Hortense And Her Sons

'Une day the JJueliess ot unssano gave a lall in lionor of the Queen, and Hortense, although ead and sufí'ering, left Iier cotmin, and allowed herself to be dresscd. Her fair hair, which when unfastened reached down to her feet, was arranged in the ancient Grcek fashion and oruamcnted with a garland of flowers. These were no natural ones, bowever, but made of diarnonds. She worc a dress of rosecolored crape, embroidered with a garland of largo silver hortensias. The skirt of her dress and her train were garnishcd with violets and roses inade of preeious stones, and on her bosom glistened a louquet of diamonds and hortensias. Necklaee and brncelets were of the same co:tly material, and representad similar flowers. In this splendid dress- it was a present, fcr.t to her on tlie previous day, by her mothcr - she entered the drawing-room, fullowcd by the riehly attired ladies and gentlemen of her court who wore to follow in her ball. It was a fine Biglit offered by this room full of ladies glittcring with diamonds, and of officers in rieh uniforma. The sous of Hortense, who at this moment entered the salon to take leave of their ' bonnie petite miman," Etoppcd short, as it dazzled for the moment by so much splendor, and then approached the mot her ahnest timid ly. She geemed to appear before thcra ko onc of the genii in the Arsman Nights. The Queen guessed the thoughts af lier boys, whoee injreriuous faces rejembled au open bcok, whcrem cvery one of their feeüngs might bo read. - Sho stretched out a hand to eae-h of the cbildrcD, and proceeded to a cbair on bieb she sat down. The younger, Louis Napoleon, who was then six years of' age, she took on her lap, whilst Napoleon Louis, two years older thau his broihcr, remained standing at his mothcr's sido, rest ing his curly head ou her shoulder, and looking up with a thoughtful eye to her palo check. "Vell, Napoleon," said Hortense, as she laid her white, elegant hand on the head of her cldest son, "do you not think I ara verv beautifully dressed tu-day? - Should you love me less if I were poor, il I wore tio dic.raonds, but only a simpl black drcssV should you like me les then'r" " No mamma," replied the boy, almos coloring with auger; and little Louis Na polcori, who was sitting on his mother's lap, repeated with leader vuico the words of his brother, " No, mamma !" ïho Queen Süiilcd, and said, " Diamonds and fine dresses do uot make peoplo happy. We three should lovo eaeh other quite as well if we possessed none, but were poor. 13ut teil me, Napoleon, what should you do, if yon had nothmg, and wero lcft alone in the world? what sbould you do to maintaio yourseli?" " I should becoine a soldier," replied Napoleon, with glistcning eycs, " and figh't so valiautly tliat they ghould be obliged to promote me Y " Aud you, Louis : what should you do to earn your bread ï" The little boy liad attcntivcly listened to what liis brother said, and scumed atill to be thinking about it. It appcared ke considcred the ktiapsack and the musket too heavy for him. He thought ho was too yoüng to be a soldier. " I," he said, after a pause, " I should geil bouquets of violeta, like the poor littlo boy that stimds at the gates of the Tuileries, and to whom you always give somethiug whcu passing." The ladies and gentlemen who had listened to the childreu's talk, burst out laughing at little Louis's answer. " Don't laugh, ladies," the Queen said, with a serious face, "t was no jest. I intonded to give my sons a lesson, as I saw they were dazzled by the splendor of our diamonds, It is gencrally tlie jnisfortulie of prinees to imagino that they are made of different material from other men, aud, therefore, havo no obligations towards them. They raroly know anything about humau suffering aud want, and think it almost impossible that these should ever assail them. Ab soon, therefore, as adversity befalls them, they are so surprised and diseoueerted that they cannot find the itrength to resist, but are crushod. From suc'h a fate I will proserve my sor.s !" Hortense kissed the two boj's, aud went with her suite to the Tuleries. Tho two little prinees continued to discuss for a long time wbether it would bo easier to earn ono's bread by becoming a soldier, or by selling violctS' at tho gate of the Tuileris.