Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-02-14
a. RxilIionare Beggar.

The Paris correspondent Of the Elk
press Jacques Benhomme) is RESPONSE
bic for the following story:
1t is long since | related it to you n
rather curious story ola young female
ragpicker, who turned QUITO be The daugh-
ter of a wealthy merchant" Here is the
fellow to that anecdote, it is still more
marvellous but not less true. Upon one
Of the most unfrequented bridges Of Paris
was every day to be seen a man of sixty
years Of age, clothed in seeming good
health. This man asked the charity Of
passers-by in a plaintiye voice, and as he
appeared worthy, many a sou was thrown
in to his cup. One evening a lady passed
near him and taking a peice Of money
from her purse, put it in the old mans
hand and walk on, conscious Of having
done a kind act. Upon returning to her
house, she discovered that instead Of a
penny she had through mistake, given
the old beggar a twenty franc peice.-
She Immediately returned to the bridge,
but the medicant was gone. Turning to
a woman also a beggar upon the bridge
she inquired the old mans address, and
learned that he lived in Rue de Lille. The
next morning she went to the house indi-
Gated and found it tt be an elegant hotel.
mo doubt he lives in one ofthose gar
refs, where he is permitted to lodge rent
free. Is Old Marcel within!;' she deman-
ded of the porter,
EtFirsf story in front Modnu,aIs5
Arrivedat the rooms alluded to, the la
dy felt cert;.in there must be some mis-
take. She did not like to trouble the SER
wants of a prince TO ask after a beggar,
but finally suspressing her emotions and
determined to see the end of the adyen.
ture she rung the bell 4 man in livery
presented himself.
"Could you show me the room of old
MarceR' asked the lady.
1t is here answered the servant;
please sit down and ! will go and call
Monsieur.
'Ihere is certainly a blunder some
where, thought the lady; 'but as the same
names are frequently borne BY rich and
poor alike, | shall only need to beg par
don.'
Scarcely had she seated herself upon
a sofa when a second domestic opened
the door of a handsome saloon, and a
tall old man wrapped in a rich morning
gown, advanced and said:
Ofwhat service can | be to you, mad
amer
Why sir stamered the lady, Il trust
you will excuse the apparent impertinence
but the name, the address, even a striking
resemblance, may plead for the error ]
have made. These are the curcumstan-
ces; Yesterday in passing over the Pont
Royal, / hastily gave a Napoiean instead
OF a copper TO a poor man who, but these
details are useless; permit me to retire.
Remain, madame, if you please lie
answered, smiling, you are not mistaken.
You are speaking 10 old Marcel, and |
recognise you as the lady who has fire..
4nently bestowed alms upon me. IF by
error you gave me u twenty franc peice
we will try to recover the coin.
Pierre! bring me yesterdays r~eceiptsn
The lackey disappeared, and the lady
wasmore astonished than ever. In a mo.
nent Pierre returned bearing a large
plate, upon which was a pile Of small
money which the old man ordered him to
empty upon the table. Marcel then turn.
ed oYer the coppers, and presently found
tho gold peice.