The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-10-03

THE rARIE LOUISA STORY OF NAPoLEoNS TINE


was. a question of Ia patrie. the lard
of their birth. The people were new
called uponto defend their.own hearth-
stones from invasion,
The emperor called again or tlle
homes he had already -d1solated- In
this supreme hour he did not. call for
the. men only; he. demanded. the chlk-
dren. ; g.:
One who has. not been through it
can. scarcely Judge. the grief of these
mothers, who saw wrencred from their
arms the young sons they had Thought
safe from all danger. The emotion OF
jeans mother was intense She felt
poor woman, that the child was already
doomsd 10 death-that her her best be-
loved. must fail as her elder sons
had fallen, and she gave herself up
to hysterica1. 'Weepings not .unmiNed
with anger and Indignation.
what will become of me when they
have killed him2F' she asked. wringing
her hands. 81 shall be turned upon
the highway to beg. and shall: die ;in
my turn of want and miseEy}"'
Mother, responded the .boyt you
forget that you. still have my sister.
Jeanne, who. Will aid you and consele
you. - :.
Your sister2 She is. unirappily. too !.
frail 10 gain living for us both II
is you that 1 wish. They have no
right to take all. my sons 1t IS TOO.
frightful- 1 shall revolt IN the end
The heart. of the brate little fellow
was torn with. grief. 1t cost him a
severe effort to abandon his poor
mother. but on the. other hand,-i was
a question OF honor. and honor de-
manded that he. join immediately the
regiment to which he had been as
signed-unless he wished to- be called
a coward-and worse, e.
1t was then that his sister. Jeanne,
noble. high minded girl, full OF eoar'-.
age and energy. and who adored her
twin brother with as much fervor as
did her mother. had. a. sublime idea.
1t was beautiful in it's simplicity. There
was no bravadO in THIS girl; she
DereIy wished to save her brother
from the danger OF war and thus pre-
vent the ravishment OF his mothers
heart.
She did not communicate her project
to any one; patiently awaiting the
moment when she would be able to
put it into execution.
Like the majority Of twins. thfs
brother and sister resemhled each 9TH
er; they had the same clear. limpia
eyes, the same brow. the same mouth
that of Jean being little the larger
perhaps-and the long tresses of the
girl were blonde. almost ash colored;
they matched perfectly the closely
cropped locks OF the future soldier.
The evening preceding the departure
Of the conscrfpt. Jeanne arose. noise-
lessly. With a few ships OF the scis-
sors she let fall without regret. with
out a tear, her beautiful hair; and while
her brother still slept, she dressed in
his clothes, his blouse and his cap. She
gently embraced her mother. before de-
parting. The latter slept heavily after
her long hours of insomnia and an
guish. Then, at daybreak, after leav
ing little note of adieu, explaining
of for the next town. where she val
iantIy presented herself to- the recruit
ing officer in place OF her twin brother.
In the midst of an ARMY OF half
grown boys. the majority of them as
frail and as beardless as she. .Jeanne's
generous subterfuge passed upper
ceived.
a few hours later she was formally
enlisted, and she put on the. blue coat
and white. .pantaloons of the grenadiers.
1t was at the battle OF MOntmiraiI
that the young girl. who had become a
finished trooper. saw the firing lire for
the first time-and it proved the last
alas
The young recruits" instinctively
lowered their heads as the balls whis-
tied by. and a certain unevenness was
noticed in their ranks.
"Ah, nCw." cried their captain. some
what OF d grumbler, you salute the
. uuitlS, 90 YOU you idSBdruS-
They were not afraid-these brave
little soldiers-children the evening
before-herOes today They. did their
duty; more than their duty indeed.
for when night came-ah. we'll.
The emperor walked across the bat
tleheld bowed in melancholy meditation
and surveyed the fallen ranks Of these
valiant conscripts. who had died rather
than retreat; and he exclaimed. with
out attempting to conceal his emo
tion:
What would / not give IL I had
enough of these children,"
In removing the dead they found
under a heap of bodies. a poor little
soldier, his breast pinned by Prussian
bayonets. An expression OF resignation
and pride was stamped on his face. pale
and Juvenile. They learned that this
soldier was wOman-a veritable
Marie Louise"
1t was thus that Jeanne perished.
the heroic little Berrichon peasant maid,
who gave her life to her country TO
save that of her brother.
Humble sister Of Jeanne dare. OF
Jeanne Hachette, we salute thee,