The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-05-13

tune should have had such an effect" replied
the Marquis. slr.r 81 b. ,s.;..,- ! IL -
"Yeu will understand it better when have
finished my story, Monsieur" she added, wipinp
her eyes. The least stroke of work was
largely paid. For q days labor he GOT f;fty
francsj for nishtss, he got double. ANYBODY
else would have taken advantage of such wages
to give himself . good start, and to secure him.
self . positions for the future; but instead of
doing this, when Simon found himself earning
20 easily, he began all at once to spend his
money even faster than he earned it."
!" But could you do nothing to hinder this
wastefulnessfp interposed the Marquis.
"Ah, Aopsieur, you little know how slight
mans household. The more preached to
him, the more he stayed away from home At
last he would only work two days out of the
seven, declaring that what he thus gained was
enough for our wants; and by degrees, as he
got into the way of frequenting the wine shop,
he quite lost al interest in his work.
Here her tears broke forth anew, causing her
| to pause in her recital. ..
But have yon lost az power over your hus.
band?" demanded the Marquis. "Could YOU
not induce him to listen to reason, at least
when you are at table together2 You should
talk to him while you are at dinner, which is
the best time you could choose for suggesting
good ideas, that might not be 30 well received
at any other time"
he has not taken his meals at home for
very long time, Monsieur" rejoined the wife,
despondently.
"He no longer takes his meals with you |
that is indeed very serious symptom Has
he evet told you why he goes elsewhere for his
meals?"
he says the food is not eatable at home"
In that case he is perfectly justified in eat.
ing elsewhere"
But whose fault is it, Monsieur, if the food
is not good at home? Can you. make the spit
turn without money? For long time past he
has given me nothing for the housekeeping
and of course there is nothing in the larder"
Perhaps little gentleness on your part
would change his feeling"
have worn ont all my patience in the eff
fort. Reproaches and entreaties are alike
thrown away. have put up with all this un.
happiness and misery for three years, and
am determined to bear it no longer. have
made up my mind to leave him, and next week
| go homes my parents in Brittany. will
work with them, and have no fear but / shall
be able to make an honest living"
"Whati Do you mean to give him up alto.
gether ?"
Altogether. Having once left him, shall
never return. Oh, if you knew what have
suffered during these three years." she added,
clasping her hands and weeping afresh, you
would not wonder at the resolution / have
taken"
Poor child" exclaimed the Marquis, who
was really touched by the distress of the neg
lected wife, and the idea of the empty harder.
6 Your position is undoubtedly very trying
one but take courage; there is remedy for
almost all misfortunes and see very easy
and eAfectusl one for yours"
"Oh, Monsieur, would to Heaven it we're so |
but think that is impossible" sobbed Madame
| Leblanc
Listen to me, mon e,.tant," continued her
visitor. " am the Marquis de Cussy. People
call me the Prince of Commands, which is
merely piece of fattery; they ought rather to
call me the Prince of Doctors, which would be
only justice. / will cure your husband"
You, Monsieur? And how will you cure
him 2"
- With the help OF my science. But can
do 80 only on one condition, which is this you
must let me have my own way in everything
that may think necessary to effect his cure"
Such condition is too reasonable to be re.
fused, Monsieur" replied the wife, who had
stopped crying, and was listening with all her
ears to the discourse Of the Marquis.
shall begin by writing few lines to
your husband, which you will hand to him as
soon as he comes in" pursued the gastronoaef,
as he seated himself at q little table, and wrote
with his pencil few words upon the back of a
letter he had taken from his pocket book. 'fThis
is the first of my prescriptions" he continued
as he handed the paper to Madame Leblanc
"po not forget that it @ust be followed
With the post implicit obedience" And taking
up his hat, the Marquis bowed smilipaly to the
painters wife, and took his departure.
When Simon Leblanc entered bis deserted
home that evening, bis wife handed him the
note, which ran as follows
am assured, Monsieur, that you are one of
best porcelain painters in Paris, and the speci
mems have seen of your work convince me
that you can satisfactorily finish the saueers
leave with this lsttar, lostiaed to complete
service Of which two have been broken, as you
viii see by the accompanying Fragments, which
will serve as your patterns. I need not add that
the rec0mpense of this work will be worthy of
your talent and of the exalted station OF the
parsonage for WHOM these ssueers are de-
manded. Money ia not the sole consideration
With an artist of merit we shall easily come to
an understanding on this point.
Meanwhile, permit me to impose on you one
slight condition. For the last fifty years II am
now xty-fve) have never arranged any mat |
ter Of business without having previously ainei
fore to inform yoa that hereby invite myself
to dine with you tomorrow family dinner
with you and your wife.
f "MAR9pIs De CpssY.'
"What an old sort Of customer 10 said the |
porcelain painter to himself, as he perused the |
missive Marquis that invites himself to dine |
in garnet where there Is not q mouthful to |
eat. But like his free and easy sort of way |
Let him come; and we'll see what can be DONE" |
So Saying, Simon Leblanc began to examine |
the broken china left BY the Marquis. "Two |
saucers like these will take eight days to fnish,"
he remarked, nusingly; "a wearisome Job. |
But we'll think about It tomorrow"
Next morning, on awaking, the saucers we're |
the FIRST thing he thought of.
Deuce take the man and his letter . he |
exclaimed. "If he had only left the order, / |
SHOULD Just have left him and his saucers to |
look after Themselves; but what can one do |
when Marquis not only gives one an order,
but invites himself TO dine with one this very
evening 2"
During the whole Of the morning the painter
remained at home, wandering restlessly in and |
ont Of the little room in which he used to work
in the happier days that seemed to have cons |
by for ever. About noon he began TO prepare
his colors before long, he was busy sketckina
his patterns. His. wife, Who could hardly be-
lieve her eyes, watched him anxiously, but
said nothing. s4''
ai' AZ the clocks in the neighborhood we're
striking two, the painters bell rang, and the
Maeqnis appeared.
aAa tol,' cried he, holding out his hand to
the painter, am come early, a. you see, for
l vAs impatient 70 make your acquaintance.
Allow me- 10 Compliments you very sincerely on
your promptitude," he continued, seeing that