Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Widger and PG Distributed Proofreaders BOY LIFE OF NAPOLEON Afterwards Emperor Of The French _Adapted And Extended For American Boys And Girls From The French Of_ Madame Eugenie Foa Author Of "Little Princes And Princesses Young Warriors," "Little Robinson," Etc. Illustrated By Vesper L George 1895 PREFACE. The name of Madame Eugenie Foa has been a familiar one in French homes for more than a generation. Forty years ago she was the most popular writer of historical stories and sketches, especially designed for the boys and girls of France. Her tone is pure, her morals are high, her teachings are direct and effective. She has, besides, historical accuracy and dramatic action; and her twenty books for children have found welcome and entrance into the most exclusive of French homes. The publishers of this American adaptation take pleasure in introducing Madame Foa's work to American boys and girls, and in this Napoleonic renaissance are particularly favored in being able to reproduce her excellent story of the boy Napoleon. The French original has been adapted and enlarged in the light of recent research, and all possible sources have been drawn upon to make a complete and rounded story of Napoleon's boyhood upon the basis furnished by Madame Foa's sketch. If this glimpse of the boy Napoleon shall lead young readers to the study of the later career of this marvellous man, unbiased by partisanship, and swayed neither by hatred nor hero worship, the publishers will feel that this presentation of the opening chapters of his life will not have been in vain. CONTENTS. CHAPTER ONE. _In Napoleon's Grotto_ CHAPTER TWO. _The Canon's Pears_ CHAPTER THREE. _The Accusation_ CHAPTER FOUR. _Bread and Water_ CHAPTER FIVE _A Wrong Righted_ CHAPTER SIX. _The Battle with the Shepherd Boys_ CHAPTER SEVEN. _Good-bye to Corsica_ CHAPTER EIGHT. _At the Preparatory School_ CHAPTER NINE. _The Lonely School-Boy_ CHAPTER TEN. _In Napoleon's Garden_ CHAPTER ELEVEN. _Friends and Foes_ CHAPTER TWELVE. _The Great Snow-tall Fight at Brienne School_ CHAPTER THIRTEEN _Recommended for Promotion_ CHAPTER FOURTEEN _Napoleon goes to Parts_ CHAPTER FIFTEEN. _A Trouble over Pocket Money_ CHAPTER SIXTEEN. _Lieutenant Puss-in-Boots_ CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. _Dark Days_ CHAPTER EIGHTEEN _By the Wall of the Soldiers' Home_ CHAPTER NINETEEN. _The Little Corporal_ CHAPTER TWENTY. "_Long Live the Emperor!_" THE BOY LIFE OF NAPOLEON. CHAPTER ONE. IN NAPOLEON'S GROTTO. On a certain August day, in the year 1776, two little girls were strolling hand in hand along the pleasant promenade that leads from the queer little town of Ajaccio out into the open country.