The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-01-16
A SOLDIERS VALOR.
by HANSON CHIswELL, JR.

In little town in Fraho6sFe call
1t Morges, although that was not its
name, lived little fat round faced fel
low; man of comfortable circumstances
and who followed law as an occupation,
though he rarely had case, and rarely
won one.
He was neat in his attire to an exact
ness that approached foppery.
lie had Que ruling passion.
He imagined he resembled the great
Napoleon. To make the remark in his
presence that you noticed in his features
resemblance to that of this wonderful
man of destiny would entitle YOU to a
good dinner, good cigar, champagne
and myriad of dry uninteresting
stories with neither point nor merit.
So great had this idea of Napoleonicre
sembance grown in his mind that he
even had pictures of all kinds of that
great warrior paced around his room.
Above the bed, the fire places and in
every available place was the immovable,
quiet and thoughtful face of Frances
greatest ruler; and besides each face was
that of our friend .8pd d.her6, Bonlfonime,
twho, by the way, we forgot to intro
duce.) lie even bought uniforms sim 81
liar to the ones in the pictures of Rona
parte, and inclined his head in the same
manner to make the resemblance more
complete. lie even at one time borrowed
q white horse from his friend Iefrere,
the livery man, which he mounted and
with drawn sword pointed toward the
heavens, stood for three mortal hours in
order to allow the village sign painter to
make a picture, (which for all the
world" looked like David's great paint
ing 9t Napoleon crossing the Alps. On
'an1ihefs oeoasionE he purchased agray
oyercoat, and hiring an artist went TO
eigbbofingehili, where he stood with
MS legs spraddled out and hands behind
him, representing Napoleon at Wagram.
All the pictures were framed and dis
played to his visitors.
And his conversation When not tell
ing a pointless story or a tale of warfare.
went something like this:
II take pride in my resemblance, for
you know that the most learned physio-
logists and physiogomists say that man
who resembles great man in person to
an extreme, partakes of his qualities.
Now. ! am very warlike in my nature,
just like Napoleon.' (And by the way,
though called colonel, he had never wit
messed the shedding of blood-he had
never seen n sheep slaughtered, much
less the dcstluction of human be-
ing on a battle feld) II feel that,
like him, could conquer nations with
a handful of men,
lie would become excited, his veins
swell and he would grasp from a musty
case in the wall, an ancient sword and
slash around with such fury and vehem-
ence that his visitor would form the
opinion that no man on earth equaled in
courage the bravery of our hero Boa
homme.
Now we must tell you that our Napo-
leonlc hero loved village lass: one with
beautiful hair and rapturous eyes that
the whole village loved, of course, named
Marie Clarin. He told her, as he did
his intimate friends, that he thirsted for
WARRIOR glory-for fame-that he might
place her along with himself on the
throne with the tri-color and ieur-de lis
triumphantly above them. Let me tell
you again, that this same rapturous eyed
maiden was not impressed with the nu-
merous charms of our hero and although
advised by her father, Scared veteran
pers silently refused. The truth was she
loved curly headed, mischievious fell
low, named Maurice Rockfort, whom
everybody said would come to a bad
end Maurice was no hero, but he loved
Marie.
"What' War War, did you say!"
was echoed through the little town of
Morges ly hurrying and excited people.
Wari
The guns of Germany were leveled at
France, and in return the war drums
throbbed and vibrated, battle flags were
unfurled and the nation caught its
breath as it gazed at the overhanging
clouds.
In Morges the lame town crier with a
drum, a stalwart youth with fife, an old
veteran with tattered flag of Napoleons S
days and a horde of youngsters trooping
In the dust, called the people of Morges
TO arms.
But two days past, and the little town
had furnished her quota OF men for the
army. They were ordered to the front.
Do you know the excitement war causes
If you have seen the falling tears and
know the heartaches, and have witnessed
the partings, and felt the deep grief of
those that kissed and even felt, as the
warmth died on their lips that it might
be the last loving remembrance of life
you would then know what war is-your
life behind, the fields untitled and har-
vests ungarnered and women made men
bV VOur absence