The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-06-01
THE JUGGLER.

republic, Josephine lived at her Castle
Malmaison, where every evening Napo-
leon came to visit her.
One day she was dining quite alone at
Malmaison, and while the dessert was
being served a man was admitted. He
was about 80 years old. While jugglers
and magicians have lively appearance,
this mans features were deeply earnest.
He carried little table, which he placed
before Josephine, and covered it with a
worn cloth. After these preparations
he drew out three tin cups, with which
he executed all kinds Of jugglery. The
balls quadrupled themselves under his
fingers and formed all kinds Of figures
and grotesque forms, only to disappear
again In twinkling. Like the musical
composers, the magician also has his
overture before he unfolds the panorama
to the eyes Of the audience. After this
he touched the magic cups with a stick
of ebony and said: Madame, you may
express any wish and it shall be fulfilled.
l regret very much that you have fin
ished your meal, else l could have
brought you dishes which were wanting
on your table todaY-the red feather of
the Mediterranean, sardines of Royan or
the little silver fish caught in the vicinity
in which madam was borne-for the great
welfare Of France. Madame, you may
order whatever your heart wishes. Do
you wish spotless diamond or grass
hy on the heather, an Oriental ruby or a
nightingale" This man, who placed all
the wealth Of nature at Josephines dis
posal, seemed to wish that she might de-
eide upon the nightingale, for he put his
ear to tho cup and it almost seemed as if
he heard the melting tones Of the singer
of spring. Josephine, whose desires,
however, were modest, and who pre-
ferred bunch of flowers to diamond,
selected neither diamond nor ruby
nor nightingale, but rose. She had
scarcely spoken the word when the Jug
gler upset the cup and showed the aston
ished lockers on q rose, which bent
gracefully on its stem and filed the room
with sweet fragrance.
"My goodness" said Josephine, "you
have cut the prettiest rose in our conser-
vatory, the rose which intended giving
Bonaparte tomorrow. It would have
unfolded during the night"
"Beg pardon, madame" replied the
juggler politely, "this rose belongs tc
me and have the honor to present it tc
the wife Of the first consul; I would
never dare to touch her flowers and
have never been in her conservatory"
Josephine sent q servant to investigate
the truth of this assertion and was told
that the rose which was destined for the
first consul was unhurt. Incredulous
as a creole she could not hide her ad
miration, and, In fact, 1t was impossible
to embarrass the man who was so enter
tanning and wonder creating. He mag
ically drew out Of his pocket swarm o.
singing birds which picked up tn,
crumbs; thea he filled a tumbler will
water and as quickly as he would upse
it numberless flowers flowed upon thu
persons around, and Josephine imagined
herself In her conservatory.
When the wonders had reached theil
highest degree Josephine reached for tn,
armchair, in order to give some golC
pieces to the juggler. When the juggle
noticed this he fell down at her feet, say
ing: Madame, you can reward me |
hundred times for this little pleasure tina
have given you, but not In money
mercy, madame, mercy"
"WhichY" she asked.
The wonderful man begged her thel
to eat one Of the apples which were OIL
her table. Josephine stretched out he
hand for one and placed her knife on
with the determination of woman pre-
pared for surprise. Mother Eve surel.
did not reach for the apple with sucl
longing which caused such misery to he
descendants as Josephine. She Gu
through the apple and found inside a pc
| tition to the first consul.
Madame" said the juggler, "befor
you is an unlucky one, who has mikes
in the Quarrels of the kings, and ha
taken part in the wars against the repuh
| lie. l have fought in the Vendee with
Cocarde, which is no more that Of m,
country, and when the party which
served was defeated took flight, to liv
in strange land. My country drove m
out as traitor. Branded like Cain,
wandered about; my name Is crosses
from the list of citizens and put on th
emigrant roll. A word from your lips
madame, can make Frenchman OF M
again and give me back to my OWL
You, the adored wife of the first consul
have the power to give me back to m
country and to my own"
"Sir," she said to the emigrant, "I wi
do as you wish. The consul shall rea
your petition and assure you that / wi
do everything can In your favor"
The iuggler arose, put his cups into b
pocket, his table under his arm, bowe
deeply and disappeared.
Josephine, inclined to be superstition
could not see the enemy Of her husban
In this juggler. She believed in h
magical power, which would be Of us
to the emperor, and made up her min
to use all influence in her power wit
Napoleon to intercecs for this man. tn
following morning at 9 O'Clock Bonapart
breakfasted in the dining room OF tn
Palace Malmaisoni thsy were getting h
carriage ready in the court yard OF til
palace when Josephine entered.
"What did you do yesterday, dea
Josephine'" asked Bonaparte. "Who hi
visited your"
81 have been well entertained; II 20
will dine with me today have plea
ant surprise in store for you. Which r
minds me, do have this name crosse
from the emigrant list" With thes
words she handed him the petition of Il
magician.
"a Chonanl" said Napoleon after I
/. had read the petition. "One Of the fsna
ical followers of Charente's and Laroch
Jaquelin's; one OF the people who but
: short time ago followed the armies Of Il
republic TO murder the scattered soldier
and finish the dying. Marcel Mare
who comes from England, who secret
landed on our coast. probably to fulfi
Pitts shameless plan, brandishing the
torch lights over the still weltering battl