Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-08-15
NAPOLEON'S FLOWER
WY rns VIOLET CANE TO BE M
EMBLEM or GOOD FORTUNE.

4 no..,sie Narrative of How ~ AsA -
n..s,,v Came 10 He Chosen - hrtsx of-
Ar Ors Of cAaes In shs FrsssA Rspsshs.
ne vielss's Part.
n ia France in iToA The month y MAY.
s,3 mother nature has just awakened rom
heir winters sleep the flowers. the ioSeir
=, ~ her children. After such storm -
h;s,ory seldom records the last waves OF
The revolution are sullenly beating upon
me land of the Burgundy rose and Bour>
-, Elv pa Quick combination OF the
IA r,ya,;sts and Jacobins the new conven-
sion al Paris. though preferred by the PEG
ME IA likely TO be beaten by the mob. The
8; wsrls ~ the city on the Seine are ahlaxe
with nassion. The women who dippeu
,hs;r ban,ik.rehiefs in the blood that squirt
ed under the knife Of the guiliotine wnen
the last Of the unbroken line OF tne iouases
died in the Place OF Peace are nun OF sas
acery of the ancient days, anu hoehins gu.
the red s,rcam flowing anew can qaeoen
their mad thirst The convention Is IN -
sion. Ii is awed by the old royaiiss s1"''e~
and the newer national guards
One commander after another mas gone
over either in person or spirit 70 the enc
mics Of peace. Barras, who leads tine con
vention, is alert and ready, fuii OF the tsr
rility Of expedients that characterizes uae
Latin race. but he can see no nope Inc
republic is lost. and mighty France whose
traditions of honor and glory ior 'nou
sand wears have had one unbroken line IN
history, is to lose her place among tne ma
riops at last, for who shall be her dellverer
Leu Of hssr
ural children
The shadows Of the soft May DAY were
growing longer when Barras, the peopie >
champion. left the heated hall OF the con
veutiou Tor a little rest and thought, ana
his steps led him to the salon OF woman
famous in those days, for she was oeauti-
tul. we'll born aud patriotic, whom ne Ten
derby loved. She WAS alone, ana together
they spoke of the nations danger, OF 'hs
fear which filled each heart that the life OF
the republic might soon run out IN stream
Of blood.
There is no longer leader among US
chere annie" said the great statesman aud
orator whose fervor and passion had SO
touched the peoples hearts The end has
come"
Never despair. Perhaps the good God
may help u.s." softly replied the gracious
woman who was SO dear to hin--a wolhan
to fill the ideal of such a man rs her lover
was; a woman brave with sweet heroism,
tender and true,
Bah, that good Godl He is long In
coming" said Barras. He had learned his
theology from the great orator OF the
mountain, who died saying, sprinkle me
with perfumes and crown me with flowers,
for deall is but an eternal sleep"
Nay, believe it not, mon ami. she soft
ty whispered, help will come"
"And you say you have no leaderf" she
spoke after long silence in a musing
way, thinking aloud. who are yo,.. com
manders, them Where is that droll little
man you presented to me at Nine. dc
Staers the other EVENING" He seemed To
have brains and courage, too. that little
Corsican."
''Pariie," said Barras, springing into
new life. Belle annie, YOU have given ms
IA thought that may yet save france!'
They talked very seriously for IA few min
utes, and he returned to the convention
tull Of a new hope But before he left tbs
salon he had written a little note addressed
to "The general Of the brigade, Napoleon
Buonaparte' twho spelled his name thus
until after his coronation as emperor), pray
ng his immediate presence at the conven'
zion, and Il trtlsty servant was charged ia
deliver il personally into NJ. Buonaparte's
hands and hot to fail.
II have sent for you, NJ. Buonaparte,"
aid Barr.,s an hour later to the small, pale
aced man with whom he was earnestly
alkig, because you are our last hope,
nd will now present you to the conven-
ion"
Can YOU restore peace and orderf" said
he president TO the young man before him
The members looked curiously on and lis
ened,
so France has come to this" whispered
,ue graybcard to his neighbor, that hen
fe and fate lie in the hands of a youth oil
." (who looked even less than his age,
only feet inches in stature, with haiI
ombed low ON his brow like a woman's
'arceur var
Il am perfectly aware of the diiliculties
II the path, but am accustomed to sue
'esd." sad the young man, speaking with
strong italian or rather Corsican, accent.
But one thing | must insist upon. 1t i,
that am not to be embarrassed by orders
must have supreme command. That IL
H."
And. bowling low to the peoples repre-
,entative, the little, pale man, but ) feet
n stature, with gray brown eyes and
BANGED hair, left the hall, and the conven
ion with closed doors proceeded to con
.ider his proposition.
As Buonaparte left the hall Barras fol
owed him for last word Go to your
CONS and remain there" said the polt
ian in quick speech to the young officer,
and will send you the result AS soon "a
possible"
at must beall or nothing" answered the
nther
Just then "A flower girl came up to them
with her basket full Of fragrant violets, and
.,arras bought u bouquet for the woman be
loved The little mans eyes softened
They always remind me somehow OF
lGme," he murmured alphabetically az he
gave the seller sou and took tiny bou
tuet. A thought struck Barias.
Go To the salon of Mime. =" said he,
and remain there until 10. II succeed
lor you. she will send you violet"
The young officer went as he WAS told. II
vas early, hours before the time of recep
ion. but he was admitted. The salon was
.mpty Alone the young Corsican paced
he spacious room. 1t was I. then half past,
hen 5. AT last the clock in the hall began
tosirike off 8. As its chimes ceased serv
tut entered the room with a billet.
For the General Buonaparte, from Nine
=" said the man rs he withdrew.
Rather listlessly Buonaparte opened it.
and, lol it contained only--a violet
How the young man crushed out the mob
n awful slaughter with cannon volleys;
how 10 years thereafter, having changed the
map Of Europe, when he assumed the I'M
perial purple, his coronal robe was embroid
cred in vioiets, and how II years later the
sun of Austerlitz went down forever in the
clouds of battle smoke that hung heavy
over the plain OF Waterloo-all this is his
Tory, But from the hour of his first glory
until the last the violet was the flower the
mighty Corsican loved best Of all. 1t had
told him first Of his coming rcnown; it was
the only flower that ever bloomed at ST.
Helena over his lonely grave. -- Chicag.
Post.