he did not understand what said but thought he meant that he could not find any one to play with him i will play with you said and as he spoke he held out his hands with the wrists together and the palms open between them in a manner customary with boys for catching a ball the boy understood the sign though he did not understand the words he tossed the ball to and caught it then tossed it back again presently made signs to the boy to sit down upon the floor at one end of the hall while he sat down at the other explaining his wishes also at the same time in words the boy talked too in reply to accompanying what he said with signs and gestures they got along thus together in their play very well each one imagining that he helped to convey his meaning to the other by what he said while in fact neither understood a word that � in with w spoken by the other and so took notice of nothing bat the signs listened attentively once or twice to short replies that his new friend made to him in order to see if he could not distinguish some words in it that he could understand but he could not and he finally concluded that it must be some other language than french that the boy was speaking was sorry for this for he could understand short sentences in french pretty well and could speak short sentences himself in reply when however he tried to speak to the boy in french he observed that he did not appear to understand him any better than when he spoke in english this confirmed him in the opinion that the boy must belong to some other nation after playing together for some time with the ball the boys began to feel quite acquainted with each other wished very much to find out his new companion s name so he asked him in english � what is your name the boy smiled and throwing the ball across again to as he spoke said something in reply but it was a great deal too much to be his name what he said was when interpreted into in paris a droll english my father bought this ball for me and gave two for it then thought he would try french so he translated his question and asked it in french and i am going to carry it with me to and italy said the boy speaking still in the unknown tongue that can t be your name either said i am very sure then after a moment s pause he added in an eager voice and manner as if a new idea had suddenly struck him � we are going to the garden of plants � uncle george and and i wouldn t you like to go too the boy smiled and held out his hands for to roll the ball to him saying something at the same time which to seemed totally he does not understand me i suppose but i know how i can explain it to him so he rose from the floor and by means of a great deal of earnest and he induced the boy to get up too and follow him led the way into his uncle s chamber the boy seemed pleased though a little timid in going in s invitation by signs uncle george said here is a boy that talk are you willing that i should invite him to go with us to the garden of plants yes said mr george though i don t see how you are going to do it led the boy to the window and pointed to the carriage which stood down before the door below then he opened a map of which lay upon the table and found the garden of plants laid down upon it and showed it to the boy then he pointed to his uncle george to and to himself and then to the carriage then he made a motion with his hand to going by these he conveyed the idea quite distinctly to his new acquaintance that they were all going to the garden of plants he then finally pointed to the boy himself and also to the carriage and looked at him with an inquiring look which he meant as an invitation to the boy to accompany them the boy paid close attention to all these signs and when had finished instead of either nodding or shaking his head in token of his accepting or declining the invitation as expected he would have done he took up the map and making certain mysterious gestures which ir in paris what the boy did upon tbe tion could not comprehend he walked off rapidly out of the room looked at his uncle george with aa expression of great astonishment on his countenance what does that mean said he perhaps he has gone to ask his father or his mother suggested mr george he has exclaimed he has that s it i m sure so went out immediately into the hall to wait till the boy came back in a few minutes a door opened led into a of apartments in the rear of the hotel and the boy with the map in his hand came into the hall nodding his head and looking very much pleased talking all the time moreover in a very but perfectly manner a moment after he came the door opened again and a very dressed man of middle age came into the hall the boy pointed to and said something to this man are you going to the garden of plants said the man to speaking in english though with a very decidedly foreign accent yes sir said l � the and did you invite to go with you yes sir said only i 