Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-03-31
THE BEGGAR AT THE BARRIER
DE PASSY

THE BEGGAR AT THE BARRIER
DE PASSY
Many years since, when was young
man about twenty years Of age, used We.
ry frequnty to spend Sunday with my
mother, who resided at Versailles, this be
ing the only day of the week on which
could leave Paris. generally walked as
far as the Barrier, and thence | took a seal
in one of the public carriages to my moth
ers house.-When happened to be too
early for the diligence. used to stop and
converse with beggar whose name was
Anthony, and who regularly to his station
at the Barrier dc Passy, where, in a loud
voice, he solicited arms from every one
who passed, with degree of perseverance
that was really astonishing. ! generally
| gave him trtle, without nquiring wheth-
er he deserved it or not, patty because
had got into the habit OF doing so and part
ly to get rid of his opportunities. One
day in summer as | waited for the dill
exerting hi. lungs, and bawling incesantIy
his accustomed form Of petition-'For the
love heuven, bestow your arms on poor
man Messieurs, Madames, the smallest
trifles will be greatfully received While
| Anthony was in this manner pouring forth
his exclamation into the ears of every one
who came within reach of his voice. u
middle aged man of respectable parents
Joined US. He had pleasant expression
of countenance, was very well dressed, and
it might be seen at glance that he was
a man in good circumstances. Here was
fit subject for the beggar, who quickly
made his advances, procaiming in loud
voice his poverty, and soliciting relief -
You need not be a bcggar unless you
please, said the gentleman, when you can
have an income of 10000 crowns You
, are pleased to JEST answered Ant hony'
BY no means said the gentcman,I was
never more serious in my life Listen to
me, my frend.- You perceive that | am
we'll dressed, and tell you that have ev-
cry thing that reasonable man need de-
sire. 'Ab sir, you are a fortunate man.
SWELL, but my friend, would not have
been so ifI had sat and begged as you are
doing 4 have no other means of gain
ing my living Are you lame? No, sir.
tanly are not dumb, as every passer by can
testify. Listen; shall tell you my histo.
J ~ in few words. Some fifteen or twenty
years ago, was beggar like yourself; at
length began to see that it was very dis
graceful to live on the bounty of others.
and resolved to abandon this shameful
way of life as soon as | possibly could. |
; quilted ParIs-l went into the Provinces
begged for cd rags. The people were
very kind to me, and in short time | re-
turned to Paris with tolerubly large bun
: die of rags of every description. carried
, them to paper maker, who bought them
} at fair price. went on collecting, until
to my great joy, my fnancies enabled me
} to purchase rags so that was no longer
forced to beg for them.
At length, by diligence and industry. I
became rich enough to buy an ass with two
panniers, and thus saved me both time and
labor. My business increased, the paper
makers found that dealt honestly by them;
' never palmcd off old rags for good ones :;
prospered, and see the resut-in place of
= being poor despised beggar, have ten
' thousand crowns year, and two houses in
one of the best streets in Paris. If, then
. nv friend, you can do no better, begin as a
. rag merchant, and here he continued. lis
= crown to set you up in your new trade
it is more than had; and IN addition,
o please take notice, that if find you here,
o another Sunday. shall report you to the
d police On saying this, the old gentleman
: walked off, leaving Anthony and myself in
n great surprise. Indeed. the begger had
n been so much interested in the history he
e had heard, that he stood with open mouth
n and eyes in astonishment, nor had he even
j. power to solicit aims from two well dressed
it ladies' who passed at that moment. | could
a not help being struck with the story. but
e had no time to comment on it, as the dill
n gence had arrived in which ! seated my
self and pursued my way. From that pc
!. Rod lost sight Of the beggar, whether the
/, fear of the police, or the hopes of gaining
i ten thousand crowns year, had wrought
o the change, | was not aware; it is sutii
:, cient to say, that from that day forward he
If was never seen at the Barrier. Many years
d after, it happened that business called me
n TO Tours. In strolllng the city | stepped
= into booksellers shop to purchase new
v work that had made some noise. | found
il three four young men, all buslly employed
is while stout good looking man was giving
them orders, as he walked up and down
WIFI uH ar VI lHipo'lunSc' '"'"S"t
had seen the face Of the bookseller, be-
= fore, but where. could not for the mo
/. ment tell. until he spoke, and then | dis
d covered him to be my old friend Anthony
Y The recognition was mutual he grasped
t, my hand, and led me through his shop into
.e a well furnished parlor; he lavlshed every
!. kindness on me and, finally gave me his
il history from the time we parted at the
;e Barrier. With the crown Of the stranger
l. he begun, as he had advised him, to col
lect rags; he made money; became The