The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-08-15

opinion that his charge would never be
claimed at his hands. lie became con-
vlneed that the boys unhappy defects had
made him The victim of fraud and lreachery.
Many circumstances conspired To lead Inn
TO tins conclusion. lie observed the hoy,
before the rags which he wore were taken
from him, To look upon them with surprise
aud disgust; and his satisfaction and graft
nude, when better dress was put upon
MN, were obvious. Besides, the skin Of
young Armand las the hoy was named by
MS new prolector) was US white as SNOW,
when The impurities with which il seemed
10 nave been Intentionally daubcd were
washed away. His look & hearing, also,
J were intelligent & noble, and served 10
confirm the Atbe in the imoressi,n tina,
some foul play had caused the hoy's ex-
pOsure. by setting food of various auuli- !
ties before him, moreover, il was discovered
, readily that Armand had been accustomed
10 such uutriment us is only given TO chill
} dren IN the highest and wenllhest ranks Of
life.
All the enquiries which the good De re-
pee sci on foot in consequence of this con-
siction, and all The advertisements which
he put into the public journals, failed in
ellclting the slightest information relative To
Armand's history. Meanwhile the boy
gained daily on the affections Of his bene-
factor. The Abbe's house had long been a
school or rather an asylum, for uniortunates
of Armand's class, but none of all which
entered II made such rapid progress us he
did, in acquiring "A command of those sub
Stitutes for speech which the genius of The
teacher had invented. Not many years had
passed before the youth could converse by
signs as readily os If the gift Of speech had
not been withheld. This great object ef-
icctcd, it was the Abbe's delight to store the
opening mind Of the youth with all the
riches of learning and knowledge. Anx-
iousIy, also did the priest watch as Ar
mand's intellect expanded, for any glim-
mering recollections Of infancy which
might lead to the elucidation Of The mys.
terry in which his early fortunes were in
volved. When questioned ON this subject,
all that the youth could remember, was,
that he had been brought long journey
before entering Paris. But the memories
D of other days existed. though in dormant
, state in the boys mind, aud only required
la one of the many walks which the Abbe
was IL The habit OF taking with his young
charge they chanced TO pass the courts of
justice us one of the judges was getting out
Of his carriagc. gc.-Armnnd Instantly gave u
start Of eager surprise, and Informed his
companion that IA man, robed in ermine
and in purple like the judge, used 10 hold
him IN his arms long ago aud battle his
face with kisses aud tears. This trait Of re-
nembrance struck The Able forciby. lie
conjcctured that Armand must be the son
of a Judge, md that that Judge from his
dress, mus, have lived IN some capital town,
where superior courts were held. From
the tears as well as kisses of which Armand
had recollection, his protector concluded
that The mother of the boy must have been
previously dead:
Other circumsta nccs occurred, ms Ar
mand grew III years, which strongly cxcr-
ed the priests hopes of one day being a
BILE to get justice done The youth Tor that
injustice had been done to him, the good
priest felt deeply convinced. Passing on
another occasion along the streets Armand
showed the strongest emotlOn at the sight
Of a funeral, and informed the Abbc that
he remembered being left along the streets,
dressed IN black cloak, and with great
crowd in attendance like that before him !;
snd that, after that time, he had never seen
, the person in purple robes again. /" Poor
, boy ~ thought the Able, thou art then
p an orphan, aud some base relative has ta-
, ken advantage of thy defects 10 rob thee of
, thy heritage 80 At another time, Armand,
in walking with his preceptor through the
Bnrrierc or entrance on the southern side OF
, Paris, stood still, and gazed arten,Ivcly at
, il. He then told the Able that this was
the gate by which he had entered Pars,
| and that he remembered stopping here IN
t carriage in this carrIag', he also recoIlec-
! ted he had travelled with two persons for
several days
, Mediinting on these circumstances, the
Able felt persuaded that Armand had been
left an orphan in one Of the cities Of the
south of France. Again did the benevolent
DE rEpee conceive it his duty to make en-
auries on the subject, by every chanDel he
could think Of, but the attempt was no
more successful than formerly. Siill the
good priest was not dlsbeartcned. The
conyiction was firmly implanted in his
mine. tba: a task had been assigned to hun
, by Heaven to execute, aud tina, the Ell
deayor to restore the youth to his rights
would be ultimately crowned with success.
! The Able rcyolved long ia his mind the
best means Of prosecuting this endeavor'
and came to the conclusion that the only
way was to travel with Armand through
the district to which suspicion pointed, ~
order to give him the chance Of having b's
early recollections awakened by the sight OF
the place Of his nativity. Weighty OBJ
} s,acles, however, stood in the way Of the
fuIfilnent Of this scheme. great part
Of the journey--and it might possibly be
. very long one-would require to be per-
f,,,med an f,,ot. Armand, now drawing 10