-
Articles/Ads
Article THE MASTER'S APRON.—A TALE.† ← Page 6 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Master's Apron.—A Tale.†
Emperor , but he was au Englishman . The widow answered not , but her beautiful eyes , which were still filled with tears , were turned towards the portrait of her husband . " That is not all , " continued the Major calmly ; " I have a son , a handsome boy . You know him , Mrs . Mathiew ; he came here to your house eight or ten days ago , and purchased a snapper for his whip ; I sent him to Paris to marry Miss Julia , your daughterancl the child of the brave captain . "
, Mrs . Mathiew , believing that she could not have been chosen as an object of pleasantry , thought at least that she was exposed to tbe persecutions of a fool . Notwithstanding , as the Major appeared to be in earnest , she said , with mildness ancl downcast eyes , that it was impossible for her to accept the double honour with which he wished to load her .
"You refuse to comply with my request ! " exclaimed the Major ; " you refuse ! I expected it . Rest assured , madam , that I will not leave this house without your promise to accept my offer . ' " "But , sir . " " I asked you to listen to me , " said the Major , grasping the widow ' s hand ; "listen to me . I am going to speak to you about your husband . I had the honour of being at Waterloo . You need not suppose that I am going to give you a full history of the battle . I must nowhowever
, , speak of the episode , which is the most painful for you . The French were beaten . Those that were not dead or wounded took to fli ght , except at the extremity of the field of battle . I could perceive from an elevation on which I was stationed with my regiment , about twenty grenadiers of the young French guards , who still maintained their ground , and who , in expiring , dealt death and destruction on the five hundred Prussians that surrounded them . I went immediately to
disengage them ; for if war , Madam , has any attractions for courageous men , it is when the chances are almost equal , and not when the conqueror abuses his victory by slaughtering his equals , when they are unable to defend themselves . I came up to the Frenchmen , put a stop to the firing , aud was about protecting the retreat of those brave men .
when a ball , fired but a short distance from me , struck their chief , who fell into my arms . 'It had pierced his chest . That chief was the brave Captain Mathiew—it was your husband . I had him brought into my tent , and delivered him into the hands of my friend , an experienced surgeon . I had for a moment the hope of saving him . He , however , had no hope of recovery . " "' Major , " said he ; ' Major , your name ?'
" I told him my name . We were alone ; the surgeon left us to see the others that were wounded , and in leaving us , he made a sign by which I understood that he entertained no hope for his patient . Your husband said to me— ' 1 die unhappy , because I do not die altogethermy wife , my child . ' ' Captain , ' answered I , ' I will take care of them , I am rich . ' He looked at me for a moment . ' You are not an Englishman ? ' said he . ' 1 ammy friendone of the truest sons of old
, , England . Die in peace . I say to you again , I will take charge of your wife and child . ' ' Well then ! ' said he , ' you are a Mason ?' S . " ' And you ? ' He gave me the sacred sign by which the Masons of the two hemisphere recognise one another . I seized his band , and kissed it . Then the vanquished of Waterloo , the son of France , the faithful servant of the great Napoleon , unbuttoned his shirt , which was covered with blood , and drew from a small wallet placed on his breast ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Master's Apron.—A Tale.†
Emperor , but he was au Englishman . The widow answered not , but her beautiful eyes , which were still filled with tears , were turned towards the portrait of her husband . " That is not all , " continued the Major calmly ; " I have a son , a handsome boy . You know him , Mrs . Mathiew ; he came here to your house eight or ten days ago , and purchased a snapper for his whip ; I sent him to Paris to marry Miss Julia , your daughterancl the child of the brave captain . "
, Mrs . Mathiew , believing that she could not have been chosen as an object of pleasantry , thought at least that she was exposed to tbe persecutions of a fool . Notwithstanding , as the Major appeared to be in earnest , she said , with mildness ancl downcast eyes , that it was impossible for her to accept the double honour with which he wished to load her .
"You refuse to comply with my request ! " exclaimed the Major ; " you refuse ! I expected it . Rest assured , madam , that I will not leave this house without your promise to accept my offer . ' " "But , sir . " " I asked you to listen to me , " said the Major , grasping the widow ' s hand ; "listen to me . I am going to speak to you about your husband . I had the honour of being at Waterloo . You need not suppose that I am going to give you a full history of the battle . I must nowhowever
, , speak of the episode , which is the most painful for you . The French were beaten . Those that were not dead or wounded took to fli ght , except at the extremity of the field of battle . I could perceive from an elevation on which I was stationed with my regiment , about twenty grenadiers of the young French guards , who still maintained their ground , and who , in expiring , dealt death and destruction on the five hundred Prussians that surrounded them . I went immediately to
disengage them ; for if war , Madam , has any attractions for courageous men , it is when the chances are almost equal , and not when the conqueror abuses his victory by slaughtering his equals , when they are unable to defend themselves . I came up to the Frenchmen , put a stop to the firing , aud was about protecting the retreat of those brave men .
when a ball , fired but a short distance from me , struck their chief , who fell into my arms . 'It had pierced his chest . That chief was the brave Captain Mathiew—it was your husband . I had him brought into my tent , and delivered him into the hands of my friend , an experienced surgeon . I had for a moment the hope of saving him . He , however , had no hope of recovery . " "' Major , " said he ; ' Major , your name ?'
" I told him my name . We were alone ; the surgeon left us to see the others that were wounded , and in leaving us , he made a sign by which I understood that he entertained no hope for his patient . Your husband said to me— ' 1 die unhappy , because I do not die altogethermy wife , my child . ' ' Captain , ' answered I , ' I will take care of them , I am rich . ' He looked at me for a moment . ' You are not an Englishman ? ' said he . ' 1 ammy friendone of the truest sons of old
, , England . Die in peace . I say to you again , I will take charge of your wife and child . ' ' Well then ! ' said he , ' you are a Mason ?' S . " ' And you ? ' He gave me the sacred sign by which the Masons of the two hemisphere recognise one another . I seized his band , and kissed it . Then the vanquished of Waterloo , the son of France , the faithful servant of the great Napoleon , unbuttoned his shirt , which was covered with blood , and drew from a small wallet placed on his breast ,