Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-03

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".What, corporal, you here still
Am I then not to be obeyed? Did not
tell you to leave me and join your com
many? Why, if these things are al
lowed, there will soon be no discipline
In the army! If I live you shall be
soundly punished.you shall, on the
word of Capt. Tetu.'
"This persistency of his displeased
me, SO l replied to him more sharply
than I should:
".Ma fol Captain, if you are going to
be so obstinate, Manchot will initiate
you, or he is not a corporal in the Grand
Army. If you stay here, he stays too.
so say no more about it; what I have
said will do
He looked offended, but said moth
mg-poor fellow, for he soon became in
sensible again. Night was now fast
coming on, SO I went and gathered as
many clcaks as I could-alas there
was no scarcity of them-and wrapped
him in them.
"Then sought for something to eat.
SIT was we'll 1 had finished off the
Cossack, for found on him flask of
brandy, which he had evidently taken
from one of our officers, and some
bread.
Returning to the Captain, Ipoured
little spirits down his throat, which re-
vived him then made him eat and
drink, and took some bread and brandy
myself. It was now dark, and there
was nothing for me to do but wait till
morning, to see what that would bring
forth. I knew the rear-guard of the
army was not past, and had some hopes
that we might be picked up by them.
"Never shall forget the fearful hor-
rors of that night. It never ceased to
snow. The cold seemed to pierce into
ones very vitals, and freeze up the mar
row in our bones, and the blood in the
heart. Nothing was to be heard but the
growing Of the wolves and the crashing
OF their jaws, as they gorged themselves
on the plentiful banquet which lay
around. I felt the frost was gradually
mastering me, and that it would soon
numb all my limbs. was certain I
| could not hold out much longer, so, re-
calling the few simple old prayers which
[ had learnt from the good cure when l
was boy, fell on my knees and re-
peated them. This seemed to give me
new strength.
depend upon it, children, there is
nothing Will so revive a man as prayer.
What, young w1scacre, you are snee,ing
at that, are you? You think I am very
foolish, do you? Well, wait till you have
gone through as much as 1 have, and
faced death and danger as often, and
perhaps you will think as I do. By the
time 1 had finished my prayers, morn
ing began to dawn. The snow had
ceased for little. Through the dim
ness OF the early dawn saw group of
French officers at distance. To draw
their attention I shouted as loudly as I
could, and jumped up. They drew
near.
"Halloa! how is this? Why are you
not with the army?' said short, de-
termined looking man, dressed in light
gray overcoat lined with fur.
Yes, young hope of your country,
it was the Emperor! and do not expect
France will ever give you such Gen
eral to fight under. It was the Emperor,
| but did not know it. He was the last
man should have expected to see there,
so replied:
Why am I not with the army?
Look here, pointing to the Captain and
my arm, with tins more, and this
less, how could I be? I wish with
all my heart I was there instead OF
here
"'Sire.' All! then I knew it was the
Emperor, that brayest of the brave, that
trlest of the true. that wisest of the
wise. I did not know what to do or
say, so gave him the salute as well as
my benumbed and stiHened limbs would
allow. Sire, said one of the suit, Il
saw this man yesterday carrying an Off
Ger on his back
"' Is it so, corporal?'
"sSire, my General, what could
do? The Captain could not walk he
fell down. Was to leave him to die, or
to be murdered by those towards oil
Cossacks ? know it was wrong, and /
did it in spite of his orders-he was
very angry with me; but I could not
help it, SO I tried to carry him. The
Cossacks rode over me and broke my
arm; could do no more. Pardon me,
Sire
"'The Emperor smiled; yes, my
children, he smiled (here the veterans
eyes glowed with honest pride at the re-
Interchangeable smiled at me, Corporal
Manchot, and. taking huge pinch OF
snuff, said:
"'I 1t is well, very well, my brave fell
ow'-that to me, yes, to me who now
stand before you-sit is well, very we'll,
my brave fellow these were his very
words; as I heard them, I forgot my
cold, my hunger and the pain of my arm.
See here, this is for you with
that he opened his coat, took from his
breast the cross, and pinned it on mine.
Oh, what joy! what ecstasy! what
pride Decorated and with the EN-
peror's own cross
"He then called to Dayo7st, and or.
dered that l and the stiil-insensible
Captain should be carried forward in his
own wagon. So escaped from the hor.
rors Of that retreat from Russia-but
lot from the punishment the Captain
had threatened me with. As soon as
he found that he and I were safe with
our regiment, he placed me under ar
rest for fourteen days, for what, he said,
had been gross breach of discipline.
All ! be always fulfilled his promise, did
Capt. Tetu-he is General now.
"What he had done to me was told
| L