Little Falls transcript., 1879-09-11

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made my peace with God, sir" he added
to the clergyman, "and I am prepared to
die in charity toward all men. I have
nothing to say except farewell, and bless
you, every one. M
Then, bowling "a tie chaplain, he walk
ed to the scaffold with as firm step as
if he had beer marching past the General
in ordinary times at 3 review. The
men turned sick in the ranks. the drum
mer's hands trembled as they beat the
terrible "tattoo," and the tile Of soldiers
detailed for the. execution hung their
heads for shame, as though they were
murderers, instead of promoters ofjustice
and discipline.
"Fareweli, friends, all7'' shouted Valore,
taking his position, and the Adjutant
Igavc the word that al was ready.
But at that moment there was cry
a low murmuredscheer among the men
tas they separated TO let q horssman ad-
vance to the center Of the column. He
looked neither to the right nor left, but
made straight for the platform, and dis
mounted within few yards of the con-
demmed man. As he stepped gracefully
from his horse, and stood beside the de-
serter, both officers and men held their
breath, watching with anxiety the move
ments of the master they had learned to
respect SO highly aud love so we'll.
It was Bonaparte, hero of the Pyra-
mids, who appeared before them.
Without word the "Little Corporal''
walked up the platform and placed HIM
self directly in front the disgraced man.
"Pierre Valore,' he said, in his clear,
pure voice, "your crime has been known
to me only short time. From yonder
clump of trees I have just heard the whole
story. If the life which you so freely
offer to the memory of your mother is a
burden to you, giveit to me- You have
another mother, kinder, better than the
one you have lost, and who needs the
help other noble sons. Give me your hand ;
you are free man; it you have life to
spare, keep it for her. For France is
your mother"
Pierre Valore fell upon his knees, and
seizing the delicate. wax-like hand car
lied it reverentially to his trembling
lips. ''',ss,l
"My life is yours" lie said betw cen
his tears, II wish / had hundred lives
to give as willingly.''
The men were too excited to cheer,
and maybe it was this mute admiration
which .honored the .commandant most
HI waved his hand graciously, and,
mounting his horse again, rode away.
Two days later they was fighting. The
"Little Corporal was everywhere in the
thickest of the tray. Ju:t where the shot
flew the fastest, where the furious cannon
ragged 6ercest, the ee-cornered hat was
visible, always ahead, like charmed be-
ing, leading them onward to glory, to
triumph and destruction. The clarion
shouted the order, "Chargc!" which was
re echoed by every captain alongthe line,
and the vast sea of men, sweeping down
like a huge tide wave, plunged headlong
in to the redOubt before them. The con-
test was man to man, sabre to sabre.
He certainly must have been invuinera-
blc, so many times to escape what seemed
inevitable death. For the twentieth time
he was surrounded by band of yelling
Arabs, who defended with tiendish avidi-
ty each foot of ground that was taken from
them
Meanwhile u few yards distant, fought
Pierre Valore. His trusty sword flashed,
here and there among the bowling crowd,
dealing death in all directions. There
was no time for words nor smiles; but in
his mind he set down decoration, should
they meet at later day. Again and
again they were hemmcd in, with hun.
dred inturiated savages at their faces.
One tall chief, maddened with despair,
hurled his lance with terrific violence at
the breast of his fearless opponent.
The ""Little Corporal' saw it come and
in one second prepared for his death.
But in the supreme instant he was spared.
A man sprang up and almost dragged him
from his horse, receiving, as he did 50,
the lance in his own chest.
"Gencral!' cried Valore-tor the man
was he-"nly life belongs to you and to
France rand he fell with the lance through
his heart.
1t was ovcr-thc day was won. With
a mighty cry of triumph the victorious
army swept over the plain, leaving the
dead and wounded upon the blood soak
cd field
In his tent, Europe's conquerer was
thanking heaven for its favors, and dream
ing already of new worlds and new peo-
pie to subdue.
The day will never lie forgotten. Its
victory and multitude of slain will be- re.
membered as long as history lives. But
there were deeds of valor performed on
those Egyptian sands that deserved
loftier monuments and louder praises
than were sung over their naked bones
by hyena or carlon bird.
Among those obscure heroes was Pierre
Valore, whose name. although unknown
to fame, still found a place in the mem.
ory> and gratitude Of the indispensable
man be had saved. -
Bonaparte never forgot Pierre Valore
last words spoken on that day, and the
sound of the dead mans death cry rang
on his ears till he died.
On his return to Paris the Emperor
chose the violet flower as his favorite
emblem. He never gave any reason fol
it's selection; but long afterward it was
said by veteran of the "Old Guard
that the origin of the emblem could not
lie traced beyond the battle of the Pyra-
mids. He added, also, that hardly any
other subject would make the masters
CHEEKY voice tremble, or make the pure,
unclouded brow grave.
The old adage running to the effect
that fortunes grow out of pennies, was
tolerably we'll exemplitied in a matter
that came under our. notice recently.
During the summer of 1860 resident Of
this city drew considerable amount OF
money out of a savings bank, leaving on
deposit a balance of Al cents, although,
had he waited three or four days longer,
ne would have found his account credited
with an additional Sc representing inter
est. One day last week he was overhaul
ing some papers and came across the long
neglected pass-book. A friend who was
present jokingly purchased the book for
ii from its possessor, who hastily figured
up the amount as now amounting to
$3.50. But when the friend allowed him
to repurchase the book aat a trit1ing ad-
vance because the books of the bank
showed that $29.75 was the exact amount
to which he was entitled, his .astonish-
~ o,,t ,>,o,, IN haitian ;,,,o rr;,,ol fhon do