The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-03-13
THE POET FONTAKE,

France.
During the siege of Lyons, France, in
the first revolution, the poet Fontane
had been shut up with his family in the
midst of the city in ruins. Full OF alarm
for the safety of his young wife and in
FAINT, he resolved, at all risks, to escape
if he could.
Having obtained a passport, a diff
Guilty arose as to how he could carry
away some plate and other valuable ar.
ticles, then considered quite anti repub-
lican. Among these was a chalice, a
present from sovereign, on which an
able artist had engraved the arms OF the
king of Sardinia. Fontane greatly
dreaded lest the chalice should be dis
covered as being q vessel used in the
service of the church; and, bearing the
arms of king, it would be IS q three
fold proof Of aTistocracy. However, he
decided on taking it, and fastened to
the house of q friend, who had been q
nursery gardener.
The poet then laid aside all his feudal
ornaments, and set about exchanging his
clothes to give him another appearance.
Having dressed himself in wide panta-
looms, and shoes that stuck full of hard
nails, his hair cropped, and every grain
o powder removed. he emerged from
the gardeners house in the character of
laundress porter, with a heavy basket
of clothes On his shoulder the plate
and cbalice carefully packed under the
linen. His young family followed a few
PAGES behind him with the passport, but
they had to pass close to the terrible in
strument Of death; for there it stood,
always ready for use. Fontane shud~
dered. His vie TUNED pale. To theLn
their situation was awful But Re ason
and necessity urged them on. Fontane
resolved TO act q decided part. He walked
up in ront OF the guillotine, graspiDg
the basket firmly with his hand, and
lOOseniDg the leather straps as if to ease
himself, he looked steadily at the scaffoId,
A man OF rufianly appearances, who
attended as il he were a guard of the
gull otine, came up to him.
Are you afraid, !" said he to Fontane,
that you look in this way at the
national rsZOr ?
Afraid " said Fontane; whom dc
you take me for, fedeTalist,' that I
should be frightened at the sight of a
guillotine Look at me; do you see
any thing like an aristocrat in my face ?'
What are you ;" cried a second i'm
terrogator, addressing FOntane,
Il am bleacher and scourer."
And this good woman ?"
What a question said Fontane
Look at the little one-Do MT you see
the likeness Long live the republic -
"Ah that's righT said the miscre-
ant; "yOu're a good one Down with
the muscadins and aristocrats /! Long
live the republic! and the guillotine
forever -
FoDtane could not join in this sanguis
nary cry. He saw his wife tremble, and
shook her hand.
Come, wife" said he, "let's have a
song"
GAY, and dance, too" said the bar
barian who had first spoken " so down
with your basket, my joVial fellow W
'But IL"
Nonsense nobody will run away with
your basket; down with it. [ say Why,
what is the matter? Is it glued to your
neckT'
Fontane objected, and resisted for
awhile, but was soon obliged to submit !;
and, wipiDg the cold perspiration from
his forehead, in a state more dead than
alive, was relieved from the burden of his
basket. He saw it placed on q heap of
stones, and feared every thing would be
turned tOpsy-turvey. Oh! the fatal
chaliee! Ali hope Of safety was gone
ne was on the point of giving himself up,
and claiming compassion tor his wife and
child, in the hope that they would be
allowed to pass, when, happily, he rous-
ed himself, clapped his hands and assum-
ed joyful attitude
Halo, my friend 70 shouted one of
the fellows, ''yOu'Te wonderfully merry
all at once p
g" A thought has struck me-" said
Fontane; a bold idea You see nv
poor wife I know the Carmagnole
always raises her. Come, my good fell
lows, let US dance it."
His wi eazed at him with a look OF
despair, as he snatched the child from
her aims,
" What now? Don't make wry face,
wife !" said he. Excuse her; she's
young and timid. Come, let US pus the
little one on the basket-there he lies on
the top of the linen and sleeps soundly.
Wife, your hand Now the ring-the
republican ring. Come, friends, Join
hands for the ring-the patriotic dance %
Madame FOntane now comprehended
what her husband meant. She trippeG
lightly around the ring. and Joined in
the chorus Of tho Carmsgnole. When
the dance was over she took up her
child FOntane was assisted in replacing
his basket on his shoulder He made
his wife lead tue way, and walked off
after her, whispering the Chant du
Depart. And so tt ey escaped.