The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-05-02
JUVENlLE CoEUMN.
- - - =
WHAT rs a PIN WORTH
Papa, what is the gold y,

IelilnB uiHi 10 PICK IL up Vne cnllu, careless
BY nature, demonstrated in the words we,
have already quoted.
NCharles," said the father, reprovingly,
lido what papa tells you, and put that piti
in the pin-cushion.n
The child stopped to-obey, muttering as
he did so, ga pin! What is the worth of
H Wei, If you put that one away 1 will
tell youIa story about the worth of a pin.n
ooh, papa!" and the little face frightened
as the little one came bounding to sit upon
his fathers knee.
tsYou love stories, Charlie9r s
"Don't I, papa! do beginr g
"Many years ago, Jacques Aubrey"
"Who was thatP
ga man am telling you about; Jacques |
Aubrey left Thomeyil1e, his native village,
for"
"Tn the south of France; but, Charlie, if
you interrupt me in this fashion my story
will never he finished"
"Well, will be quiet"
jacques Aubrey left Thomeville for
Paris, hoping to make his fortune; his
parents were poor, very poor, and Jacques
started with small bundle on his back,
twenty franc piece in his purse, and %
letter of introduction from the mayor of his
native place in hispocket; it was all he had
to make his way to the world with, bnt he
was young, strong, and well educated, and
he hoped for brilliant career; he was far
too poor to afford travelling expenses, and,
save for an occasional lift, he walked the
whole way from his native village to the
capital. = .-.,.....
night in Paris, and next morning, having
arrayed himself in his best, and left his
bundle in the cheap garnet which he had al
introduction in his hand. The letter was
for one of the richest bankers in Paris, in
whose house Jacques hoped to find employ
merft, and so, with a stout heart, he set out
to find the bank the. streets were neither
very crowded nor very noisy at that early
hour: but to. poor Jacques, fresh from his
little village, they were bewildering; he
stopped, in utter astonishment, at every
other shop as il gradually displayed its, to
him, novel wares he gazed at the private
homes, taking each for a palace, and he
lost himself completely amid the many
| streets, so that it was quite late before the
country lad reached the rich mans home,
a stately house where all, from the carved
panels to the Turkish carpets, told of wealth
/ and luxury.
sWith beating heart Jacques followed
the splendid and pompous footman up stairs,
and was ushered into the private room OF
the banker; the latter was benevolent
/ looking old man with white hair, but it was
with trembling hand that his visitor
handed the letter to him; the poor lad felt
himself. so unsuited to that splendid
mansiop; his clothes, his manner, his
/ appearance seemed SO mean amid those
4 richly 1draped wallis and gilt-framed mirrors
Before he had recovered himself the banker
looked up from the Eote. :. - :.
"rYou are the Jacques Aubrey mentioned
hereP -
fSlsG rYes,' responded Jacques, with revivint
hope, but feeling that the rich man wa
eyeing him narrowly and curiously.
i "'And you are anxious to obtain TIM
place of clerk in an Officer rsa = -
81 am willing to take any place that il
offered, sir; errand-boy; if you like =
1sThe banker smiled. Good, that is tn
right spirit; you seem a likely lad, and
am sorry that have no place to offer yo'
at the present, but if vacancy occurs,
shall know to whom to, apply
"Jacques's heart stopped beating. 'Ant
you-you know of no enc The stammered
"sI am sorry to say know of no one a
present wanting a clerk, but l shall be sur
: to mention your name to my friends; your
! is GOOD recommendation. Good-lnornlng.
+ 'Good-morning, SIR said poor jacques
as he left the room with heavy heart, an
, went YEARLY down the broad staircase an
, into the paved court alone.
ne, Charlie, surrounded as yn
] are by friends and Yatchful relations, wit
! every comfort and luxury that money ca
give, Won cannot know. what poor jacques
, feelings were as he stood alone in Paris /
q strange city, lar away from ISiati'e'
!, without friends, without work, or the hop
of work, without money or home"
"But, papaw
e <'My boy 7"
: ssHe had twenty, or nearly twenty franc
r in his pocket !"
a t.What did grandpapa give you on Ne
| Years Day, Charlie 7"
y HTwenty francs"
| "And what has become of them !"
: "Spent, pap&"
3 spent And you had not to pay for foo
t or firing, rent or clothes How was tn
poor lad, who had to get all these things,
3 make his twenty francs last 7"
u "Ah, poor boy! What was he to d.
= papaq" ,.,e
. he walked slowly through that long pave
= court, and in answer a bright little sun-ra
came beaming chessily over the court wal wal
h always keep up hope The sunbeam passe
: across Jacques's head, and fell on ty
e small sharp stones that stuck up uneveni
d in the court, and the lad, following it wit
h b;a o--as cow living between the stones,