Читать книгу Tales and Novels for Youth of Both Sexes - Anonymous - Страница 6

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«How warm you are, brother!» said a young princess to the beloved companion of her infancy. «I plainly see that you have been playing at skittles with the old grenadier.» «'Tis true, sister, I have just won three games following of him.» «That is because he allowed you to do so; that good Francoer is so complaisant?» «Yes, he is an excellent man, I like his fine countenance, his majestic figure; what pleases me most, are his great mustachios, and particularly the three sabre cuts he has received on his forehead; as soon as he has finished his duty, he comes to us, he draws me in my car from one end of the terrace to the other; I am never in any fear of being overturned by him. He makes me go through the exercise with my carabine, and commands me as if I was a private soldier, and that pleases me very much.» «But he is proud, very proud. The other day he refused several pieces of gold, which I offered him, in a small purse, saying, with his big voice, which does not frighten me in the least, 'It is for pleasure, and not for interest that I have the honour to play with you, miss.'» «And I, sister, could never make him accept any thing but that ebony pipe, mounted with silver, with the initials of my name, which he always wears at his button-hole. These good grenadiers, how attached they are to us! My uncle said, yesterday, that they are a prince's best friends, and that when once one has gained their affections, it is for life and death. O! I shall never forget that.» This conversation, which was often renewed between the brother and sister, took place in a delicious summer-house, where these two lovely children often went to breathe the pure air of the country, and to indulge themselves more freely in all the amusements of their age.

They were still talking of the old grenadier, when some one came to request that they would return to their apartments, to partake of their usual repast. It was then the month of August; the day was excessively hot. Francoeur, nearly sixty years of age, being fatigued with passing the night at his military post, and with the long walks he had taken in the park with the Infants of France, was reposing on a bench, at the turning of a walk in front of a guard house. The thick foliage of the trees sheltered him from the burning heat of the sun. The coolness of the shade, soon diffused a pleasing calm through his senses; after having smoked his pipe, he pulled off his large cap, which he placed by his side on the bench, and soon fell into a profound sleep.

The two children, having finished their repast, again returned to their play, and, in order to avoid the heat of the day, they rambled down a row of linden trees, the verdure of which formed a thick shade, where, at the first turning, they found the old grenadier in a deep sleep. The sun had, in his course, found a passage through the foliage, and darted his burning rays on the head of the good Francoeur.

His scarred brow was covered with perspiration; an excessive redness was visible under his thick mustachios. The two children experienced an anxiety, proportioned to the attachment they bore this brave veteran. «O! brother, see, he is quite overcome with heat. His poor head is exposed naked to the ardour of the sun; that must be very injurious to him. If it were to make him ill!» «We must wake him, sister.» «No, no: he stands in need of repose. Let us do still better, let us entwine above his head some branches of those lilacs, which will preserve him from the rays of the sun.» «Yes, that is an excellent idea.» They immediately began to busy themselves about forming a bower of verdure; but all their efforts produced no effect, they were too short to reach the most leafy branches; and they had scarcely succeeded in joining those which were within their reach, and in entwining them, as well as they could, when all at once they escaped from their hands, and the aged sleeper was more exposed than before. «Well, sister, we must put his cap on his head.» «That is very easy to say, but we are not strong enough. This cap is bigger than we are.» «It weighs less than you think, I am sure, and I take upon myself to do it.» At these words he cautiously mounted the bench, took in his little hands the enormous grenadier's cap; raised it, not without difficulty, whilst the young princess, with her eyes fixed on her brother, and scarcely breathing, said to him in a low voice. «Take care you do not wake him!» «No, no, leave me alone.» He approached still nearer, and succeded in putting the cap on Francoeur's head, with so much caution and address, that the peaceful repose of the latter was not in the least disturbed.

This interesting scene had been remarked by the sentinel of the military post, that was established at the end of the walk; and was soon divulged among the grenadiers of the guard. They all experienced that strong emotion which brave men feel at the relation of a trait that honours and flatters them. They resolved to inform their comrade of it, and were never tired of eulogizing the little princes, who, at so early an age, announced so much attachment, and shewed so much respect for a soldier. The children, who did not suppose they had been seen by any one, enjoyed their good action in secret, and watched the old grenadier with delight, as he continued his peaceful repose; but he soon began to make some motions, which seemed to announce that he was about to awake; the two children went away, that he might conceive no suspicion of them; and, resolving to say nothing to any one concerning what they had just done, they returned to the apartments of the castle.

Francoeur wished, on awaking, to take his cap from the bench where he had laid it. He could not at first conceive how it came on his head; but perceiving that the sun had reached him, and feeling his countenance quite burning and covered with sweat, he imagined that it was some grenadier of the guard who had rendered him that important service. «It is you, then,» said he to some of his comrades, «who put my cap on my head?» «No,» replied a corporal. «I am sure I could not have dreamed,» said he, «that I put it on the bench.» «Undoubtedly; but some one, whom you love very much, and whom we all love, feared that the heat of the sun would injure you.» «Who was it then?» «Guess.» «Faith, I don't know; you are all good-natured fellows!» «It is neither of us.» «Who is it then?» «The young prince.» «Is it possible!» «He himself; ask Sans Quartier, who is still on guard: he saw him, as well as myself, try first, with his sister, to shelter you with the branches of a tree; but the dear little creatures not being able to accomplish it; one replaced your cap on your head, whilst the other stood guard.»

«It was the prettiest sight in the world;» Sans Quartier had tears in his eyes, while he related this. «I can easily believe it, since I myself am quite softened, merely by listening to you; but you must not believe that it shall be passed over in silence; and since they are so good to old soldiers, we will prove to them, that they have not to do with ungrateful fellows.» «What do you mean to do then?» «I have a project, which you will all approve. In the mean time let us go and empty a few bottles of good wine to the health of these dear children. And I will treat you.»

The next day, about the same hour, the two little princes found Francoeur in the park, waiting to play with them. With what eagerness and what complaisance he did every thing to please them! he invented all sorts of new and amusing games; never had the old grenadier appeared more lively, more active, nor told more interesting stories. He was careful, however, notwithstanding the emotion he felt, to take care not to mention what had passed the day before; and both were more than ever convinced that their secret was not discovered. They already experienced that the pleasure of a good action is doubled by mystery; and that it is much sweeter to be able to applaud ourselves in secret for a good action, than to see ourselves overwhelmed with praises, which often produce only mortification.

Some days passed away; the post which had been established, for a week past, at the summer-house, was going to be discharged from duty, and was the next day to be replaced by another company of the grenadiers of the guard.

The little prince, for whom military discipline had already many charms seldom, failed to be present at the renewal of the guard. Nothing is more necessary for a child, destined one day to command, than to learn how to obey. It is necessary to become a good soldier, in order to make a good general; and the princes who have covered themselves with the greatest glory, have signalized their earliest years by their address in the exercise of arms. Henry the Fourth, at twelve years of age, was an excellent marksman; and Turenne, when he was still very young, passed a whole night on a cannon, in order to try, at break of day, to point it with address.

The young prince, after having received the salute of the grenadiers on relieving the post, and of those who quitted it, had repaired to his worthy mother's apartments.

He was preparing to resume, with his sister, their accustomed sports, when they heard some military music. He immediately perceived, through the windows, a great number of grenadiers, at the head of whom was Francoeur. They marched four abreast, holding in each other's arms. They soon filled the vestibule, and requested to be admitted to the presence of his Royal Highness. They were immediately admitted, and old Francoeur, bearing with great ceremony a small grenadier's cap, advanced, and related to the princess what the Royal Infants of France had done for him. «Then,» he added, with strong emotion, «one, who knows how to honour, and take care of an old soldier, is entitled to rank among French grenadiers.»

«The prince condescended to place, with his own hands, my cap on my head; I take the liberty of placing, in my turn, on his, that which I have the honour to offer him in the name of all my comrades.» At these words, he drew his sabre, which became a signal for all those who accompanied him; and suddenly they joined their arms together, so as to form, as it were, but one heap. Francoeur then resumed, with great emotion, «Remember, august son of the French army, that our hearts are united in love for you, as well as our sabres to defend you.»

Then, placing one knee on the ground, he put the little grenadier's cap on the prince's head, gently touched his two shoulders with the blade of his sabre, and rose up again, saying «I refrain, through respect, from giving you the usual embrace; I should be afraid that my mustachios would be too rough for your beautiful white skin.»

The young prince, delighted with the homage paid him, and moved at the natural eloquence of Francoeur, fixes the cap firmly on his head, and vows to God that he will preserve it all his life. His sister shared his transport, and the happy mother of these lovely children, as she pressed them tenderly to her bosom, congratulated and thanked them for what they had done. Then she said, with imposing dignity: «My son, never forget, whatever be the destinies that await you, that one of your noblest titles is that of a French Grenadier.»