The North-Carolina standard., 1843-05-24

SLIL, Idlr-nalredS plnk-comPIeXfoned youth was
preferred to Cocas the notarys wife having pithiz
ly informed her obedient husband, that his house
should be no dwelling place for hunchback 1
Jacques Cocast sighed as he turned from the
notary's door, and his heart beat heavily az he
crawled to his paterna1 home. In two or three
days, however, the hunchbaek smiled and laugh
ed as before, and the clerkship was forgotten in
sweet communings with his book.
Some four years passed on--when oh, shame
to the notary's wife-shame to the 1air-haired
youth-the faithless woman fed from the bosom
of her husband, taking with her her husbands
clerk. Great was the CONSERVATION, throughout
the village-loud and deep the revi1ngs Of every
honest spouse. Jacques Cocast joined in no a.
buse but with fine charity for the inexpcrience
| of youth, with even a tenderness towards the sin
of the unfaithful wife, and considering within HIM
self the subtle powers ofthe tempter he felt grate
ful for his escape, and breathed his gratitude in
his wonted syllables,
''Thank God for my hunchy'
Jacques Cocast was now painstakhng, philos-
ophic tailor; and from no higher elevation than
his shopboard, could look down on many ofthe
vanites ofhuman life. He was now twenty, and
increasing years had only served to mellow his
rich heart and make him feel Iessening load uP-"
on his shoulders, Jacques would make one at
all village holidays, led thereto by his own light-
heartedness, and of late, furthermore urged to-
each festival by the blue eyes Of Felicte, the ba4
ker's daughter.
Luckless Jacques Cocast! Fly the sweet per-
dition You know not the falsehood ofthose
azure lights-the venom of that pouting, pulpy
lip; Felicite laughs with a wtch's laugh at the
love ofthe hunchback-whilst he, poor innocent
exalted, snblinated by his passion, lives in an
atmosphere Of balm and sun--vaults like grass
hopper about the earth, and gives his heart and
soul to the tyrrany that rejoices him. Jacques
Cocast knew not vanity. He would clothe him.
self in the humblest weed, and then think that
the best wardrobe which drew to itself the least
notice. Now was it otherwise. The eyes Of
Felicite had smiled upon the tailor, and Jacques
Cocast should hcnccforth be the best and the
most critical customer Of Jacques Cocast IF
Felcite had looked with favor on his body, he
would take the hitherto despised article under his
future care, and habit it worthy other who elect
ed it as her own. AS for his hump, that was
gone, yea, vanished, melted in the sunlight of
Felcite's eyes. With these rejoicing thoughts
Jacques Cocast would array himself finely as the
finest caterpiler: his vestments now barred, and
spotted, and FURNISHED with hundred hues.--%
And as he basked in the smiles of Felcte, the ba-
ker's wicked daughter would laugh in her hollow
heart, and the folks of the village would eonidcn-
tally clap their fingers to their noses5 and wink
towards the tailor.
For month or more was Jacques Cocast the
blissful Adam of this fools paradise! For full
month did he breathe Elysium. At length TIE
eyes of jacques Cocast were opened and he saw
his forlornness. 1t was the day of ducGSse.--
In the pride of his heart, and IN all the glory of
his trade, did the hunchback array himself TO
dance with Felicite, the bakers daughter. She
IoI &c LOT
der. The next dance may be at their wedding!
At all events, how they would dance on the CON-
ing holiday. He, the hunchback, buoyed by his
own loving heart, would foot it so lightly, that
not blade of grass should bend beneath him
not dew-drop be scattered by his mercurial toe.
The dancers are assembled. The fddlerS
sound. jacques Cocast, in all the glories Of a
new suit, burning like a peacock IN the conflict
of colors, and in the triumph of gladdened soul,
advances to lead out Fecite, the bakers daugh-
ter. Already he has his hand upon her handy
when a gigantic thumb and finger; with vicelike
power, gripcs the nose of Jacques Cocast and
whirls him from his partner. A laugh that
browns the fddles burst upon the mcrrymakers.
Jacques Cocast, with lightning in his eyes, and
all the blood in his body rushing to his nose, looks
for his assaiant.
Hercule Grossetetc, rival of six feet, French
measure, with hcrce eyes. and parrot nosej glar-
ing and protruding from between raven whiskers,
with arms a-kimbo, stands before the tailor. New
ertheless, the soul of Jacques Cocast is mighty,
and he is meditating how he may best spring uP-
on the giant and tear his iron heart from his body
when-oh, ye daughters of Eve! oh, ye rosy
wickedness, ye honeycd poisons! Felicitc, the
bakers daughter, advanced to Herculc, and curt
seying, and putting her hand in his-yet warm
from the outraged nose other doating lover, sig
nifed that she was ready to dance, that she had
looked with eyes of favor on the punishment Of
the tailor. Then sank the heart of Jacques Co
cast He Quilted the scene of his past agony of
despair and wandered very lunatic,
Foolish Jacques Cocast! Who would pity
the despair Of hunchback? Who compassion
ate love broken heart if accompanied by over
laden shoulders? What is beautiful sentiment
with STRAIGHTFORWARD, cornely man, is a thing
for jest, an excellent joke with hunchback.--
And so, Jacques Cocast, go home. Sleep not in
the fields at night. Lie not under the window Of
the bakers daughter, and waste not away until,
as you complain your head has grown too little
for your hat-but UP, man, and to your comfor-
table abode. Shave yourself change your linen,