The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-04-29
THE Lille LEAD SOLDIER,


when ready for battle. and, radiant, led
them to imaginary victories.
His schoolmates called him fool and
enthusiast. J He listened to them with
his large, dreamy eyes opened wide, and
| smiling, continued to direct his diminu-
| tive army.
This was his sole enjoyment. More
| earnest than the others, he worked I'll
day, even during the hour of recreation.
When evening came, as recreation he
took the little soldiers from their boxes,
| and, talking to them as he would to hui
man beings, he reviewed them.
One evening, after having worked hard
e 1a than a,; usual the young man sat list
IDENTIFY tired. AS he leaned on the table,
he saw one Of the lead soldiers turn to-
ward Il comrade and say these words:
ut seems to me that the Emperor is
| very tired tonight
The young man started He rubbed
his eyes, believing it to be dream; but
no, he was wide awake.
This isl thought he, "a hallucina-
| ton"
And he put his soldiers, one by one,
into their boxes.
When the boxes were closed, he made
| his way to his bed. He was about to re-
| tire, when he heard behind him a tiny
| voice murmur:
1.-The Emperor is very tired tonight"
He turned around, but saw he was
alone.
Vaguely frightened, he said the three
words:
''Who has spoken?'
Il" murmured little voice.
'Who are your
Il have no name. Il am 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 was moving.
He approached the table and spied one
of the soldiers standing upright on IL
comrade and looking ut him as he made
a military bow. Then the young fellow
threw himself on his bed, wishing to see
or hear no more. He thought he was
going crazy.
A few years later this young man was
| made captain Of the artillery.
At Toulon he fought the English, dis
tinguishing himself as one of the BRAY
est: astonishing his troops by his daring
| and his science, amazing his superiors by
his courage and unfailing designs. After
several weeks Toulon was taken. The
victorious army entered the city, and, for
the first time since the campaign, the
young captain fell into a deep sleep.
lie, who always slept armed, he, who
awakened at the slightest noise, slept
like this! 1t was because he knew his
work was accomplished; he had the right
to take a moments rest During the
night he dreamed that he was at Brienne.
| playing with his little lead soldiers; and
he distinctly saw one of them salute him
Ill military style and say:
1.-The Emperor is very tired tonight
The captain awoke, and. rubbing his
eyes, saw that it was broad daylight He
arose, dressed and went out, dreamily
murmuring:
Emperor! Emperor! Might it not be
| speak truly ?' '
Then he heard a tiny voice murmur at
| his side:
''The little lead soldier cannot be de-
ceiyed"
He turned in the direction whence
came the voice and saw, perched on a
| looking at him steadily.
In the next instant the apparition van.
ished.
y
The pupil at Brienne, the captain at
| Ioulon, Napoleon Bonaparte, is emperor.
He. has been crowned this very morning
and this evening he received the am
bassadors of other nations and the gen
erals of the armies. He is exhausted,
Adjoining his superb reception room is
| small cell furnished with u camD he'd
| and one chair.
pisdaining the grand bed of state he
| retires to his cell. There, at least, he can
| sleep.
He falls asleep.
| And now in a dream he sees his lead
| soldier of old, who again murmurs:
The Emperoris very tired tonight
The Emperor starts. Then he asks:
Who spoken
r., says weak voice.
who are yOu?'
| Il have no name; l am tiny lead SOL
| dier.'
The Emperor reflects a moment. then
suddenly says:
You have no name. Do you want
one"'
( Il do, indeed, SIRE"
VERY we'll: you shall be called
! L'Etoile."
Good, sire; what shall I be?'
| You will be a soldier in my old guard"
| .! am pleased, sire, but what am to
''What are you to do?"
After a moments reflection the Emperor
"Fight, but say nothing"
| Sire, replies the lead soldier 81 will
hight and never speak. But wish to
warn you that, when about to die, I
snail speak once more, but for the last
I time. And shall say to you what /
have always. said: The Emperor is very
tired tonight When shall have said
| that l will be at the point of death and
you about to be vanquished.'' -,
The soldier ceased speaking. The EN-
peror slept on, but dreamed no more.
|
A few days after, while reviewing his
old guard the Emperor remarked new
recruit. He wondered, and asked who
! the soldier was. -..s.. =: .s-a ID -. q
! why, you know him, sire; he brought
me line signed by your hand begging
me to accept him in my regiment
soldier. = - - =
$50 you are called Il Etoile?''
| The soldier bowed his head as though
to say yes. - ~: =.
''Why do You not say yes? You can
speak, =. 81 =: - - =. -.
The soldier shook his head, meaning
no. The Emperor remembered, and, as
| if dreaming, murnured: ~.
You are mute .s,4% NJ ~
| The soldier bowed his head yes. And
asked himself Il he were not dreaming oe
! "sE5* = 5s% y %e - r.
| . lie SOiuler. EtOlle, fought like a
lion on the ba ttlefields. He could never
be an officer, but he was made a cheya-
lier of the Order Of the Legion Of Honor,
and never was a cross more deservefllyj
worn. Every time the Emperor passed
hin, he would say: z:s $50 81 rs
"Good day.. I'EtOile..
And he would continue his way, han
| by to sec r. Etoile still dumb, for he re-.
membered the words of the little lead
soldier: s. s u SO
When l shall speak / shall be Al the.
point of death and you about to be van
|quished s.=s @
After victory, then defeat. NJ
The Emperor haves for the island of
/ Elba. He takes u Etoile with HIM:
/ IL Etoile is always mute. 5s.
The Emperor thinks Of returning to
1 France. He returns. He has hardly