Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-11
THE MIsER OF MARsEIILE.

riyers Huveaume and Juvet. But this was not
always the case. Look back with me many,
many years and will show you how. i'll it used
to be supplied with water, and how in the full
ness Of time it came to be otherwise.
Once upon q time-I know not the exact date
there dWelt at Marseille n man named GuyOt
with his wife and one son. They were but hum
BILE people; and at the time my narrative begins,
the child lay sick Of fever, his tongue cleaying
TO the roof OF his mouth, and his little hot hand
pressed to his still hotter forehead, while he
ceased not to cry in a plaintive tone for n
draught of water
Alas, my child" said Madame Guyot. in
reply to his me a1ing, ''yOu know have told
you already the cistern is empty. Not drop
OF water have L in the house, and fear all our
neighbOrs are as badly off as ourselves. See,
take draught Of milk; have nOught else to
give you"
But, mother, it is not like water" replied
the boy; " 1t makes me only the more thirsty,
and almost chOkes me, it seems so thick; while
water is so cold, and refreshes me for a long
time But, alas! you have none to give me-
Ifit would but rain, for / am burning! Oh, if
were rich, would care little for the finest
wines, IL had but plenty of fresh pure, cold
WATER
Madame GuyOt, with true maternal love,
stroye to pacify the young sufferer; and having
succeeded in partially relieving his cravings by
means Of a draught Of water. which a kind
neighbor, scarcely better off than herself, sent
by the hand Of her little daughter, he at length
slept Even in his dreams, however, the me-
mory of his feverish lOngings haunted him; and
ms plaIntlTe cry for water at oft-recurring in
tervals brought tears to the mothers eyes; and
she trod softly, dreading TO awaken the boy,
lest by so doing she should also awaken his de-
sires 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. N n den on tha
young Jacques GuyOt cheerfully performed his
part In gaining q living. One evening, after
his return frQm work, as Madame Guyot was
ousIly engaged In placing the evening meal on
the table, she said to her son Jacques, you
must be content with less than your usual
quantity of water tonight, for again the cistern
Is nearly dry"
Il am sorry for that, MOTHER replied
Jacques; " but though we have often since been
very scarce of water, at least we have never
wanted it 50 badly as when had the fever
-, Jacques, can you ever forget that
Never, mother No day passes, but the
torture suffered then for draught Of water
comes into my mind; and L envy no man his
wealth In anything save his more abundant
supply of that one good gift. Is there no way
Of relieving this want by which the poor of
Marseille suffer so much, and So often ?''
1T is just because the poor are those who
suffer that they must continue to do so; wealth
mil ght remedy the evil, > answered his father.
How so 2'' asked Jacques.
Easily enough. Only let an aqueduct be
constructed 70 bring pure water from distant
river
And what would that cost, think you, ia
ther 2n
More money than you could count, my
son, ," replied the elder GuyOt; - so let US toOur
supper before it is as cold as the water You are
always dreaming about"
The meal over, Jacques wandered in the gar
f.,l I,,fr
his parents. They conversed together in an un-
deTtOne about the extraordinary manner in
which his mind dwelt on the one night of suf-
fering from thirst so long gone by.
- 1t is strange said Madame GuyOr, . how
the lad is always thinking of it. Iquite feared
to tell him how little water we have left to-
night, for it seems to grieve and trouble him
much; not for ourselves alone, but lest some un-
fortunate should have to bear sufeTings ike
those he experienced seven years ago"
Well, replied the father, even that is
not the chief object of his anxiety"
Why, surely he does not fancy himself in
love yet '" said Madame GuyOt in an accent OF
alarm. "Our neighbor's daughter, Madeline,
casts sleeps eyes at him, / know, young as he
Is; and Jacques often tells her how like little
angel she seemed to him when her mother made
her the bearer Of that draught Of water. But
II is doubtless only nonsense, for he is still a
boy, and she a full year younger"
. was not thinking Of Madeline, wife, re-
piled Monsieur GuyOt; Gin my opinion, jacques
loves something else better than all the lItle
damsels in the world-I mean money. lie Is
always boarding every sou he can collect, and
trying by all sorts of extra services, to earn
more than his daily wages; and l almost fear
our son will turn miser, since he spends nothing
he can avoid"
''Oh, If that be the case, he is doubtless think
ing Of some girl, and trying TO save against the
time when he Is old enough TO marry; but be Is
oil laI
ing a tear from her eye at the thought Of having
rival in the love Of her only child.
All, wife, said her husband, "yOu are
almost jealous Of little Madeline; but remem-
Der, you cannot expect to keep this one lamb of
yours always by your side; and l say, that if
the thought Of having some day TO provide for
wife makes the Lad 50 saving, l for one am well
content
The return Of Jacques here stopped the con-
versation. Hours after his parents were at
rest, the youth sat by the lattice in his little
chamber. A luxuriaHt vine hung over the case
ment and, waving backwards and forwards in
the moonlight, cast fantastic shadows on the
wall. Little knew the parents Of Jacques by
what strong feelings he was actuated, though
both were in part right, the father when speak
ing Of his almost miserly habits, the mother in
believing that her son loved Madeline.
The youth possessed one of those thoughtful
natures which become old too soon; and those
who wonder at love in q boy of sixteen, must
remember that in southern France the blood
runs warmer than in our foggy island. 1t was
indeed wonderful how he always thought OF
Madeline in connection with that night of fever
ish agOny-hOw like n ministering angel the
child had seemed in his eyes, when she tripped
lightly In with the cooling draught TO satisfy
his longing. The cup Of cold water had worked
with marvellous charm, and the youth re-
garded the girl with n feeling akin 10 worship.
In the eyes Of the other, she was just o bright
eyed laughing thing somewhat Wilful and ca
PRECIOUS at times, as girls are apt to be; but to
poor Jacques She was being Of heavenly
beauty.
The recent scarcity Of water had again brought
the old scene most Vividly to his mind and you
might have seen by the moonlight how pale and
sgitated was his face. After long vigil, he
rose, and taking from n secret repository sum
Of mOney-large for him to pOssess-he slowly
counted it, and then gazing earnestly on his
treasnr said anfiIy 9. III mi1ht be done m a