The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-09-24
GAPOLEON'S FEST TTSIT 70 TIE HOTEL
DE- INJILIDES.

ber, 1906, Napoleon mounted his horse ar
quilted St, Cloud, accom- panied only by HI
grand Marshal, his aid de camp, Rnpp, an,
page. After enjoying brisk gallo
through the Bois de Bouogne no drew "
at the gate of Malliot and dismissed his at
fendants with the exception of Rapp, wh'
followed him into the avenue of Neuilly
Gallopipg by the spot Were the triumpha
arch was then beginning to rise from it
foundations. they rcrc' the grand ave
nue. of the Champs e., sees, and proceed
ed towards the Hotel des Invalides. There
Napoleon stopped and gazed at the splen
did ediice, glowing in the beams Of the set
ting SUM-.
times. "Truly Louis XIV WAS a great
king" Then addressing Rapp, he said,
am going to visit my invalids this even
ing. Hold my horse-I shall not stay long"
And throwing the bride to his aid de camp,
Napoleon passed beneath the principal gate
way. Seeing man dressed in a military hat,
and with two epauIets badly concealed by
his half lf-buttoned redingote the sentry sup
posed him to be a superior officer, and al
lowed him to pass without question.
Crossing his arms on his chest, the vlsi-
tor, having reached the principal court,
stopped and looked around him. Sud
denly the conversation of two invalids
coming out of the building attracted his at
tention. In order to listen, he walked be-
hind them, regulating his pace by theirs,
for they walked very slowly. These two
less feeble of them led his companion, and
as they tottered on he looked anxiously
around.
"Jerome," said the elder in a husky
voice. " do you see him coming"
No, father; but never mind III read
him a lecture which he won't forget in
hurry-careless boy that he isl"
IS But. Jerome. we must make some AL
lowance for him-we were once young our
selves. Besides l dare say he thought my
prayers would not be finished so soon this
evening-the boy has kind heart"
Napoleon stepped forward and addressing
the old man, said, "Apparently, my friend,
you are waiting for some one -
The younger looked up and touched his
hat, for he saw the gleam OF the epaulets.
" Yes, Colonel, replied he, " my father,
Maurice, and l have been waiting for ny
truant son. He knows well that his grand
father requires the support of his arms to
reach the dormitory, as one of mine is"
Here he shook his empty sleeve.
You are brave follow" said the En-
peror, and your son has done wrong But
how came your father" he continued as
they walked along, to remain 80 late
outq"
" Because. Colonel, lie always devotes
the afternoon of the first of September to
commemorate the anniversary of the king
under whom he formerly served"
What king was tbatf"
His late majesty, Louis XIV" said the
old man, who had not before joined in the
conversation.
Louis XIV ~ repeated Napoleon in
sstonishment. Where can you have seen
him Z"
Here in this place he spoke to me, and
Ianswered, )" said Maurice.
How old are you 7"
If live till Candlemas, Colonel, shall
be one hundred and twenty one years old.n
4" A hundred and twenty, one years !"
cried the Emperor. And taking the old
mans arm, he said kindly, Lean on me,
old comrade, l will support you"
"No, no, Colonel know too we'll the
respect-"
'' Nonsense! desire it," And the EN-
peror gently placed the arm within his
own, although the veteran still resisted.
"Come, father" said Jerome, edo as
Ghe Colonel orders you, or else the end of
your pOliteness will be that you'll have Il
fine cold to- morrow. Aud then this young
Cyprien is not coming yeti"
You mus: have entered this Hotel while
very young7' said Napoleon, as they
walked along.
Yes, Colonel; was but eighteen when
fought at Freidlingen, aud the next
yenr, ut Blerhem, received q wound in
my neck which disabled me, and obtained
for me the favor of entering here"
1t was not favor" Interrupted NOpo-
leon" 1t vas IA right"
81 have lived here upwards of hun
dred years. l was married here, and have
seen all my old comrades pass away. But,
although there are only young people now
in the Hotel, am very happy since my
children came to join me-"
an. Jerome" said Napoleon, chow old
are youR"
"Going on ninety one, Colonel; was
born in l7I5."
"Yes," said his father, {" the very year
that his late majesty, Louis XIV, died. 1
remember it as well as if it were yester-
day"
"What battles have you been in, my
friend3"
"At Fontenoy, Colonel, at Lamfedl, at
RoSbach, at Berghen, and at Fribourg. 1t
was in the last battle 1 lost my arm. 1
came here in the year 1863, in the time of
Louis XIV"
That poor Ktrg," said Napoleon, as if
speaking to himself, "who signed q shame
ful treaty that deprived France of fifteen
hundred leagues of coast"
tI, =,