encouraged them to eat, and frequently drank to their health; but in spite of all this, his encouragement failed to overcome the timidity of some, and the servants removed the plates of each course without their having touched them, though this constraint did not prevent their being full of joy and enthusiasm as they left the table.  “Au revoir, my brave men,” the First Consul would say to them; “baptize for me quickly these new-born,” touching with his fingers their sabers of honor.  God knows whether they spared themselves!

This preference of the First Consul for the private soldier recalls an instance which took-place at Malmaison, and which furnishes, besides, a complete refutal of the charges of severity and harshness which have been brought against him.

The First Consul set out on foot one morning, dressed in his gray riding-coat, and accompanied by General Duroc, on the road to Marly.  Chatting as they walked, they saw a plowman, who turned a furrow as he came towards them.

“See here, my good man,” said the First Consul, stopping him, “your furrow is not straight.  You do not know your business.”—­“It is not you, my fine gentleman, who can teach me.  You cannot do as well.  No, indeed -you think so; very well, just try it,” replied the good man, yielding his place to the First Consul, who took the plow-handle, and making the team start, commenced to give his lesson.  But he did not plow a single yard of a straight line.  The whole furrow was crooked.  “Come, come,” said the countryman, putting his hand on that of the general to resume his plow, “your work is no good.  Each one to his trade.  Saunter along, that is your business.”  But the First Consul did not proceed without paying for the lesson he had received.  General Duroc handed the laborer two or three louis to compensate him for the loss of time they had caused him; and the countryman, astonished by this generosity, quitted his plow to relate his adventure, and met on the way a woman whom he told that he had met two big men, judging by what he had in his hand.

The woman, better informed, asked him to describe the dress of the men, and from his description ascertained that it was the First Consul and one of his staff; the good man was overcome with astonishment.  The next day he made a brave resolution, and donning his best clothes, presented himself at Malmaison, requesting to speak to the First Consul, to thank him, he said, for the fine present he had given him the day before.

I notified the First Consul of this visit, and he ordered me to bring the laborer in.  While I was gone to announce him, he had, according to his own expression, taken his courage in both hands to prepare himself for this grand interview; and I found him on my return, standing in the center of the antechamber (for he did not dare to sit upon the sofas, which though very simple seemed to him magnificent), and pondering what he should say to the First Consul in token of his gratitude.  I preceded him, and he followed me, placing each foot cautiously on the carpet; and when I opened the door of the cabinet, he insisted with much civility on my going first.  When the First Consul had nothing private to say or dictate, he permitted the door to stand open; and he now made me a sign not to close it, so that I was able to see and hear all that passed.