I am not , my friend ; my story is short , and you shall hear it . It was my luck , call it bad or good , to be born in France , in the town of Castlenaudary , where my parents , good honest peasants , cultivated a small farm on the borders of the canal of Midi . I was useful , though young ; we were well enough to live , and I received from the parish school a good education , was taught to love my country , my parents , and my friends ; a happy temper , a common advantage in my country , made all things easy to me ; I never looked for to-morrow to bring me more joy than I experienced to-day . Novelty , a desire for change , an ardent disposition to visit foreign countries . Passing through the streets of Toulouse one bright morning in spring , the lively drum and fife broke on my ear , as I was counting my gains from a day 's marketing . A company of soldiers neatly dressed , with white cockades , passed me with a brisk step ; I followed them through instinct — the sergeant informed me that they were on their way to Bordeaux , from thence to embark for America , to aid the cause of liberty in the new world , and were commanded by the Marquis de la Fayette . That name was familiar to me ; La Fayette was a patriot — I felt like a patriot , and joined the ranks immediately . I did . We had a boisterous passage to America , and endured many hardships during the revolution . I was wounded at Yorktown , which long disabled me , but what then ? I served under great men , and for a great cause ; I saw the independence of the thirteen states acknowledged , I was promoted to a sergeancy by the great Washington , and I sheathed my sword , with the honest pride of knowing , that I had aided in establishing a powerful and happy republic . I have , indeed . When the army was disbanded , I travelled on foot to explore the uncultivated territory which I had assisted in liberating . I purchased a piece of land near the great lakes , and with my axe levelled the mighty oaks , cleared my meadows , burnt out the wolves and bears , and then built that cottage there . In a short time , Jenkins , everything flourished ; my cottage was neat , my cattle thriving , still I wanted something — it was a wife . I was tired of a solitary life , and married Kate , the miller 's daughter ; you knew her . She was a good wife — ever cheerful and industrious , and made me happy : poor Kate ! I was without children for several years ; at length my Christine was born , and I have endeavoured , in cultivating her mind , and advancing her happiness , to console myself for the loss of her mother . She left the cottage early this morning with Lenox , to climb the mountains and see the sun rise ; it is time for them to return to breakfast . An honest lieutenant of infantry , with a gallant spirit and a warm heart . He was wounded at Niagara , and one stormy night , he presented himself at our cottage door , pale and haggard . His arm had been shattered by a ball , and he had received a flesh wound from a bayonet : we took him in — for an old soldier never closes his door on a wounded comrade — Christine nursed him , and he soon recovered . But I wish they were here — it is growing late : besides , this is a busy day , friend Jenkins . You know Jerry Mayflower , the wealthy farmer ; he has offered to marry my Christine . Girls must not remain single if they can get husbands , and I have consented to the match , and he will be here to-day to claim her hand . Oh , she may make a few wry faces , as she does when swallowing magnesia , but the dose will go down . There is some credit due to a wife who improves the intellect of her husband ; aye , and there is some pride in it also . Girls should marry . Matrimony is like an old oak ; age gives durability to the trunk , skill trims the branches , and affection keeps the foliage ever green . But come , let us in . Ah ! Lenox , my boy , good morning to you . Why Christine , you have had a long ramble with the invalid . Well , he goes in good time , and may success attend him . Ods my life , when I was young , the sound of the drum and fife was like the music of the spheres , and the noise and bustle of a battle was more cheering to me , than “ the hunter 's horn in the morning . ” You will not forget us , Lenox , will you ? Well — quite well — and these are all your neighbours ? Well , farmer , you are an honest man , but I fear my Christine will not approve this match , commenced without her advice , and concluded without her consent . Then her education has been so different from — But I 'm not sure that she will like you . Indeed ! And did you share in the glory of that spirited battle ? Well , and you panted to be at them ? clubb 'd your rifles , and dashed over ? And you did not cross ? No doubt . Admirable sophistry , that can shield cowards and traitors , under a mistaken principle of civil government ! I 've heard of those scruples , which your division felt when in sight of the enemy . Was that a time to talk of constitutions — when part of our gallant army was engaged with unequal numbers ? Could you calmly behold your fellow citizens falling on all sides , and not avenge their death ? Could you , with arms in your hands , the enemy in view , with the roar of cannon thundering on your ear , and the flag of your country waving amidst fire and smoke — could you find a moment to think of constitutions ? Was that a time to pause and suffer coward scruples to unnerve the arm of freemen ? I pray you pardon me . I am an old soldier , and fought for the liberty which you enjoy , and , therefore , claim some privilege in expressing my opinion . But come , your friends are idle , let us have breakfast before our cottage door .— Ah , Jerry , my Crissy would make a fine soldier 's wife : do you know that I have given her a military education ? Aye , she can crack a bottle at twelve paces with a pistol . And then she can bring down a buck , at any distance . Christine , here is farmer Mayflower and his friends , who have come to visit our cottage , and you in particular . Come here , farmer — give me your hand — Christine , yours —— there ; may you live long and happy , and my blessings ever go with you . Come , let us have breakfast in the open air — help me to arrange the table . Come , sit down , farmer and neighbours ; and you , my pretty lads and lasses , let 's have a dance . Ah , here is a foraging party .Party dance — several pastoral and fancy dances — and as the whole company retires , CHRISTINE comes from the cottage with cautious steps — she is dressed in a frock coat , pantaloons and hat . Impossible ! Refuse an honest man ? A wealthy one , too ? And one whom her father gives to her ? Trifling girl ! Insensible to her happiness and interest . What objections had she to you , farmer ? Mere coyness — maiden bashfulness . I will seek and expostulate with the stubborn girl . Ah , Jerry , times have strangely altered , when young women choose husbands for themselves , with as much ease and indifference , as a ribbon for their bonnet . She is nowhere to be found — she has gone off and left her poor old father . In her room , I found these lines scrawled with a pencil : “ You have driven your daughter from you , by urging a match that was hateful to her . Was her happiness not worth consulting ? ” What 's to be done ? Where has she gone ? Ah , a light breaks in upon me — to the camp — to the camp ! Cruel girl ! to desert her old father , who has ever been kind and affectionate . We cannot be far from the outposts , let us continue our search . Nowhere to be found . I have asked everybody in the camp in vain — she is lost to me . Unhappy , cruel girl ! to quit her old and fond father thus . Impossible ! we must return , dejected and disappointed . Where is she ? where is my daughter ? Come to my arms , dear wanderer . Could you leave your poor old father thus ? You 've nearly broke my heart , Christine . I do — I do ! and further prove my love , by making you happy . Take her , Lenox , she is yours ; and never let father attempt to force his child into a marriage which her heart abhors .