New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-09-04

Those days Of old, when youth was bold,
And time stole wings to speed it
And youth neer knew how fast time few,
Or knowing, did not heed it!
Though gray each brow that meets now, .ss
For age brings wintry weather.
Yet naught can be so sweet to
As those old friends together
The few long known; whom years have shown
With hearts that friendship blesses
hand to cheer. perchance tear
To soothe a friends distresses
Vino helped and tried still side by side.
friend to face hard weather
Oh thus may we yet joy to
And meet old friends together. .
THE HUNcHBACK OF sTRAsBoURa;
Or, The Notary's Clerk.
In the department of the Bas- -Rhin, France,
and not more than about two leagues north of
Strasbourg, lived Antoine Delessert, who farm
ed, or intended farming, his own land-about
ten-acre slice of sc national . property, which
had fallen to him, nobody very we'll knew how,
during the hurly -burly Of the great revolution.
He was about five ard thirty, widower, and
had one child, likewise named Antoine, but fa-
miliarly known as lie Bossu (the hunchback,) a
designation derived like his fathers acres, from
the revolution, somebody having, during one
Of the earlier and liyeiier episodes of that ex-
citing drama, thrown the poor little fellow out Of
window in Strasbourg, and broken his back.
When this happened, Antoine, pere, was jour-
neyman fer6ldntier (tinman) of that city. Sub
sequently, he became an active, though subordi-
nate member of the local Salut Public, in vir-
tue of which patriotic function he obtained Les
Pres, the name Of his magnificent estate. Work
ing at his trade was now, of course, out of the
question. Farming, as every body knows, is q
gentlemanly occupation, skill in which comes
BY nature, and Citizen Delessert forthwith be-
took himself with his son to Les Pres, in the full
belief that he had stepped at once into the dig
nifed and delightful position of the ousted aris-
tocrat to whom Les Pres had once belonged, and
whose naughty head he had seen fall into the
basket. But envious clouds will darken the
brightest sky; and the new proprietor found, on
taking possession Of his quiet, unencumbered
domain, that property has its plaques as well as
pleasures. True, there was the land but not
plant or seed thereon or therein, nor an agri-
cultural implement of any kind to work it with.
The walls of the old rambling house were stand
ing, and the roof, except in about dozen places,
kept out the rain with some success, but the
nimble, unrespecting fingers Of preceding patri-
OTIS had carried off not only every vestige of fur
niture, usually so called, but coppers, cistern,
pump, locks, hinges-nay, some of the very
doors and window frames. Delessert was pro-
foundly discontented. He remarked to LIE Bossu
(now sharp lad Of some twelve years of age)
that he was at last convinced of the entire truth
of his cousin Boisdets frequent observation
that the revolution, glorious as it might be- had
been stained and dishonored by many shameful
excesses-an admission which the son, with
keen remembrance of his compulsory flight from
the window, sayagely endorsed.
sPeste!" exclaimed the new proprietor, after
heightened and painful examination of the
dilapidations and general nakedness Of his estate
| Sc this is embarrassing. Citizen Destouehes
was right. l must raise money upon the pro.
perty to replace what those brigands have car
ried off. / shall require three thousand francs
at the very least
The calculation was dispiriting; and, afte
a nights lodging on the bare floor, damply en-
veloped in few old sacks, the financial horizon
did not look one whit less gloomy in the eyes o
Citizen Delessert. Destouches, he sadly reflect
| ed, was an iron listed notary public, who len
money at exhorbitant interest to distressed lane
| owners, and was driving, people said, thriving
| trade in that way now. His pulse must, how
ever, be felt, and money be obtained, however
hard the terms. This was unmistakably evil
dent; and, with the conviction tugging at hi.
heart, Citizen Delessert took his pensive way to-
| ward Strasbourg.
stYou guess my errand, Citizen Destouches p
said Delessert, addressing fiinty faced man Of
about his own age, in small room of Numero
8, Rue Bechard.
"Yes money. How much 70
ssThree thousand francs is my calculation .
"Three thousand francs! You are not afraid
| of opening your mouth, see! Three thousand
! francs !-humph! Security, ten acress of mid
ding land, uncultivated, tumble-down house
| title, droit de guillotine. 1t is a risk, but
| think l may venture. Pierre Nadaud,'' he con-
tinued, addressing black -browed sly, sinister.
| eyed clerk, 'sdraw bond, secured upon Les
Pres and the appurtenances, for three thousand
| francs, with interest at ten per cent
"Morbleu but that is famous interestp' in
l tny.Ia Tod nnlo III
| payable quarterly If demanded,'' the nota.
ry continued, not heeding his clients observa-
tion; "with power, Of course, to the lender te
sell, if necessary, to reimburse his capital, as
we'll as all accruing don,mag ages- interests"
The borrower drew q long breath, but only
muttered-'s All, well-no matter We shall
work hard, Antoine and L.
| The legal document was soon formally drawn
Citizen Delessert signed and sealed, and he hat
only now to pouch the cash, which the notary
placed upon the table.
"Ah, ca p he cried, cycling the roll of paper
proffered to his acceptance with extreme disgust
'' 1t is not in those chifons of assignats, is it
that am to receive three thousand francs, a
ten per cent? p
! "My friend,' rejoined the notary, with grea
severity, +" take care what you say The of
fense of depreciating the credit or money of tn
Republic is grave one.
1
promptly replied Delessert. g The paper none
Of our glorious Republic is of inestimable value
but the fact is, Citizen Destouches have
| weakness, confess it, for coin money-arge,a
metaHique. In case of fire, for instance, it
&c 1t is very remarkable" interrupted the no
tory, with increased sternness-"it is very re
markable, Pierre Pierre was an Influential
member of the Salut Public that the instan
man becomes landed proprietor he betray
symptoms of inciuisme-is discovered to be, il
fact, an aristocq at heart
"I an aristocq!" exclaimed Delessert, turn
ing very pale; "you are iesting, surely. See
take these admirable assignats-three thou
sand francs worth, at ten per cent.-with tn
greatest pleasure. Oh; never mind countin
among friends j.
ssPardon!'' replied Destouches, with rigi
scrupulosity. cit is necessary to be extremel
cautious in matters of business. Deductln
thirty francs for the bond, you will, l think
find the money correct; but count it yourself.
: ssDelessert pretended to do so, but the rag
in his heart so caused his eyes to dance an
: dazzle, and his hands to shake, that he coul
scarcely see the figures on the assignats, or ser
: arate one from the other. He bundled them II
e at last, crammed them into his pocket, and hun
ried off, with sickly smile upon his face, an
1, the maledictions which found fierce utterance 6
soon as he had reached safe distance, tren
bling on his tongue.
kss Seelerat! coquin!'' he savagely mutteret
aTen per cent. for this moonshine money!
> only wish -. But never mind-what's sau'
for the goose is sauce for the gander. l mu
. i,,,,, th, mo that ho 20 1as