Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-02-27

to insult him: he is already unfortunate
enough
The noise had been suspended for an
instant-but, just rs our hero uttered
these words, the rioters RECOMMENDED
their cries. The lad feigned not to per-
ceive that he was the object Of them; but
his alarm was visible in his countenance.
Encouraged by his timidity, one Of the
aggressors began to pull his coat, and
another took him by the collar. George
quickly rose.
'S,op a momcnt,' said his neighbour,
catching hold Of him; don't you see
thoy are ten 10 one"
sLot them be twenty to two, them
cried he, Indignantly; Il will never stand
by tameIy and sec helpless boy ILL
used
Breaking from the grasp ofhis prudent
neighbour, he sprang lightly over the
benches, aud threw himself between the
youth and his notwithstanding, at the
same time, some knock-down blows to
the right and left, and crying out,
fCowards!----you call yourselves
Ffenchmen-and you are not ashamed
to fall, ten of you, upon one poor de-
fencelcss ad'
The aggressors were young men, most
y in state of intoxication, but yet not
so far gone as to be insensible to shame.
He says the truth cried one.
He is III the right SAID another.
BY degrees the group dispersed: those
who had received the blows skulked away
and said nothing; the others excused
themselves; and, in few minutes, tran.
quillity was restored. George took the
youth by the arm, led him out of the
theatre, and making a sign to hackney
coachmsn, hurried away, without reply
ing to TinviIls's thanks, and entreaties
10 know his name.
Three days afterwards, as he was
passing through one of the principal
streets, he felt himself seized by the
skirt Of his coat, and, looking round to
see by whom, he perceived it was the
gentleman whom he had sat next to at
the theatre.
'Heaven be praised! have found you
at last cried he: truly, you have led
Inc into fine scrape.
Il, sir?-impossible!
mo, no, it is possible enough. You
must know that have brother, one Of
the principal bankers of Marseilles:
every body speaks we'll of him but my
self; and say he is crack Drained en-
thusiast. Why, sir, you have only to re-
late to him trait Of courage or gene
rosity, and he is ready to worship the
hero Of it. I told him the other night of
the mad trick you had played, and he
flew into rage with me because did
not seize and drag you to his house vi EFT
for him had not my good sister-in-law
and my pretty niece joined his party
In short, they turned me out, with orders
not to come again without bringing you
in my hand. have hunted for you ever
since in vain; but now that have luck
lily found you, you will not refuse to re-
turn with me to dinner.
George would have excused himself.
He had only come,' he said, 'for a
very short time, on business, which was
nearly finished; he was about to depart,
and he had not moment for any thing
but business.
Even if you 20 tomorrow, you must
dine somewhere to-day-and why not as
well at my brothers as at your inn!'
With these words he put his hand un-
der the young mans arm, and drew him
along, needless of all excuses.
1t has been said that good face is
the best letter Of recommendation; and
no one ever had better than George
The banker and his family we're charm
ed with, each praised him in their way.
Mr.. Stendhal admired his open counte-
nance; his wife the modest propriety of
his manners; her mother was very old
and rather deaf, the good naturcd and re-
spectlul way in which he answered seve-
raj questions that she put to him. The
daughter, a blooming girl Of sixteen, said
nothing, but perhaps the look of pleas
ure with which she listened to the praises
bestowed by the rest Of the family was
not the least eloquent part Of the pane.
gyric.
In the course Of tho evening, Mr..
Stendhal learned that his guests name
was George, that he was an orphan, and
that he would leave Marseilles in five
or six days. He mentioned also the
names Of some Of the merchants with
whom he had done business; and one Of
them happening to be particular friend
of Stendhal's the good banker went to
him the next day, to make inquiries res
pecting his new acquaintance.
sAll know ofhim,' said the merchant,