolled it up the beach
and hid it in cave. The thought of
homo had nerved his arm, and bright
idea had dawned upon him and filled
his heart with hope. He resolved to
form boat out of the barrel. With his
clasp-k ife for his only tool, ho cut the
barrel in two. He then went to the
wood that lined the shore and brought
down some willow twigs, with which
he bound the slaves tightly together.
During the time of his bodybuilding he
had frequently to leave the cave to
watch the coming and going of the SEN
tinels.
The sun was setting as he had finish
ed his labor. In the frail bark he had
SO rudely and rapidly constructed he
was going to attempt to cross the chan
mel, fearless alike of its swift currents
and the storms that might arise. He re-
turned to his lodging to eat his supper
and wait till darkness set in.
Slowly with the impatient prisoner
did the hours pass by; but the night
came at last, and he set forth on his
perilouS undertaking.
BY 4 circuitous route he reached the
cave. Tho wind was moaning along
the sea, telling of coming storm, and
not star glinmered in the sky.
"This is the darkest night l ever saw"
said the sailor lad to himself: "but so
much the better fer me-" and down he
went towards the water, bearing his
boat on his back. Bnt, alas his hopes
were to be disappointed; as lie was
about to launch it the sharp cry of "qui
rire ," rang in his ear, and instantly the
bayonet of a sentinel was pointed at his
breast He was taken to the encamp-
ment, placed in irons, and guard set
over him.
On the following morning when Ma
poloon was, as usual, pacing the beach,
he was informed of the attempted es-
cape of the lad. and the means lie had
employed.
"Lct the boy and his boat be brought
before me-" he said.
The order was speedily obeyed. When
Napoleon beheld the twig bound half
barrel and the youthful form OF the
sailor, he smiled, and turning to the
prisoner said, in tone devoid OF anger,
for he admired the daring of the lad:
'Did you intend to cross the Channel
in such thing as thati And last night
of all nights! Why, l would not have
ventured one of my gunboats mile
from the shore But see how it is"
Napoleon looked compassionately up
on tue prisoner, who stood before him
with a countenance in which boldness
devoid of impudeace was displayed.
81 see how it is. You have u sweet
heart over yonder and you long to see
her"
"No, sire, have no sweetheart"
"No sweetheart! What! A British
sailor without sweetheart"
81 have mother, sire, whom have
not seen for years, and whom l yearn to
see."
"And thou shalt see her, my brave
British boy. A right noble mother she
must be to have reared so gallant q son
You shall be landed in England tonight
Take this" handing him coin of gold;
sit will pay your expenses home after
YOU are put on shore. Farewell"
As the grateful boy bowed his thanks
and walked away, Napoleon turned to
one of his aide-de-camps and said: 81
wish had thousand men with hearts
like that boyw
Bonaparte was as good as his promise
That very day he dispatched vessel
bearing q flag of truce, which landed
the lad at Hastings, in the neighborhood
of which was his mothers homo.
1t is not necessary to tell of the mother
and son; how they prayed their silent
prayers of thankfulness; how they laid
their heads on each others shoulders
aud wept for very JOY.
The sailor lad rejoined the navy
Many and many time afterwards, when
disabled for service, was he sorely dis
tressed for want; often was his clothing
scanty, and his head without shelter;
but the strongest and sternest of mis-
necessities could never force him to part
with the gift of the great Napoleon.
This deed of Napoleon was more glori-
Gus than if he had conquered a nation.
The glory won by the sword is tarnish.
ed with blood, and sends sorrow and
desolation into thousand homes; bnt
this simple act was greater than vic
tory on the battlefield, for by it Napo-
leon conquered two hearts by love, and
filled with joy the home of widow and
an ophan boy.