The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-09-24

we should have been badly of but for the
kindness of this noble colouel, who hss
made your grandfather lean on him"
Cypricn saluted the Emperor, whom in
the increasing darkness, lie did not recog.
n'ze, and said, "Now then, sir, with your
permission will resume my post"
"And An honorable one it is," ead Napo-
leon. Pray. in what engagement were
you wounGedf"
"At the battle of Fleurus, Colonel, gain
ed against the Austrians by General Jour
dan, now Mashal of the Empire. A volley
of grape-shot knocked out my eye, and
carried off both my legs at the same time.
Bat" added Cyprien, striking his powerful
chest, % my heart was not touched, nor my
stomach either, and they have both, hope,
some good days. work in them yet"
Napoleon smiled. The battle of Feu-
rns." he sa d, was fought, 1 think, in
1904 ~
"That was already in Bouaparte's time"
remarked Maurice.
Grandfather" replied Cyprien, "please
to say the Emperor Napoleon the Great !;
that is his proper title"
XIV"
"Ah, grandfather" interrupted Cyprien,
impatienty, " we're tired Of hearing about
that monarch of the old regime who used to
go to war in flo ing wig and elk stock
lngs! He's not to be mentioned in the same
year Will Luo VINO uTeSSeB Rnu
lives like one of ourselves. Is it not So, Col
onelf"
Napoleon knitted his brow and answered
coldly: You are mistaken, NJ. Cyprien
Louis XIV was q great king 1t was he
who raised France to the first rank among
the nations of Europe; it was he who fret
marehalled 100000 soldiers on land, and
one hundred vessels on the sea. He added
to his dominions Roussilon, Franche
Comte, and Flanders; he seated one of his
children on the throne of Spain and it
was he who founded this Hotel des Inva-
lides. Since Charlemagne, there has not
been king in France worthy of being
compared to him."
This eulogium on the monarch whom he
almost idolized, caused the dim ey es of old
Maurice to sparkle he tried to straighten
himself, and said in a broken voice !;
" Bravo! bravo! Ah! Colonel, you are
worthy to have served his late majesty,
would have made you feldmarshal -
Somewhat abashed, Cyprien stammered
out, " Excuse me, Colonel but you know
l never knew this king of grandfather's.
only heard him spoken of by some of the
oldest men here"
And those who spoke disrespectfully of
him." said Napoleon, did wrong. Here. at
all events, the memory of Louis XIV ought |
to be venerated."
AT that moment lights appeared at the |
end of the court, sound of voices was |
heard, and many persona approached. |
Rapp had waited a long time on the spot |
where the Emperor had left him but wien |
1t became dark, and his master did not re-
turn, he grew uneasy, and giving the |
horses in charge to soldier, he entered the |
Hotel, and told the Governor, Marshal Ser |
rurier, that the Emperor had been for the |
last hour incognito within the walls. The |
news spread quickly among the officers
fhkAyy hos
ter, and found him on the terrace conversing |
with his three companions.
AT the cries of " Here he is long live the |
Emperor CyprieD, fixing his ey o atten-
lively on the supposed colonel, suddenly |
recognized him, and clasping his hands, ex-
is the Emperor himself ~
You the Emperor, colonel 7" cried the |
two old men.
Yes, my children" replied Napoleon,
kindly holding each by an arm, in order to |
prevent them from kneeling although |
and the father of every soldier who has |
fought in the honor of Francev
AT that moment, Rapp, the Governor,
and their attendants came up and saluted |
Napoleon. With a stern look, he said to |
his aid-de- camp, in An UNDERGONE, You |
should have had patience to wait" Then |
turning to the others he said in an af-
fable manner: "Approach, marshal |
and gentlemen help me to recompeuse |
three generations of heroes. These brave
men," pointing to Maurice, Jerome, and |
Cyprien, have fought three glorious bat
ties FTeidlinger, Racours and Fleurus.
Marshal" Ito Serrurier) "lend mo your
cross; you shall have one in it's stead to-
morrow" he added smiling. "Glve me
yours also, Rapp."
Having received the two crosses, Napo
leon gave one to Jerome, the other to Cyp-
rien; and then taking off his own, he fas-
tened it on the breast of the venerable Mau-
rice, saying as he did 30, "My old comrade,
regret that did not sooner discharge this
debt which France owes you"
Long live the Emyeror ! long live the |
Emperor :" shouted all present.
Sire," said Maurice, in voice trembling
with rapture, "you have made the re- |
mainder of life happy to me and my chill
dren."
My brave fellow" replied Napoleon,
giving his hand, which the old man seized |
a nd F,ll :el, I