Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-10-02
THE BOATMAN's DAUGHTER.
An Incident in the Napoleonic Wa
Chicago Ledger.

Chicago Ledger.
In the memorable year Of 1914, when
the allied armies were concentrated
about Paris, young lieutenant of dra-
goons was engaged with three or four
Hungarians, who, after having received
several smart strokes from bis sabre,
managed to send ball Into his shout
der. to pierce his chest with a thrust
from lance, and to leave him for dead
on the bank of the river.
On the opposite side of the stream, a
boatman and his daughter had been
watching this unequal fight with tears
of desperation. But what could an old
unarmed man do, or pretty girl of six
teen? However, the old soldier-for
such the boatman was-haA no sooner
seen the officer fall from his horse than
he and his daughter rowed most vigor.
onsly for the other side. Then, when
they had deposited the wounded man in
the boat. these worthy people crossed
the river again, but with faint hopes Of
reaching the military hospital in time.
"You have been very hardly treated,
my boy" said the old guardsmsn ia
him; "but here am l, who have gone
farther still, and come home"
The silent and fixed attitude of Lien.
tenant 5. showed the extreme agony OF
dis pains and the hardy boatman soon
discovered that the blood which was
flowing internally from the wound on
his left side would shortly terminate his
existence. He turned to his youthful
daughter:
"Msry," he said, you have heard ne
tell of my brother; ne died of just sucl,
another wound as this here. Well, now,
had there only been somebody by to
suck the hurt, his life would have been
saved.'
The boatman then landed, and went
to look for two or three soldiers to helm
him carry the officer, leaving bis daught-
er in charge of him. The girl looked at
the sufferer for a second or two. What
was her emotion when she heard him
sigh so deeply, not that he was resign.
ing life in the first flower of his age, but
that he should die without a mothers
kiss.
"My mother! my dear, dear mother!n
said he, II die without
Her wUman's heart told her what he
would have said. Her bosom hpaved
with sympathy, and her eyes ran over.
Then she remembered what her father
had said she thought how her unce1
life might have been saved. In an in.
slant quicker than Thought. she tore
open the officers coat, and the generous
girl recalled him to life with her lips
Amid this holy occupation the sound
of footsteps was heard, and the blnshiny
heroine fled to the other end of the
boat. Judge of her fathers surprise, a.
he came up with the two soldiers, when
he saw Lieut.. s., whom he expected to
find dead, open his eyes and ask for his
del'verer. u
The boatman looked at his child, and
saw it all. The poor girl came TO him
with her head bent down. She was abou,
to excuse herself when the father, en-.
braciug her with enthusiasm, raised hel
spirits, and the officer thanked her in
these prophetic words:
"You have saved NY life it belongs
to YOU"
After this she attended to him and
became his nurse; nothing would he
take but from her hand. No wonder
that with such nurse lie at length re-.
covered. Mary was as pretty AS she
was good.
Meanwhile, Master Cupid, who is very
busy in such cases, gave him anothe,
wound, and there was only one way to
cure it-so very deep it was.
The boatman's daughter became Mad.
| anne S.
Her husband rose to be Lieutenant
General, and the boatman's daughte,
became as elegant and graceful as any
lady OF the court of Louis Philippe.