FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   >>  
cks had most likely devoured the sweetmeats, and the poor little girls, who had been so highly flattered by the promise, never tasted them." "A second house was formed at St. Denis, on the model of that of Ecouen. Perhaps Madame Campan might have hoped for a title to which her long labours gave her a right; perhaps the superintendence of the two houses would have been but the fair recompense of her services; but her fortunate years had passed her fate was now to depend on the most important events. Napoleon had accumulated such a mass of power as no one but himself in Europe could overturn. France, content with thirty years of victories, in vain asked for peace and repose. The army which had triumphed in the sands of Egypt, on the summits of the Alps, and in the marshes of Holland, was to perish amidst the snows of Russia. Nations combined against a single man. The territory of France was invaded. The orphans of Ecouen, from the windows of the mansion which served as their asylum, saw in the distant plain the fires of the Russian bivouacs, and once more wept the deaths of their fathers. Paris capitulated. France hailed the return of the descendants of Henri IV.; they reascended the throne so long filled by their ancestors, which the wisdom of an enlightened prince established on the empire of the laws. [A lady, connected with the establishment of St. Denis, told Madame Campan that Napoleon visited it during the Hundred Days, and that the pupils were so delighted to see him that they crowded round him, endeavouring to touch his clothes, and evincing the most extravagant joy. The matron endeavoured to silence them; but Napoleon said, 'Let them alone; let them alone. This may weaken the head, but it strengthens the heart.'"] This moment, which diffused joy amongst the faithful servants of the royal family, and brought them the rewards of their devotion, proved to Madame Campan a period of bitter vexation. The hatred of her enemies had revived. The suppression of the school at Ecouen had deprived her of her position; the most absurd calumnies followed her into her retreat; her attachment to the Queen was suspected; she was accused not only of ingratitude but of perfidy. Slander has little effect on youth, but in the decline of life its darts are envenomed with a mortal poison. The wounds which Madame Campan had received were deep. Her sister, Madame Auguie, had destroyed herself; M. Rousseau, her brother-in
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   >>  



Top keywords:

Madame

 
Campan
 
France
 

Ecouen

 
Napoleon
 
silence
 
endeavoured
 

matron

 

clothes

 

evincing


extravagant
 

Rousseau

 

strengthens

 

weaken

 
faithful
 
diffused
 

moment

 

connected

 

establishment

 
empire

established
 

wisdom

 

enlightened

 

prince

 
visited
 

crowded

 

brother

 
endeavouring
 

servants

 
delighted

Hundred
 

pupils

 

proved

 

Slander

 

perfidy

 
effect
 

Auguie

 

ingratitude

 

suspected

 
accused

sister

 

wounds

 

poison

 

envenomed

 
received
 

decline

 

attachment

 
period
 

mortal

 

bitter