Page:The rising son, or, The antecedents and advancement of the colored race (IA risingsonthe00browrich).pdf/247

 was defending the Mole against Christophe, the former was killed, and Soulouque was charged to carry the general's heart to Pétion, who made the servant a lieutenant in his mounted guard; and on Pétion's death, he bequeathed him to Boyer, as a piece of furniture belonging to the presidential palace. Boyer made Soulouque first servant, under the title of "captain," to his housekeeper. Here he grew fat, and was forgotten till 1843, when the revolution brought him into note. After serving a short time as president, his vanity induced Soulouque to aspire to be emperor, and that title was conferred upon him in the year 1849. In this silly step he took for his model Napoleon Bonaparte, according to whose court and camp Soulouque formed his own.

But the people of Hayti soon saw the sad mistake in the election of such a man to power, and his change of base aroused a secret feeling against the empire, which resulted in its overthrow, in 1859.