How Napoleon crossed the Alps

by James Baldwin

　　

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About a hundred years ago there lived a great gen-er-al whose name wasNa-po´le-on Bo´na-parte. He was the leader of the French army; andFrance was at war with nearly all the countries around. He wanted verymuch to take his soldiers into It-a-ly; but between France and Italythere are high mountains called the Alps, the tops of which arecovered with snow."Is it pos-si-ble to cross the Alps?" said Na-po-le-on.The men who had been sent to look at the passes over the mountainsshook their heads. Then one of them said, "It may be possible, but"--"Let me hear no more," said Napoleon. "Forward to Italy!"People laughed at the thought of an army of sixty thousand mencrossing the Alps where there was no road. But Napoleon waited only tosee that everything was in good order, and then he gave the order tomarch.The long line of soldiers and horses and cannon stretched for twentymiles. When they came to a steep place where there seemed to be no wayto go farther, the trum-pets sounded "Charge!" Then every man did hisbest, and the whole army moved right onward.Soon they were safe over the Alps. In four days they were marching onthe plains of Italy."The man who has made up his mind to win," said Napoleon, "will neversay 'Im-pos-si-ble.'"

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