The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-10-21

etter from my beloved mother, telling M
that she MAS ILL., A great longing possessed
me to see her. / requested leave, but i
was refused. remembered Ter last words
As you love me be faithful TO your duty.
! resigned myself. A week or more elaps
when letter from the curate OF the Iarist
reached me. 1t told briefly that my notnel
sun torsook me. A all rieks | determined
To return home. The yesrning to ut ias
upon her dear face tortured me day and
n.gLt. Like many oi the simple peasants
Vi our mouuta village, | am imbued WITH
sIpersutious belief "a belief that has
strengthened with my years, and which
| haye cherished, ana which no argument
cuald destroy. This superstition taugh,
Tue to beheve that the first flower that
blooms above tie grave of IA loved one pos
sesses pecuilal char,ni the one who
| gathers and retains it is never forgotten by
| he dead. 1t was a sacred and comforting
thought. With this belief in my heart,
death reemsd robbed of half its sting, and
becomes only sweet sleep, like rest after
fatigue. This flower desired to see bloom
| that | NIGH: gather 1t, aad with 1t the
| blessed ass uIahce of immortal remembrance.
The night tie troops left Strasbourg l hed.
Alter weary urney of ten days | reach
ed Folk, to find, alas, only grave. She
| had died blessing me. The earth was still
no flower had made its appearance. ]
waited; weeks passed At !engti | rose
at dawn one morning and wended my way
TO the little chu-chyard. The sky was
covered with feeey clouds, and the sun
rose in golden glory as knelt beside the
grave. There, midst the green grass,
saw a flower; it's tiny leaves were open,
and On the blue bosom rested softly, like a
sweet promise, ray of the morning sun
light. 1t was the little blossom Forget
me-not.' My mothers soul seemed to look
INTO my eyes pleadingly, while whispering
Remember me, Jules, remember me- Be
Iiesilg myself truly IN the sacred presence
Of the dead. / gathered my treasure in 81
fence, and, with tear. Of gratitude and hope,
rose to depart. Nothing now retained me
1T Fnx, and the words, If you love me, be
faiti fIi to your duty | seemed to bear at
Every turn, the very uir war filed with the
sound. That duty made me deliver myself
up to Justice | had violated commaads
and WIS deserter. | obeyed, accepting
calmly, reslgnenly, the sentence awarded
| am about to die. You say you are nv
friend. | have but one request; If you viii
gram. it die with. .ut r4ar.I, even
peacefully. In Il locket suspended around
my neck is the flower | per;led my life 10
obtain. Promise that in death it shall not
be 81 parated from me"
Il PROMISE replied the officer, deeply
touched. he Condemned man grasped his
hand warmly. Com. ;de'' he said, "rnay
God bless you. If it WAS his will to grant
me another lfe | would dedicate it to YOU
and prove The affection your sympathy bas
inspired; but it cannot be. FAREWELL"
They separated.
The drwn broke, and with it came the
t und of the drum and the tramp of armed
men, whose measured steps announced
their mission. LIE Preux greeted them
With silent bow, and then went calmly
firth to die.
His arms were folded upon his breast; II
soft breeze stirred the curls that clustered
above his brow; his eyes were fixed upon
the eastern sky, where brilliant sunrise
shed golden gl7ry. tinting the rose-leal
clouds that aoated on and on, as though t.
chase the dark shadow Of night that was
gradually fading in the west.
As he passed down the long line IF sol
diers, regrets and words of farewell was
spuken in uEderbreath but, dead to all
and with not one last look that might have
broken his resolution, he moved on toward
the place of execution. He reached .he
spot; his eyes, at his request, we're left un
bound, and still riyeted liogeringly wis!ful-
", upon the drifting clouds, he heard his
death sentence read. A moment more and
the ramrods were drawn; then the dull
sound AS the charge was raDmed down was
heard, and the first words of the terrible
formula were spoken, "Make ready" Bot
ere the knell was uttered loud cry of
Long live the emperor" rung out upon
the air. With a wave of the hand that
stayed the deadly work, Napoleon vaulted
from the saddle, and, with rapid strides
advanced towards the prisoner, vho, seem
ingly lost in thought, stood motioness,
waiting the fatal fire.
Jules lie Preuxr'
The young man turned quickly toward
the speaker. His lips moved, yet no words
escaped them; but the clear, steadfatt eye,
seemed TO utter the recognition. KneeIing
be pressed bis lips to Napoleon's hand.
Jules, continued the emperor, edo you
remember the words you spoke last night
in your cell?"
81 said if God gave me another life I
should dedicate it to you," was the reply,
clearly spoken.
cit is well. God gives You a second
life: consecrate it not to me, but to France.
She is a good and worthy mother; love her
a. faithfully as you love the one who now
smiles upon YOU from yonder blue heavens
Arise With these word, be turned
away, and a cry of JOY rent the air as Ma
polean ceased speaking, for all rejoiced at
the welcome delverance of lie Brave"