Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-11-21
A Story Of Napoleon's Childhood.

A Story Of NapoleOn's Childhood.
On the 10Th of August, 1877, two lit
tie girls of seven or eight years old
were playing in q garden near Ajaccio,
in COrs,ca. After running up and
down among the trees and flowers, one
Of them stopped the other at the en-
trance to dark grotto under q rock.
ELIZA" she said, "don't 60 any
further: it frightens me to look into
that black cave"
"Nonsense! IT'S only Napoleon's
Grotto.
"This garden belongs to your uncle
Fesch; has he given this dark hole to
Napoleon
mo. Panoria; my great uncle has
not given him this grotto. But as he
often comes and spends hours in it by
himself. we all call it Napoleon's Grotto."
"And what can he be doing there ?"
Talking to himself"
"Wnat about?"
ooh, I don't know; variety of
things. But come, help me to gather
large bunch of flowers"
"Just now, when we were on the low.
er walk, you told me not to pull any,
although there was an abundance Of
sweet ones"
eyes; but that was in my uncle, the
canon's garden"
"And are his flowers more sacred
than those of Uncle Fesch ?"
"They are indeed, Panoria."
"And wby?"
"I'm sure don't know; but when any
one wants to prevent our playing, they
say, THAT will give your uncle. the
canon, headache!' When we are not
to touch something, It's always, THAT
belongs to the canon!' If we want TO
eat some fine fruit, Don't touch that;
It's for your uncle, the canoni' And
even when we are praised or rewarded,
It's always because the canon is pleased
with usl"
Is is because he is archdeacon of
Alaccio that people are SO much afraid
OF him?"
"Oh, no. Panoria; but because he is
our tutor. Papa is not rich enough to
pay tor masters to teach us, and he has
not time to look after our education
himself; so our uncle the canon teaches
US everything. He is not unkind, but
he is very strict. If we don't know our
lessons he slaps US smartly."
And don't you call that unkind.
Eliza?"
mot exactly. Do you never get q
whipping yourself, Panoria ?"
"No, indeed, Eliza. It is the Corsi-
can fashion to beat children; but our
family is Greek, and mamma saws
Greeks must not be beaten"
"Then I'm sure, Panoria. I wish I
were Greek; for it's very unpleasant
to be slapped"
IL dare say your brother Napoleon
does not like it either"
"He is the only one of my brothers
who does not cry or complain when he
is punished. If you heard what a noise
Joseph and Lucien make, you would
fancy that uncle was faying them
alivel"
"But about Napoleon. What can he
be talking about alone in the grotto ?"
Hush! Here he is! Let us hide
ourselves behind the lilac-tree, and
you'll hear"
II see Severia coming to call u.s."
All! it will take her an hour to
gather ripe fruit for uncle, the canon.
We shall have time enough. Come!"
And the little girls. gliding between
the rock and the overhanging shrubs.
took up their position in perfect con.
cealment.
The boy who advanced toward the
grotto differed from the generality of
children OF his age in the size of his
head. the massive form of his noble
brow, and the fixed examining express.
sion of his eyes. He walked slowly
looking at the bright blue sea-snd nm.
conscious that his proceedings were
closely watched by two pair Of little
bright black eyes.
Here am my own master!" he said
as he entered the grntto. "No one
commands me here!" And seating
himself royalty on bench within the
dark entrance, he continued, "This ia
my birthday. l am eight years old to.
DAY. l wish l lived among the Spar.
tans, then l should be beyond the con.
troll OF women; but now have to obey
such . number Of people-old Severis
among the rest. All, if we're the mas.
teri"
well, and if you were the master.
what would you do?" cried Eliza
thrusting forward her pretty little head.
First OF ell, I'd teach you not to
come listening at DOORS" replied Ma.
poleon. disconnected at being over
heard.
But, brother, there's no door that
can see."
No matter, you have been caves.
dropping all the same"
"Eliza!-Panorial" cried q loud
voice. Where can these children
have gone to?"