The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-04-06

piety-devoted to the poor who received her
only visits. To the gentle teachings of hat
mother l my little store of knowledge.
From early youth she had sought to instill
into my mind a lofty sense of duty. was
called to serve my flag. Filled with despair
at the thought of leaving her, l protested; in
my hour OF weakness she strengthened and
encouraged me. She babe me 90 for her
sake. With a tender smile upon her white
lips she blessed me, telling me that my coun-
try claimed a higher duty Of me than my
holy duty to herself, adding it was the will
Of God. Should you die before me, my son.
l will sill have rstength to say, Father, into
Thy hands | commend his spirit. Go, and,
as you love ne, be faithful to your duty"
These were her last words and | departed
We had returned from Spain, finished with
the glory Of the conquest. Iendeavored to
obtain leave, owing to the determination of
the Emperor to invade Germany, | was OBJ
liged to abandon the thought. l followed my
regiment to Strasbourg. One morning l re-
celved "a letter from my beloved mother,
telling me that she was i'll. \ great longing
possessed me to see her. ! requested leave,
bu. it was refused. / Remembered her last
words: A you love me be faithful 10 your
duty | resigned myself. A week or more
elapsed when u letter from the curate Of the
parish reachedme. 1t told briefly that my
mother was dying there was no hope. Ny
reason faroook me-! At ali risk l determined
to return home. The yearning to at least
pray beside her grave, II | nigh; not lock
upon her dear face, tortured me day and
night. Like many Of the simple peasants Oh
our mountain village, / sm imbued with su-
perstitious beiiet-a pellet that is strengthen
Ell with my years and which ! have cherish
ed, and which no argument coUti destroy.
This supef stition taught me to believe that
the first flower which blooms above the grave
Of the ioyed one possesses q peculiar charm.
the enc who gathers and retains It IS neve.
forgotten py the dead. 1t WAS d sacred AMI
comforting t.ought. With this belel in ms
heart, death seemed robbed of nail its stag
and become only a sweet sleep, ike resta:.er
"a fatigua., This flower l desired to see bloom
nat AI1T4ht gather it, and with it the bless
ii Of immortal remembrance The
~ left Strasbourg | fed. After
= of ten days | reached Folk,
a grave. Sh- had died
lbleeipe me- liz earth was still fresh and
~ sod, but no aowsfbad
{6Al453 $500 / waited;s e(Ho9 22ks-
s&oaafns enEl@6tnst -
ind sef11eaneya3S -:
The
the su1a6o1A inahba1mr mt
J the gravvsnThs1ya0G - 4
saw a how6t; - stWbAm
blue losso0Mo1n0os
Use, a ray of4hs0uG -
the little bloanWH4NN NY
mothers soul ss9oq&f1e1 sokxl te1Uy
pleadingly, while N61peringsE
me, Jules, remember me. Beln
truly IN the sacred presence Of
| gathered my treasure IN si.ence,sNs aslN1<
! tears CT gratitude and hope, rose
Nothing now retained me At ok
words, If YOU love INC, be faithfd&I&g6 III
duty, | seemed to hear at every ~
very air was filed with the sound!1 M4[
duty made rue deliver myself up to jnpe2E
/ had v.ola,ei commands and was 4 dest1tl<
| obeyed, accepting calmly, ~resignediT
sentence awarded AN about TO DIE.
saw you are my friend ! nave bal one IN
quest il YOU vii grant i, l can die withost'
regret. eg.u peacefully. In a locket suss
penied around my neck is the little flower |
perl.el M lite to obtain, Promise me that
IN death II snall not be separated from me-"
II promise replel the officer, deeply
touched
The coulemu3I man graspei MS hand
warmly. "ComraIe," he sad, "may Goi
bless YOU. FIN vas His wiz TO gcanl1.s
another life. ! viii dedicate it 10 you, AN
prove the affection your sympathy has in
spircl. out i, cannot be. FAREWELL
they separated.
The dawn broke aad with it came the
sound OF the drum and the tramp OF armed
men, whose measured steps announced the
remission be Preux greeted them With q
silent oaw, and then went calmly forth to
die.
Ills arm. were folded across MS breast; q
i soft breeze stirred the curls that c.usicrei
: above ht- brow Ms eyes were fixed gunon
the eastern SKY, where . br1staon
+ snel . golden glory. mt -
{ cioa. fa.t ioased on anisln
! ca .se tue i.rx saaiov
n gradually fading u the 49, 49,
= rs n passed down tas -. ~.
diers, regrets AMI ~o-ds g. 4e1
= >pOAeu III unievbreata: but
: with not Que las look ioai
i ea MS resolution he Inovs
Il place oil execution. He rd
! aal Ms eyes a. his request
bound. and still rive;ei lIugd
apo ~ i~rit;ins clouds, he b
sentence read A moment
rods were drawn; then the
the charge was ramsned do~1
~ and tbs lrst words OF the ted
. were spoken. Max ready"
sne.l was uttered = load cry
e he Emperor" rung out upon
awaye II the hand that stayed
work. Napoleon vaalled from ~ 49,
and. with rapid strides advanced ,ovsrs
;. the prisoner who, seen.nglylosi in thought
stood Eaotioa!ess, waiting the fata! hre.
jules lie Prcuxi'i
The young msn turned quickly so~a-'
as The speaker His lips moved, jet no word
p escaped them. bat the clear, stcadfast eye
seemed 10 utter the recognition kneea
y lng, he press sis lips to NApoleon's hand
i jules, continued the Emperor do 20
remember the words spoken last night Il
i your eell?"
Il said ii God gave me another life
lie would dedicate i TO you, was the reply
E II -