The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-15 00:00:00

THE ‘4 FORGET-ME-NOT."

(From the Boulogne Gazelle.)
A stern-looking matter-of-fact sort of a bookseller,
named Regnard, was summoned before the Judge of
this Court by one of the most engaging little milliners
that could be seen in a day's march—so innocent, so
preposessing, so full of sentiment, the spirit of poetry,
and the affections of the heart, that she at once en-
gaged the sympathies of all who were present. She
hail summoned the bookseller to restore a book con-
taining a" Forget-me-not," which was her property.
The Judge—M. Regnard, you are summoned here
to produce a book belonging to this young person,
called " The Pious Hours of Christian Ladies."

It?gnard—Oui, Monsieur ; I bought it with a num-
ber of other books. But it is not a very saleable book.
I prefer such books as "le Petite Cursiniere Bour-
geoise," cr 4.les CEuvres de Piron," which are much
more in the spirit of the present age.—(Laughter.)
• Regine stated that she had been apprenticed to
Madame Duval, a milliner. Unhappily she had lately
died, and her grief for her beloved mistress was so great
that it made her ill, and she was laid upon a sick bed.
In six weeks afterwards she went to the house of the
late Madam,: Duval to claim her little effects, when
she found that everything had been sold off for the
benefit of the creditors.

Regnard—Well, that is an affecting story of your's,
and reminds me of Paul and Virginia, which, by the bye,
is a book which has had a great sole.—(Laughter.)
Ttie Judge (to Regine)—Did you than demand the
restitution of your property ?
Regina—Only of the one book in question, Sir,
which I was desirous of having, on account of its being
a " souvenir."

Regnard—l have brought, Monsieur, a book called
" Les Heures pieuses des Dames." It is a good
edition, bound in red morocco. Here it is : lam ready to
give it up, if Mademoiselle will consent to give me the
three francs which it cost me when I purchased it.
Rcginc—l am willing to reimburse you for the book,
provided you will furnish me with my own copy. That
is not my copy ; and it was for restitution of my own
book, and not for an ordinary copy of it, that I
summoned you.

Regnard—How do you know that this is not yours?
It is the same edition, has the same binding, and the
plates are precisely what you describe.
Regine (sorrowfully)—Oh I I know my own poor
little book. It always opens in the same place ; and
besides, it has been more used than this.
The Judge—A book has been delivered to the officer
of the Court, M. Itegnard, very like that which you
produce. Your wife, it appears, found it in the shop.
Look, Mademoiselle, is this your book ?
Regine (trembling with joy)-oh, yes, yes, yes, that
is mine.

How do you distinguish it ?
Repne—lt always opens at the same place, at the
mass. Look, you will see it open. Hereupon Regine
took the precious little volume in her hands, which at
once, almost of its own accord, opened in the centre,
and at the spot indicated, disclosing to view a little
dried specimen of the myosotis, or " Forget-me•not."
Judge—Did you place the flower there ?
Rcgine—Oh, Monsieur, if I had placed it there, think
you that I should have set such a value upon the hook?
Oh no ; it was placed there by my dear mother, only
two short weeks before she descended to the silent
grave ; and I have so often wept upon that page when
praying for her repose, that the book always opens in
the cnc place.
All present were much moved by the unaffected
simplicity and affection of the poor girl ; and in-
deed the bookseller himself had allowed his feel-
ings to be so much wrought upon, that he refused
to receive the three francs which he had paid for
the book. " Take it," said be, handing her the vo-
lume, " take it, and keep your money. When you are
married, give it to your children ; and, to set them an
example of virtue and affection, you will only have to
point to that flower and say, Ne m'oubliez pas.'"