Heroes in America [pp. 60]

Sonnet- lVrizzing'.-ieros in America.
of horses, or guards, wherever and whenever we
need them."
" Then four hours start, and I defy even Blacli
Henriot to catch ius; but, even then, they must be
old hands at the bellows to match the sharp fel lows I have waiting for us."
" How many have you provided?"
" Jacques ard seven others; all good men and
true, staunch and well armed; had rather fight
than frolic, and would not back out from Old Nick
himself."
Arrived at the Chatelet, the order was closely
scrutinized by the keeper, who, finding all correct,
simply replied, "'Tis the signature of Robespierre,
she will be ready in five minutes; what else do
you require at my hands?."
" A close chariot and four swift horses. My or ders are to convey the prisoner from Paris, with all
secrecy and despatch. We must be gone in the
time you mention, or the heads of both will be the
penalty of our delay."
"You have hurried him most gloriously, Due,"
exclaimed Francois, as the keeper hastened to obey
the supposed mandate of the dreaded despot.
"Pretty well, but we have need of every mintite; an hour's delay might cost us our heads, a
price I am in no humor for paying just now. But
here comes the chariot, you must go without and
see that our speed flags not, while I will share the
interior with the Countess."
"You will find the prisoner within and well,"
exclaimed the Lieutenant, springing from the coach,
"she has been kindly treated, and has not suffered
from her confinement."
"I trust that it may be so," responded De Mortier, "I should regret that Robespierre's vengeance
should fall upon your head," and thus speaking, he
leaped into the coach, while Francois, taking his
station upon the box, dashed rapidly into and alonge
Rue St. Denis until they reached the barriere.
Here they were joined by Jacques and his troop,
and at their utmost speed whirled from Paris.
over a canister of gun-powder, which a motion
would have ignited. He is worthy of her."
"And, unless her countenance belies her, she
deserved no meaner lord," answered Josephine,
ihe who would wear should win."
" Permit me to welcome you to Paris, Duc,"
was the greeting of Napoleon, "and may you never leave it, except to drive the invader from your
native soil."
" I am once more in Paris, Sire, and under happier auspices than when I last visit ed it. May I
present to you mv bride."
"A bride we ll worth y such a lord," responded
the fitture emperor, planting a kiss upon the brow
of the blushing fair one-" Nay, J osephine, be not
jealous, I must give you the pleasure of saying to
the Dutchess, that her family estates released from
confiscation again call her mistress-while I assure
De Mortier that he is again lord of his own fair
domain, and may all this world's happiness be theirs.
The favor of Napoleon they shall never want while
'tis worth the having."
"And I can but -follow so good an example,"
continued Josephine, clasping around the arm of
the Dutchess, the rich diamond bracelet taken from
her own fair arm. " The court will ever warmly
welcome, and boast its fairest ornament, the
Dutchess De Mortier."
Richmond, October 21, 1843.
I love a regular Italian sonnet,
Full of a rattling rolling sort of rhyme
And sparkling as the skies of tlhat glad clime
Where Petrarch loved and Laura frowned upon it:
And when a mastcr's hand hath labored on it,
The regular recurrence hath a chime
Like the rich ringing music of a dime
Within the purse of one who late hath won it!
'Tis Love's own proper and imperial dress
And if you wish to robe him rightly, then
Breathe forth in sonnets all your tenderness!
And it is Wisdom's home too, as ye ken
Who read,-and there'll be readers, more or less,
Of this, mine own immortal specimen!
Jackson, Miss. D. H. ROBIN3SON.
"What a splendid couple," exclaimed Josephine
to the first consul, pointing to a noble looking man
who, with a fair, lovely woman leaning upon his
arm, advanced slowly along the centre of the bril liant salon, while a buzz of admiration betokened
the sensation they created. " How truly noble he
is, with his fine, commanding figure and firm, manly step-and she seems all that a queen would wish
to be. Who can they be M"
"The bravest soldier and the sweetest woman
in the realm," answered Napoleon. "'Tis the
Due De Mortier and his Dutchess, the last scion
of De Reilley's ancient house. He is the brave
man who tricked Robespierre out of an order for
his bride's reprieve when under sentence of death,
and left the cut-throat sitting, for six long hours,
IIEROS IN AMERICA.
Awake genius of Carlyle and resume thy theme! Another Hero demands thy pen! The Hero in America. A
Dickens, a Bertrand, an O16 Bull, an Essler, a Vieuxtemps
claim thy hornmage. Awake and join with Willis to deify a
fiddle. We mean no disrespect to the celebrated Marshall
Bertrand by thus naming him; but holding, as we do, an
honest and d ignified Am terical n to be as high as any man,
we would have our Citizens meet foreign distinuess more
as their equals only. " Nil Adinirari" is our motto and we
would apply it to the Companion of Napoleon, as well as
to all others. We paropose the subject then to the Carlyles
of the day'and if no other pell takes it up, may attempt it
ourselves.-Ed. Mess.
60
[JANUAP.Y,
SONNET-WRITING.