The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-02-28

Nonsense. 1 order it p and draw
ing the veterans arm within his own,
he led him slowly onward.
&c You must have entered the hotel
very young, father 2"
q Yes, colonel ] was but Is when ]
at Friedlingen, and 10 when / received
my wound at Blenheim which sent me
here.
g And you have been here, then, more
than 100 years ?''
Yes, 102 years last Michaelmas. ]
married here here my son was born;
every comrade had is long gone and
although there are only boys now in the
son and grandson were both pensioned
here ON account of wounds received in
service.
And what in appearance was the
king 2" asked the emperor.
Taller than you, colonel but with
the same broad chest and sturdy frame.
We soldiers saw in him a real king"
And pray, Monsieur Jerome, how
old are you ?"
Going on 81, colonel. I was born
here in 1715."
Yes" said the old man the very
year le Grand Monarque died. I re-
member it as if it were only yesterday %
g What battles have you been in, my
friend asked Napoleon.
FOntenoy, colonel Lamfedl, Ros-
bach, Berghen, and Fribourg. 1t was
at Fribourg / lost my arm l came here
in the year 1853, in the time of Louis
XIV"
''That poor king, said Napoleon, as
if speaking himself, "who put his hand
and seal to treaty that deprive France
of 1 800 leagues of coast.
"And for the last .43 years, said the
centenarian, "Jerome has watched me
like a good and dutiful son. Pity that
his son should be so Needless"
Well, father" said Napoleon, 81
will do my best TO supply NJ Cyprien's
place. At your age it is not good to be
under the night air. ?"
"Here he comes at last % cried Je-
rome.
The emperor looked with some curl
osity at this wild boy, for whose youth
allowance was to be made, and saw, to
his astonishment, an invalid of some 60
years old, with two wooden legs, lost
eye, a SCARED face, and broken nose,
infirmities would permit.
jerome began to reproach his truant
son, but the latter interrupted him by
holding up flask, loaf white bread,
and half dozen Jumps of sugar.
"Seei'' he said " it was getting these
things that delayed me. I knew grand
father would like a draught OF warm
wine and sugar after the old kings an
niversary, so went to my old friend,
Collibert, and persuaded him to give
me his allowance of wine, in exchange
for my mounting guard in his place to-
morrow.
Well, well, said Jerome that
was thoughtful of you, my boy but,
meantime, we should have been badly
off but for the kindness of this noble
colonel, who has made your grandfather
lean on him.
Cyprien saluted the emperor, whom
in the increasing darkness he did not
recognize, and said =
g Now then, sir, with your permission
| will resume my post.
And an honorable one il is, ;" said
Napoleon. And pray, SIT, in what
engagement were you wounded -
AT tho battle of Fleurus, colonel,
gained against the Austrians by Gener-
al JouTdan, now marshal Of the empire.
A volley of grape-shot knocked out my
eye, defaced my nose, and carried off
my legs. But, added he, striking his
powerful chest, ''my heart was not
touched. nor my stomach either and
they have both, [ hope, some good days
work III them yet.
Napoleon smiled.
"The battle of Fleurus," he said,
g was fought, L think, in 1894 %
''Yes, colonel"
90 That was already IN BOnaparte's
time, remarked Maurice.
"Gran father" replied Cyprien,
please to say the emperor; that is
his proper title"
In the name OF his great majesty,
the great Louis Fourteenth"
"Ah, grandfather, interrupted Cy-
Drien, impatiently, "we are tired of
hearing about that monarch of the old
regime, who used to go to war with
dubbed peruque and silk stockings.
He is not To be mentioned in the same
with the emperor, who lives and dresses
like one Of ourselves. Is it not so p
Napoleon hesitated a moment-for
the question was addressed to him
and then answered coldly -
''You are mistaken. NJ. Cyprien :;
Louis XIV. was a great king 1t was
he who raised France to the first rank
among the nations of Europe; it was
he who first marshaled 1905 mon on
land and 100 vessels on the sea. He
gave us RoussiIlon, Franche-C pte.
and Flanders he seated one q, . h
children on the throne of Spain :...
it was he who founded this hoteI-,ui,I
des Invalides. Since Charlen r-s ..
there has not been a king in I ucs
worthy of being compared to him
This eulogium on the monarch nose
memory he idolized, caused IT,, lm
eyes of old Maurice to sparkle b ;tod
to straighten himself, and sai7 II a
broken voice =
"Bravo bravo! All, colo, you are
worthy to have served tn Ing Had
You lived in his time hC would l1Er
made you a field-marshal
" You must remember, colonel, said
Cyprien, apologetically, that / never
saw grandfather's King Louis XIV,
and one gets impatient at constantly
hearing him put before our great en-
peror."
g. Nevertheless, replied Napoleon,
"here, in the Invalides. which, to the
honor Of France and comfort of her
heroes, he established upon such gen
erous ideas, the name of the great mon
arch should be mentioned only with
respect.
Napoleon had resigned his support of
the centenarian to the grandson, and
was slowly walking beside the three old
men, his head bowed down and his
hands behind him, when n sudden up
roar broke out in the distance. There
was and increasing sound of voices,
lights were quickly Fassing to and fro,
the clang of spurs and scabbars on the
pavements was manifest, and crowd of
persons seemed to be approaching the
gateway. The truth was that Rapp
became alarmed. The emperor had
said ne should stay but few minutes,
and he had already been absent more
than an hour. Naturally enough. the
aid-de-camp gave the horse in charge
to n soldier, and entering the gate
sought Marshal Seruvier, the governor.
to whom he communicated the fact of
Napoleon's being inc0gnitO within the
walls. The news spread quickly among