CHAPTER V. HOW TO PAY OLD DEBTS.-NAPOLEON AND THE WOODMAN. "Impossible!"-" Nay, but 't is really true, ALL were seated at dinner; and Judith, after having said her grace, also seated herself; but she could not account for the mirth, of which every one at the table seemed to partake; especially as her father was averse to any one speaking during the time of meals; and, like her mother, he was hard of hearing. After dinner, when the dessert was put on the table, she privately asked her brother, Emanuel, what had transpired during her absence, that all should appear so well pleased. He told her, he would ask her father to relate his interview with his shoemaker's executor, and then she would have it in the original. Judith was pleased at the prospect of hearing her kind father tell a tale-knowing that he always was in a passion if asked for money, especially HOW TO PAY OLD DEBTS. 35 by a Methodist-and he, to gratify his darling daughter, complied with the request:-"I vos shetting in de parler, ven Josef informed me dat a gentlehomme vonted to shee me. Let him come in,' said I. So in volks a tall strait man, mit his hat on. Vot is de matter mit you sar?'-'Nothing, doctor, excepting that as our well-beloved brother, John Thomson, is called to his last home, I have waited on you to settle his bill.' The sound of the word BILL was enough to move all mine temper; I don't like de name of bill. Vel, sar,' said I, is dat vot is de matter mit your head, dat you keep on your hat. I doat you had a sore head, and come ax me for advice?'—‘Oh dear, bless me, no sir. I am sent by our society to collect all debts due unto our beloved brother, lately deceased. You, doctor, having run a bill with him, I see by the books, there is a difference of a few pounds between you, and I should feel obliged by your paying the same to me.'-' Vot, sar, you mean me pay? Me owe him not von sous.' -Oh! bless me, sir, remember, you are speaking of the dead.'- - Me care not for de living nor de dead, ven I am right. I vil never pay noting, sar. I settled mit him the week before he vent dead.'— Vel, after telling me vot de Methodis vold say, he said, Doctor, ven you dies, and are buried, and shall rise again, and meet John Thomson at de day : of reserecshion, and he shall ask you for de bill, vot vill you den say?' I vill say, John Thomson, you tell von lie!' So, he turned round, and volked out of de house." Judith laughed heartily at her father's description; but, knowing that the bill had already been settled, she could not help saying he was right. Seeing her father so good tempered, she asked him to relate some of the incidents he had met with when in the army. He said, "Vell, Judith, I vill tell you von anecdote of my late respected master, Napoleon." Which was as follows: "As Napoleon was riding out, attended by several officers,-I was one of the party-we rode past a forest, where some woodmen were cutting timber. Observing one of them singing, the Emperor, with a smile, turned round to us, and said, Observe that man, who, though toiling hard for his daily bread, seems to be happy.' The woodman, observing so many persous looking at him, made a respectful bow, and approached us, to inquire if we had lost our way. 'No,' said the Emperor: Tell me, my honest fellow, what makes you so cheerful? What may you earn a day?'-'Three francs, your honour,' was his reply. Three francs!' exclaimed the Emperor. Does that support you and your family? Tell me how you manage to do so.' NAPOLEON AND THE WOODMAN. 37 With pleasure, your honour, if you will step a little this way. With three francs, I not only keep my wife and family, but I also put money out at interest, and pay off my old debts.-' Explain yourself,' said the Emperor. ' Willingly, your honour. I keep my wife and children ; I place money out at interest, by educating the latter at school; and I pay off my old debts, by maintaining my aged father and mother. So you see, your honour, I may well be happy.' -Excellent man!' said Napoleon. Here is a Napoleon for you,' tossing him the money. 6 Keep what you have now told me a secret. I am your Emperor; and, on pain of my displeasure, I enjoin you to tell no one, till you have seen my face at least one hundred times.'-'Sire, it shall be so,' said the woodman. Napoleon turned his horse's head, and rejoined us. The same evening, as he appeared thoughtful, General Rapp asked him if anything unpleasant had occurred that day. 'No,' said the Emperor, 'but I met a man this morning, who, with three francs per day, told me he kept his family, placed money out at interest, and paid off his old debts. Gentlemen,' continued the Emperor, you will please me much, if any of you can tell me the meaning of what he said?' All of us were anxious to please our monarch; and, knowing that he had spoken to a woodman in the forenoon, we rode off early on the following morning; and, having found the woodman, asked him, if he knew to whom he had spoken on the previous day? The man said, 'Yes, I had the honour of talking with the Emperor.' What did you say to him?'Excuse me, gentlemen; that I must not tell you. One of the party said, 'I will give you fifty Napoleons to tell me.' The man said, 'No, I dare not. You shall have one hundred, if you will oblige us,' rejoined our companion. The woodman, after pausing a minute or two, said, He was Place the money in my hand, and I will tell you!' We placed it in his hand; and after he had carefully examined every piece, he told us all that had transpired. We rode off, and, on our arrival at the palace, asked to be admitted to the Emperor, when we expounded his riddle. Napoleon, pale with anger, exclaimed, Bring the woodman before me, dead or alive!' soon found, and ushered into the presence of his angry monarch. Sirrah! how have you dared to break your promise with me?'-Sire!' said the woodman, with great composure, ' I have not disobeyed your commands.'- How!] Slave!' said Napoleon, 'Dare you tell me a lie?'Sire!' said the woodman, you told me I should tell no one, until I had seen your face |