42 WINTER SKETCHES. 



the charming Champs Elysees, the Bois de 

 Boulogne, the little steamboats on the Seine, 

 the theatres, and all that makes the bright 

 capital of the world so attractive. The tears 

 coursed down his cheeks as he sighed and 

 said : '*So you have seen all that, but tell me, 

 did you see his tomb ? I would like to see 

 the tomb of Napoleon more than everything 

 else, and then I would come back to this 

 wilderness to die." 



** It is possible," I said, '' that when a child 

 you may have seen the Emperor." 



'*As a child!" he exclaimed. "Look at 

 me ; how old do you think I am ? " 



" Perhaps a little older than myself," I re- 

 plied. 



''Monsieur, my age is ninety-five years," he 

 answered, and then he drew his bent form to 

 its full height, straight like the telegraph pole 

 at his side ; his eyes flashed with the bright- 

 ness of youth, and striking his hand upon his 

 heart, he exclaimed in words whose emphasis 

 will not bear translation : ^^ Je siiis vieux soldat 

 de Napoleon ! " 



When I parted from the veteran, he gave 

 me a military salute, and on turning in my 

 saddle to look at him once more, I saw him 



