Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-05-02
OUR COUNTRY.

of Emile Souvestre, and is taken from "rhe
Attic Philosopher in Paris, or, A Peep at the
World from a Garrett" The entire work con.
tans delicate delineations of character, and in
culcates a most wholesome philosophy. The
style is that of journal, kept by young clerk
who barely subsists from his salary, occupying
room in one of the capacious loGging-houses
of Paris
October 12H Seuen O'Clock, A. M.-1he nights
are already become cold and longs the sun.
shining through my curtains, no more wakens
me long before the hour for work and even
when my eyes are open, the pleasant warmth of
the bed keeps me fast under my counterpane.
Every morning there begins long argument
between my activity and my Incidence; and,
snugy wrapped up to the eyes, wait, like the
Gascon until they have succeeded in coming to
an agreement.
This morning, however, light, which shone
from my door upon my pillow, awoke me earli-
er than usual. In vain turned on every side ;
the persevering light like victorious enemy,
pursued me into every Ssi,ion. AT last, quite
out of patience, sat up and hurled my night
cap TO the foot of the bed
Il will observe, by way of parenthesis, that
the various evoutions of this pacific head-gear,
symbols of the vehement emotions of the mind.)
But be this as it may, got up in a very bad
humor, grumblng at my new neighbor who
took it into his head TO be wakeful when
wished to sleep. We are all made thus we do
not understand that others may live on their
own account. Each one of us is like the earth
according to the old system of Ptolemy; and
thinks he can have the whole universe revolve
round himself.
had for the time being, as have already
said, thrown my nightcap to the other end OF
my bed; and slowly dsengaged my legs from
the warm bed-clothes, while making host OF
evil reflections upon the inconvenience of hav-
ing neighbors.
For more than month had not had to
complain of those whom chance had given me
most of them only came in to sleep, and went
away again on rising. | was almost always
alone on this top-story-alone with the clouds
and the sparrows!
But at Paris nothing lasts: the current Of
life carries us along like the seaweed torn from
the rock; the houses are vessels which take
mere passengers. How many different faces
have already seen pass along the landing place
belonging to our attics How many compan-
ions of a few days have disappeared for ever !!
Some are lost in that medley of the living which
whirls continually under the scourge of neces-
sity; and others in that resting place of the
dead, who sleep under the hand of God
Peter the bookbinder is one of these last
Wrapped up in sefshness, he lived alone and
frendess; and he died as he had lived. His
loss was neither mourn ed by any one, nor dis
arranged any thing in the world; there was
merely ditch filled up in the graveyard, and
an attic emptied in our house.
1t is the same which my new neighbor has
inhabited for the last few days.
TO say truly (now that / am quite awake, and
my ill-humor is gone TO join my nightcap)-to
say truly. this new neighbour although rising
earlier than suits my idleness, is not the less a
very good man: he carries his msfortunes, as
few know how to carry their good fortunes,
with checrfuln6ss and moderation. ,-..
But fate has cruelty tried him. Father Chau-
four is but the wreck Of man. Instead of one
of his arms hangs an empty sleeve; his left leg
is made by the turner, and he drags the right
along with difficulty; but above these ruins
rises a calm and happy face. While looking
upon his countenance radiant with serene en-
ergy, while listening to his voice the tone of
which has, so to speak, the accent of goodness,
we see that the soul has remained entire in the
half-destroyed covering. The fortress is a little
damaged, as father Chauffeur says, but the gar
rison is quite hearty.
Decidedly, the more think of this excellent
L
malediction bestowed on him when l awoke.
We are generally too indulgent in our secret
wrongs towards our neighbor. All ill-wil which
does not pass the region of thought seems in
nocent to u.s. and, with our clumsy justice, we
excuse, without examination, the sin which does
not betray itself by action!
But are we then only bound to others by the
enforcement of laws? Besides these external
relations is there not real relation of feeling
between men? DO we not owe to all those who
live under the same heaven as ourselves, the
aid not only of our acts but OF our purposes
; Ought not every human life to be TO us like a
vessel that we accompany with our prayers for
t happy voyage? 1t is not enough that men
do not harm one another, they must also help
and love one another! The papal benediction,
t UrJi ct orJi! should be the constant cry from
Y all hearts. To condemn him who does not de-
: serve it, even in the mind, even by a passing
e thought, is to break the great law, that which
= has established the union of souls here below
= and to which Christ has given the sweet name
e of charity
s These thoughts came into my mind as l fin
e ished dressing and / said to myself that fathel
a Chauffeur had a right 10 a reparalion from me
n To.make amends for the feeling of ill-wil hat
against him just now owed him some explici
e p oof of sympathy. | heard him humming
n tune in his room he was at work, and deter
S mined that lwould make the first neighbor's call
e Eight o'clock P. MI found father Chaufou
h at table lighted by little smoky lamp, with
n out fire. although it is already cold, and max
e ing large pasteboard boxes he was humming
n popular song in a low toue. | had hardly en-
n tered the room, when he uttered an exclamation
e Of surprise and pleasure.
r "Eh! is it you, neighbour Come in, then
d did not think you got up so early, so put
e damper on my music; | was afraid of waking
N you"
Excellent man! whilst was sending him t
the devil, he was putting himself out of his wa
N for mel
e This thought touched me- and paid my com
IS plments on his having become my neighbo
IN with warmth which opened his heart.
"Faith you seem to me to have the look q
is a good Christian" said he in voice of soldier
like cordiality and shaking me by the hand
t 81 do not like those people who look on a land
ng-place as a frontier line, and treat their neigh
bors as if they were Cossacks. Where me
n snuff the same air, and speak the same lingo
=" they are not meant to rn their backs to eac
III other. Sit down there, neighbor; don't mea
to order you only take care of the stool, it ha
Us but three legs, and we must put good. will i
P the place of the fourth"
at seems that that is treasure which thel
is no want of here" observed.
to "Good-wilw repeated Chauffeur; "that
OF all my mother left me, and take it no son hf
received a better inheritance. Therefore the
of ueo1 to COLL mo M, (ionjeof Il, tha