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Article A PAGE FROM THE HISTORY OF NAPOLEON.* ← Page 11 of 13 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Page From The History Of Napoleon.*
"AVell , then , " saicl Napoleon , "if I return her ivealth to your mother and recal her to France ; if I give a colonelcy to your brothers , a lieutenancy to you—" " Sire , " saicl the young man , in a firm but respectful tone of voice , " all om * blood belongs to tlie king . " An impatient expression crossed the features of tlie emperor .
" You forget your country , sir , " saicl lie , harshly . Max hung clown his head . " It is true , " murmured he . " I bclieA'e the reign of the family of the Bourbons to be extinct , " replied the emperor . "I look upon my dynasty as firm .... But no one respects more than I do past
remembrances . I understand and approve your fidelity ; but , sir , before the king , before the emperor , stands yoiu * country . This country requires your blood , ancl claims it . Will you serve her ?" Max still hesitated . " Come , sir , " saicl the emperor , " decide . You are brave ; you belong to an ancient family ; France requires you . "
" Well , sire , " said the young man , " allow me to be inscribed as a simple soldier in the register of a regiment . " " AVhy a simple soldier ?" " Because I AA'ould serve my country ,- —no one else . " " You shall be one of my pages , " replied Napoleon . And as he still saw hesitation depicted upon the features of
the young Keiwegan , he added , — " If eA'er Gocl restores the throne to the Bourbons , I Aiill Avrite myself to Louis XVIII . to tell him that I only OA'ercame your scruples AA'ith the sacred name of country !"
Max de Kervegan served as a page , but was soon obliged to pass into the Imperial Guard , and became a captain . The emperor took him with him in his train to the Rhine , to Germany , to the frozen frontiers of Beresina . EveryAvhere the son of the Vendean hero nobly did his duty . In eA'ery place his hopes and his affections wandered to the horizon where his
beloved king * ate the bread of exile . Faithful to France and the king of his forefathers , he only considered Napoleon as the provisionary chief of his great nation , —the man chosen by God , to Avash out , by deeds of glory , the sanguinary remembrances of the Reign of Terror . Napoleon vainly strove to gain the heart of the haughty ancl proud young man . He only gained his SAVord .
III . Ten years rolled axvay . To the days of glory succeeded those of reverse . The retreat F 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Page From The History Of Napoleon.*
"AVell , then , " saicl Napoleon , "if I return her ivealth to your mother and recal her to France ; if I give a colonelcy to your brothers , a lieutenancy to you—" " Sire , " saicl the young man , in a firm but respectful tone of voice , " all om * blood belongs to tlie king . " An impatient expression crossed the features of tlie emperor .
" You forget your country , sir , " saicl lie , harshly . Max hung clown his head . " It is true , " murmured he . " I bclieA'e the reign of the family of the Bourbons to be extinct , " replied the emperor . "I look upon my dynasty as firm .... But no one respects more than I do past
remembrances . I understand and approve your fidelity ; but , sir , before the king , before the emperor , stands yoiu * country . This country requires your blood , ancl claims it . Will you serve her ?" Max still hesitated . " Come , sir , " saicl the emperor , " decide . You are brave ; you belong to an ancient family ; France requires you . "
" Well , sire , " said the young man , " allow me to be inscribed as a simple soldier in the register of a regiment . " " AVhy a simple soldier ?" " Because I AA'ould serve my country ,- —no one else . " " You shall be one of my pages , " replied Napoleon . And as he still saw hesitation depicted upon the features of
the young Keiwegan , he added , — " If eA'er Gocl restores the throne to the Bourbons , I Aiill Avrite myself to Louis XVIII . to tell him that I only OA'ercame your scruples AA'ith the sacred name of country !"
Max de Kervegan served as a page , but was soon obliged to pass into the Imperial Guard , and became a captain . The emperor took him with him in his train to the Rhine , to Germany , to the frozen frontiers of Beresina . EveryAvhere the son of the Vendean hero nobly did his duty . In eA'ery place his hopes and his affections wandered to the horizon where his
beloved king * ate the bread of exile . Faithful to France and the king of his forefathers , he only considered Napoleon as the provisionary chief of his great nation , —the man chosen by God , to Avash out , by deeds of glory , the sanguinary remembrances of the Reign of Terror . Napoleon vainly strove to gain the heart of the haughty ancl proud young man . He only gained his SAVord .
III . Ten years rolled axvay . To the days of glory succeeded those of reverse . The retreat F 2