Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1892 — A Pretender. [ARTICLE]

A Pretender.

During a sham fight Napoleon came unawares upon a soldier who was lying fast asleep in a field among the corn. “Is this your post?” exclaimed the Emperor, rousing him with the full intention of making an example of him. The soldier, thus suddenly startled out of his slumber, rubbed his eyes, and, on recognizing the Emperor, sprang to his feet, presented arms, and said: “I beg your majesty’s pardon, but we were going through a sham fight, and in order to make the illusion more complete I was pretending to be dead.” Napoleon could not suppress a smile, and forgave the witty lineman.