The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-05-19
Interesting 5torp.
A STORY WITH A MORAL.
THE CONTENTED MAN.
FROM woLFoHsT Roosr BY WASHINGTON IRVING


In the garden of the Tuilleries there is n
sunny corner under the wall of terrace
which fronts the south. Along the wall is a
range of benches commanding view of the
walks and avenues of the garden. This ge-
NAL nook is place of great resort in the
latter part of autumn, and in fine days in
winter as it seems to retain the flavor of de-
parted summer. On calm, bright morning
it is quite alive with nursery maids and their
playful little charges. llither also resorts a
number of ancient ladies and gentlemen, who
with laudable thrift in small pleasures and
small expenses. for which the French are to
be noted, come here to enjoy sunshincs and
save firewood. Here may often be seen some
cavalier of the old school, when the sunbeams
have warmed his blood into something like
a glow, flttcring about like frost bitten
moth thawcd before the fire, putting forth a
feeble show Of gallantry among the antiquat-
cd danes, and now and then cycling the bux-
ON nursery -maids with what might almost
be mistaken for an air of lbcrtinism.
Among the beautiful frcqucntcrs of this
place, had often remarked an old gentle
man, whose dress was decidedly ante-rcvolu-
tional. He wore the three-coInerCd cooked
hat of the ancient regime: his hair was friz-
zlcd over each car INTO allies dc pigeon, style
strongly savoring of Bourbonism: and queue
stuck out behind, the loyalty of which was
not to be disputed. His dress, though an
cient, had an air of dccayed gentility, and |
observed that he took his snutlout Of all clc-
giant though old fashioned gold box. He APP
pcarcd to be the most popular man on the
walk. lie had a compliment for every old
lady, he kissed every child, and he pattcd
every little dog on the head; for children and
little dogs are very important members of
society in France. must observe, however,
that he seldom kissed child without, at the
same time, pinching the nursery maid S
check; Frcnchnan Of the old school never
forgets his devo'r to the sex.
had taken 4 liking to this old gentle
man. There was an habitual expression of
bcnevolcnce in his face, which | have fire.
qucntly remarked in these relics of the potter
days of France. The constant interchange
of those thousand little courtisics which I'M
prrccptibly swccten life have happy effect
upon the features, and spread mellow even
ing charm over the wrinkles of the old age.
Where there is favorable prcdisposilion,
one soon forms kind of tacit intimacy by
often meeting on the same W KS Once or
twice | accommodated him With bench,
after which we touched hats on passing each
other; at length we got so far as TO take
pinch of snuff together out OF his box, which
is equivalent to eating salt together in the
East: from that time our acquaintance was
established.
now became his frequent companion in
his morning promcnadcs, and derived much
amusement from his good-humored remarks
on men and manners. One morning, as we
were stroling through the alley of the Tuil-
lerics, with the alltumnal breeze whirling the
yellow leaves about our path, my companion
fell into peculiarly communicative vein,
and gave me several particulars Of his history.
lie had once been wealthy, and possessed of
a fine estate in the country, and noble hotel
in Paris; but the revolution, which effected
so many disastrous changes, stripped him of
everything. lie was secretly denounced by
his own steward, during sanguinary period
Of the revolution and number of the blood
hounds of the Convention were sent to arrest
him. He received private intelligence of
their approach in time to effect his escape.
lie landed in England without money or
friends. but considered himself fortunate in
having his head upon his shoulders; several
of his ncighbors having been guilotned as a
4.
pu,,lS'''hcnt LOT ori'S rich'
men he reached London nc had nut a
ao"'S u. MS POCKET aha no prospect OF ge.uhs
' ..,. ,iu a'e sol'.ary alnnel on oeel.
S.;"A' ' I';u was "ii'los' po,soteu ny po'I
M,he , winch, H., IRON l's c'lor, ne hau mistaken
.o' e'r. H. ~: ~. usy looN VI 'io c,'op
AN! ~ 'le .'''le mahogany ,co.orea poA :, IN
Mi WIZ nc a'e ms u'li,eT, coh'rastco sauly
m'th INC gay saloo''s oi Ia'ls: every .hlhs
' ',, sioo:ny anu u'si'ea''enl''s: ioNcrty
s'aeu nun ~ ''ie i'ee ho tulii:a o.ei 'nc
.cw snil.lils ~ llau vi IN aise' ua NoI A.'oM
WI .s' WAS, WAY 10 oeoo'''e VI h'''' a''o-"el' "
NY ~ .i toa,. H.; . . 49,. -. ,;a.., 49,.
iie tooN l''s sca' II, 'hg Plt' ilste!lea at.el'
uvcly 10 Tragedy OF "hlcn nc olu not ui,'
, W. 81 Moau' ana "cl seemed i IMAGE
up Vi lis,'ll's anu slacoi'S, anu scenc.shiit'
."s s;' anu o'sa n 10 ieel ms spitlts sinhihs
"ll"ln n''ii' ,e.' oIs.l''s HIS eyes INV the
orchestra %hat was ms surprise 10 recognize
a 'rieilu anu l'c'snoor IN the very uce VI OK
'o'.ll ihusic from nuec Viol,scelo.
AS soo.. a. Inc evening per'o,'l'a ~ was
over nc 'aPPeu MS lriei'o OH 'ile siiouiuer;
.hey Kissed each otner on each eheek, ana
,he musician TOOK MN I'M nome anu Shared MS
logging WIN NM he haa learned music as
an accompaniment by MS lrlend ADVICE ne
now turned 10 IL as means OF support; lie
procured q VIOLIN. offered himself the Or