Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/503

 CHAPTER XXXVII NAPOLEON BONAPARTE I. Boyhood of Napoleon When nine years old Napoleon Bonaparte and his brother Joseph accompanied their father to France, where the boys were to go to school and learn French. One of their teachers in Autun thus writes of them : Napoleon brought with him to Autun a somber and pensive character. He never played with any one and ordi- narily walked by himself. . . . He had much ability ; under- stood and learned readilv. When I was teaching him his lesson he would fix his eyes upon me with his mouth open. If I tried to recapitulate what I had just said, he would not listen to me. If I blamed him for this, he would reply with a cold, not to say imperious, air, " I know that, sir.'' I only had him under me for three months. . . . He had by that time learned French so as to make use of it freely in conversation, and could write little themes and make little translations. ... At the end of three months I sent him off with a certain Monsieur de Champeaux to the military school at Brienne. Joseph also had much ability : although he took but little interest in study, and knew no French at all when he arrived, he learned it very promptly, as well as the begin- nings of Latin. . . . He was as decent and agreeable in his manner as his brother was imperious. His nature was sweet, engaging, and appreciative. He was fond of his com- panions and protected those whom others annoyed. I never saw in him the least indications of ambition. 465 418. How Napoleon and his brother Joseph learned French. Joseph's character.