Lang The All Sorts Of Stories Book

1. Auflage 2012
ISBN: 978-3-8496-0752-4
Verlag: Jazzybee Verlag
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 316 Seiten

For a generation Andrew Lang has delighted the children, and grown-ups too for that matter, with his fairy books. This is of a new sort, for the tales are of many different kinds. Some are true, like the history of the man who met in America the other man whom he had seen hanged for murdering in England. Then we have several stories of adventure that happened to historic personages, besides stories of treasure hunts, Greek mythology, wild witches and red Indians. ' There are no more delightful fairy tales than those written, translated and adapted by Andrew Lang. He has eliminated the gruesomeness from the old best loved fairy tales, and introduced many less familiar tales of other lands, equally fascinating. These books should be given to every child.' - American Motherhood. This book is fully illustrated and annotated with a rare extensive biographical sketch of the author, Andrew Lang, written by Sir Edmund Gosse, CB, a contemporary poet and writer.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Lang, Andrew

Leseproben

IN THE SHADOW OF THE GUILLOTINE

IN 1769, the year in which Wellington and Napoleon were born, the wife of a shopkeeper called Lavalette had a little son in Paris. The parents were very proud of him, and thought him a wonder, as parents often do; and, indeed, they were not so much mistaken as they sometimes are, for he was a lively baby, and soon began to take notice of what went on around him. As he grew older, he was never so happy as when he had a book in his hand, so his father thought it was quite clear that he was intended to become a priest, and saved every penny in order to give his son a good education, while his mother dressed him like a little abbé.

This was all very well when he was still a boy, but as soon as he began to think for himself he made up his mind that he did not want to be an abbé at all; he would rather be a lawyer, he said. So he began to go to lectures and to read law books, till he was nearly twenty, when the Revolution broke out, and the prison of the Bastille was taken. Young Lavalette with a band of his friends was present at that great sight, and eagerly welcomed the captives who were released that day, for a new France was born, he thought, and everyone was to be free and happy. He enlisted in the National Guard, which was to keep order and prevent the nobles from oppressing the people; but by-and-by he found that the men who were now governing Prance in the name of Liberty were quite as tyrannical as those who governed it in the name of the king, while nobody's life was safe if his neighbour had a spite against him and denounced him as an aristocrat or noble.

When he told his friends that all the bloodshed which was going on filled him with horror they could hardly believe their ears. ' What,' they cried, ' desert the cause of the people, and throw in his lot with that villain Louis Capet, once known as Louis XVI., and his wife, the Austrian woman, who would have her balls and amusements though her subjects paid for them with their blood? No, no! there was an end to all that, and let others take example lest ' But Lavalette broke in impatiently, and said all that was wild talk, and he was tired of hearing it. That whatever the kings before him might have done, Louis XVI. had never hurt anybody, and the queen was a beautiful woman, and he would be proud to die for her. And he very nearly did, for he stood by the side of the Swiss guards defending the royal family when the palace of the Tuileries was attacked by the mob in 1792.

And Napoleon was sitting in the gardens with a friend, and watched it all.

The taking of the Tuileries seemed to let loose all the worst passions of the people, and after the horrors of the September massacres Lavalette enlisted in a regiment that was serving abroad, together with his friend Bertrand and a few other comrades. Every large town they passed through was in a state of wild excitement, and, after many adventures, Lavalette was thankful indeed to reach the place where his regiment was stationed. He began at once to learn his work, and to master every branch of it, and as men who were energetic and capable came rapidly to the front in those days, it was not long before he was made a sergeant, while his colonel himself taught him how to map out the countries they went through, and the way to fortify a town or camp.

Soon he ceased to be a common soldier, and received the rank of lieutenant. Like many young men, though dauntlessly brave when actually fighting, it was a severe trial to his courage to sit still on his horse amidst a shower of bullets. ' I even sometimes caught myself taking a circuit when I might have pushed straightforwards,' he says. He was horribly ashamed of himself on these occasions, and in the end got the better of his fears. But, he adds, ' it was by no means the work of a day. How often had I to turn back and take my place in the thick of the fire! But when I had stayed there a good while I was pleased with myself, and what can be nicer than that? '

Certainly, he must have got over all desire to run away when Napoleon made him his aide-de-camp in Italy after the battle of Arcole. Henceforth the General always stood his friend, and when he was wounded, went up to him and said before the whole army, ' Lavalette, you are a brave fellow, and when I write the history of this campaign I will not forget you.'

The heart of Lavalette glowed. Was it possible for any man to be a coward after that?

No man ever lived with such a keen eye for the characters of the men he came across as Napoleon, and it was to this fact that he owed so much of his success. Except when family pride misled him into placing his brothers in positions for which they were not fitted, he gave to every man the work he was best able to do. He found Lavalette to be modest and considerate of other people's feelings, quick to notice, and capable of giving wise advice, besides being an excellent soldier. So he was often sent on missions where a pleasant manner and prudent words were necessary, nd where a blunt speech might spoil all the General's deep-laid plans. Lavalette could always be trusted, and at last Napoleon began to think he should like him for a relation, as well as a friend.

Now, busy as he was, Napoleon was as fond of arranging marriages as any old lady, and paid scanty attention to the feelings of the two people concerned. Just as the army was about to start for Egypt, the General informed his aide-de-camp that he had found the very wife for him, and the next morning they should be introduced to each other.

' A wife? ' exclaimed Lavalette in dismay. ' But we are on the eve of a war! And as likely as not I shall be killed, and she will be left a widow.'

' Well, if she is, she will be the widow of one of my aides-de-camp, and have her pension and be received everywhere. As it is, though she is pretty and charming and clever, no one will have anything to say to her, because she is the daughter of one of the emigrated nobles who deserted France. Even Josephine, my wife, can do nothing for her. Come, it is no use talking! Within a week you must be married, and there will be just time for you to have a fortnight's holiday before we sail.'

' But the young lady? ' asked Lavalette, who was feeling quite bewildered. ' Not even for you, my General, will I marry a girl who does not wish for me.'

' Oh, that is all right. She must be tired of school by this time, and will be only too glad to live at Fontainebleau with her grandfather while you are away. You won't be killed, I know, and in two years you will be back a general yourself, perhaps.'

' But who is she? ' said Lavalette, who felt quite helpless.

' Didn't I tell you? Mademoiselle Emilie de Beauharnais, daughter of the Marquis de Beauharnais, brother-in-law of my wife. She is at present at school at Madame Campan's with my step-daughter Hortense. We will drive you there ourselves and introduce you.'

It was a shy and awkward young man who followed Napoleon, Josephine and her son Eugene Beauharnais into the garden at Madame Campan's. In honour of the visit the girls had been given a holiday, and somehow or other had guessed the reason. So every window was crowded with heads, each one eager to know if the choice was to fall upon her, while Lavalette, who managed to see a good deal without looking, was wondering on his side which of them was his future wife. At last Hortense Beauharnais stepped out of the long drawing-room window, followed by a tall graceful girl with a lovely complexion. Without taking any notice of Lavalette, who stood a little apart, they greeted Josephine and Napoleon, and then Eugene proposed that they should have lunch on the grass. This delighted the young people, and by the time they had laid the cloth and set out the luncheon things they had become quite friendly.

When coffee had been handed round by Eugene they all got up, and Emilie de Beauharnais felt her cousin's hand on her arm and was gently led into a walk at some distance from the house. In a few minutes they were joined by Lavalette, and with a bow and smile Eugene left them together, and Lavalette spoke.

' You have heard, mademoiselle, of the flattering proposal made me by your uncle the General. You belong to the noblesse; my father was a shopkeeper, and I have nothing to offer you but my sword. Hardly even myself,' he added, smiling, ' for in a fortnight I must leave you, perhaps to go to my death. I feel that I could love you with all my soul, but if you think you cannot love me well, I will take care that the General shall not visit his anger upon you! '

While he was speaking Emilie had been nervously playing with some roses on a bush close by. When he ceased she remained silent for a moment or two; then

she broke off one of the roses and held it out to him. This was...