Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-10-08
THE MARsElLLEs MISER.

Marseilles is n city of fountains, and has
fine aqueduct, almost entirely subterranean, b,
which pure water Is brought from the little riy
ers Hnyeaume and Juyet. But this was no
always the case. Look back with me many
many years, and 1 will show you how i'll i
used to be supplied with water, and how il
the fnllness of time it came to be otherwise.
Once upon time-l know not exactly the
date-there dwelt at Marseilles man named
Guyot, with his wife and one son. They were
but humble people; and at the time my nara.
tive begins, the child lay sick of fever, his
tongue cleaving to the roof of his mouth, and
his little hot hand pressed to his still hotter
forehead, while he ceased not to cry in plain
tive tone for a draught of water.
" Alas, my child,'' said Madame Guyot, in
reply to his moaning, +" You know L have told
you already the cistern is empty. Not a drop
OF water have in the house, and fear all our
neighbors are as badly off as ourselves. See,
take draug.tt of milk; have nothing else to
give you.''
& But, mother, it is not like water" replied
the boy &c it makes me only the more thirsty,
and almost chokes me, it seems so thick; while
water is so cold, and refreshes me for long
time. But, alas y0n have none to give me.
If it would but rain, for am burning Oh, If
! were rich, would care little for the finest
wines if had but plenty of fresh, pure, cold
water.'
Madame Guyot, with true maternal love,
stroye to paciiy the young sufferer; and hav-
ing succeeded in partially relieving his cray-
ings by means Of a draught Of water, which
-i4,-,---.y isstu $685.. -iissio -ssaa6 Isor,
he at length slept. Even in his dreams, how
ever, the memory of his feverIsh longings
haunted him and his plaintive cry for water
at oft recurring intervals, brought tears to the
mothers eyes and she troll softly, dreading
to awaken the boy, lest by so doing she should
also awaken his desires to greater activity,
when she knew she was without the means of
satisfying them.
Seven years later and the fever-stricken boy
had grown into fine thoughtful youth Of six
teen. No longer dependent on bis parents,
The young Jacques Guyot cheerfully perform
ed bis part in gaining living. One evening
after his return from work, as Madame Guyot
was busily engaged in placing the evening
meal on the table she said to her son, HJac-
lues, you must be content with less than your
usual quantity of water tonight, for again the
cistern is dry"
90, am sorry for that, mother" replied
Jacques, ,'but though we have often since been |
iery scarce of water, at least we have never |
wanted it 50 badly as when had the fever"
"Oh, Jacques, can you never forget thatl'
'' Never mother. No day passes but the |
orture suffered then for draught of water
ZONES into my mind and envy no man his
wealth in anything save his more abundant
upply of that one good gift. Is there no way
If relieving this want by which the poor OF
larseilles suffer so much and SO often 2''
&c 1t is just because the poor are those who
utter that they must continue to do so
fealth might remedy the evil" answered his
nther.
6 How so 2'' asked jacques
&c Easily enough. Only let an aqueduct be
onstructed to bring pure water from distant
iYer''
&c And what would that cost, think you,
ither2''
&c More money than you could count, my
on" replied the elder Guyot; ESQ let us to
upper before it is as cold as the water you are
lways dreaming about.'' N
The meal over, jacques wandered in the
arden thoughtfully and silent, but not unno-
ICED by his parents. They conversed togeth-
+ in an under tone about the extraordinary
lanner in which his mind dwelt on the one
light Of suffering from thirst so long gone
".
&c 1t is strange said Madame Guyot, show
he lad is always thinking of it. quite feared
0 tell him how little water We have left to-
light for 1t seems TO grieye and trouble him SO
luch not for ourselves alone, but less some
Unfortunate one should have to bear suffer-
ngs like those he experienced seven years
CO."
ot the chief object of his anxiety"
Why, surely, he does not fancy himself in
we yeti" said Madame Guyot, in an accent
f alarm. sour neighbor's daughter, Made
inc, casts shcep's-eyes at him, know, young
$ he is; and jacques often tells her how Like
little angel she seemed to HIM when her
lother made her the bearer of that draught
water. But, it is doubtless, only nonsense,
or he is still boy, and she is full year
1unger."
g was not thinking of Madeline. wife, p re-
lied Monsieur Gnyct; sc in my opinion, Jac-
ues loves something else better than all the ;
tile damselS in the world-l mean money!
e is always boarding every sou he can col ,,
ct, and trying by all sorts OF extra services, !
J earn more than bis daily wages ; and al
lost fear our son will turn niser, since he
'ends nothing he can avoid"
"Oh, If that be the case, he is, doubtless,
linking OF some girl, and trying to save y
sainst the time when he is old enough to mar {
:; but he is good youth,'' added Madame
uyet, brushing tear from her eye at the ..
ought of having arrival in the love of her
,ly child. 5sIa j 4
Z" Ah, wife, said her husband, "you are al !
ost jealous OF little Madeline; but remem- !
or You cannot expect to keep this enc lamb
yours by your side; and say that If tha ~
ought OF having some day, to provide for a
lie makes the lad SO saving, for one am well ,,
INTENT" 1880 .iT5# !
The return of jacques here stopped the
nyersation. Hours after his parents were
rest the youth sat by the lattice in his little
amber. luxurIant vine hung over the !
sement, and waving backwards and forwards
the moonlight, cast fantastic shadows on the | 5
III. Little knew the parents of jacques by
nat strong feelings he was actuated, though 9
th We're in part right-the father when !
eaking Of his almost miserly habits, the
other in believing that her son loved Made
e.