Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-06-10
THE LEAD SOLDIER.

It was a little before the revolution.
At Brienne, attending tho military
school, was a young man who amused
himself in the evenings by drilling lead
foot soldiers. Everybody laughed at
him, but, regardless Of their mockery,
he took great delight in reviewing his
soldiers when ready Tor battle, and, ra-
diant, led them to imaginary victories.
His schoolmates called him fool aud
enthusiast. He listened to them with
his large, dreamy eyes opened wide,
and, smiling, continued to direct his
diminutiye army.
This was his sole enjoyment. More
earnest than the others, he worked all
day, even during the hour Of recreation.
When evening came, as recreation no
took the little soldiers from their boxes,
and, talking to them as be would 10
human beings, he reviewed them.
One evening, after having worked
harder han usual, the young man sat
listlessly drilling his soldiers. He was
evidently tired. AS be leaned on the
table be saw one Of his lead soldiers
turn toward u comrade and say these
words:
ut seems to mo that tho emperor is
very tired tonight"
The young man started. He rubbed
his eyes. believing IL to be- a dream but
no, ne was wide awake.
"This is, thought he, "a halluoiua-
ton"
And be put his soldiers, enc by one,
into their boyes.
When the boxes were closed, he made
his way to his bed. He was about TO re-
tire when he heard behind him q tiny
voice murmur:
1.-The emperor is very tired tonight.
He turned around, but saw he was
alone.
Vaguely frightened lie said the three
words:
"Who has spoken?"
81" murnnred q li:tle voice.
"Who are you?"
~ have no name. l am q very little
lead soldier"
The frightened young man looked at
the boxes of soldiers scattered about on
the table and distinctly saw that one Of
the covers vas moving.
He approached tho table and spied
one Ct the soldiers standing upright on
a comrado and looking at him as ho
made a military bow. Then the young
fellow threw himself on his bed, wish
ing 70 see or hear no more. He thought
be was going crazy.
A few years later this young man was
made captain of the artillery.
At Toulon he fought the English,
distinguishing himself as Il Of the
bravest, astonishing his troops by his
daring and his science, amazing his su-
periors by his courage and his unfailing
designs. After several weeks Toulon
was taken. The victorious army entered
tho city, and for the first time since the
campaign the young captain fell into a
deep sleep.
He who always slept armed, he who
awakened at the slightest noise, slept
like thisy 1t was because no knew his
work was accomplished; he had the
right to take a moments rest. During
Anb nlkub hb hlNaAl1h Nnab hb was az
Brienne, playing with his little lead
soldiers, and he distinctly saw ono of
them salute him in a military style and
say:
"The emperor Is very tired tonight. F"
The captain awoke, and, rubbing his
eyes, saw that it was broad daylight.
He arose, dressed and went out, dream
lily murmuring:
emperor, emperorl Might it not be
possible2 Does tho little lead soldier
speak truly?"
Then he heard q tiny voice murmur
at his side:
1.-THE little lead soldier cannot DO de-
ceived."
He turned in the direction whence
came tho voice and saw, perched on O
pebble, a tiny lead soldier saluting and
looking ut him steadily.
In the next instant the apparition
vanished.
The pupil at Brienne, the captain at
Toulon, Napoleon Bonaparte, is EN-.
perUr. He has been crowned this very
morning, and this evening he received
the ambassadors Of other nations and
the generals of tho armies. He is ex.
hausted.
Adjoining his superb reception room
Is a small cell furnished with a camp
bed and one chair.
Disdaining the grand bed of state, be
retires to his cell. There, at least, he
can sleep.
He falls asleep.
And now in a dream no sees his lead
soldier Of old. who again
1.-THE emperor is very tired tonight. +"
The emperor starts. Then no asks;
"Who spoken
~, says q weak voice.
"Who are you?'
81 have no name. l Am a tiny lead
soldier"
The emperor reflects a moment. then
suddenly says;
"You have no name. Do you wanl
one?"
81 q indeed, sire"
UVoru wall. Won ahan ho calleC