The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-10-23
=. JUVENILE coLyM !! q
THE LITTLE HUNCHBAcK.

- ~POu tn0 tuHe@uoAQ OF tQo door. Sh
was an excellent woman, of about fort
years of age, who had refused to MARI;
that she might devote herself to the car
OF her dear nephew. A large, round strav
nat Mapped against her gentle face, and ,
dress Of lilac calico, very clean and Of YER,
me quality, set of her rather robust figure
Io soon as sne heard the noise of the wheel
she ran with the agility of twenty wears
and the carriage having stopped, in til,
avenue, she took the child in her arms AND
l carried him OFF as if it were treasure all
her own. y -
:, While the father and mother were hayips
| the carriage unloaded and the boxes I'M.
packed, she took the little Alexander to IT,
Darn yard to the fish-pOnd, then into the
pretty room adjoining her own, that she
! might watch over his SAUNDERS at night
and then into the dining groom, where vi
already spread upon. the table all the Eng
lis llsh delicacies prepared by Miss Lydia
Ihere Were beautiful bowls of foamiup
cream, white puddings and black puddings
ginger and aniseseed cakes, custards pow.
dered with saffron and grated cinnamon
preserves OF grape,jnice and barberries-
sweetmeats which appear q little hazard
GUS, perhaps, to French palate, but which
are the delight of English children. -
Ihey took their seats, and Alexander,
forgetting hiA' studies occupations for
the acquisition of sknow1Ske, enjoyed like a
little gourmand. all the dishes prepared by
this kind Aunt Lydia.
The very next day the curate, Mr.. D.,
former classmate Of. this gentleman, who
lived retired on o farm in the neiehborhood.
was summoned To the cottage at Rinfeld.
they deHberatsdJ and it was decided that
and mental exercise92 4 the boy. After
study honrs, she cshol Ike lons walks in
the forest, either on Rot Or should ride on
Q little pony. which his father procured for
him.
The child submitted to these walks be-
cause, while taking them, he could compose
verses and recite them aloud in the face of
silent nature, who seemed to listen. He
particularly liked to declaim the verse of
Virgil and Homer in this manner. He
loved to join the harmony Of these beauti-
full ancient languages to the melodious rus
tie OF the ancestral trees.
Scarcely one year had elapsed ere the
chlid's bright eyes and rosy complexion,
acquired IN the open air, gave evidence OF
health and even strength. Only his figure
continued stunted; and when by chance
he looked into mirror or stream of
water, he would say to himself sadly, ooh!
shall always be the little Hunchback ~
But then again, raising his head proudly,
''Ah what will it signify if ! am great
The" 1liad ?" interested him to such de-
gree that, unknown to his father and pre-
ceptor, he practised dramatizing some of
Homer's heroes. At twelve years old he
wrote kind of tragedy in English verse
upon Ajax-a very just, very concise, and
often very beautiful reflex of Homer's
verses. When he had finished this essay.
and read it one evening in the family circle,
tutor and father were struck with astonish-
nent and admiration impossible for them
to conceal, As to the mother and aunt.
their enthusiasm found vent in the tears
aud caresses with which they .showered the
little poet.
aunt, "and we must celebrate it worthily,
or this dear child will be the glory OF his
amily." - ~
The father proposed to invite all the
gentry who lived in the ighhayboOd, and
cad to them this tragedy OF Ajax on the
of his sons birth.
The kind citrate, mother and aunt ap-
proved the idea.
"Father," replied the child, ait will
ound very cold. If Mr.. D., among his ac-
tuaintances and pupils, can find the neces-
AIRY actors, would it not be better to trans
orm this hail into theatre, and act my |
ragedy, and will play she part of Ajax III
What an ideal" exclaimed his mother
mildly.
ooh! I understand you," replied the
hid, little sadly; *you are afraid shall
make them laugh. Never fear, they shall |
ot see my fgure-they shall only hear my
erses and, this time, l feel SO sure of my
elf that want all my former school com
anions who ridiculed me to be at the rep
The child's wishes were never thwarted
y his family, who adOred him. 1t was de-
srmined that great festival should be
iven in the month of May, at this charm
lg cottage of Binfield.
The kind curate took charge of the re-
earsals of the tragedy of Ajax, the father
the invitations, and the aunt of the
of the splendid lunch which
ould be given to the aristocratic assem-
ly. As for the loving mother, she was
coupled with Ajax's costume. With a
are bordering on anxiety, she labored to
isguise her little Alexander; she Invented
cots to increase his height, and species of
lrass which would conceal the deformity
his shoulders.
When this lovely May day had arrived,
le carriages with their armorial bearings
lme from all quarters into the wide ave-
ues of Windsor Forests Birds warbled
nder the budding foliagsE&nd seemed to
lexander's former schoolmates had failed
come. Many mobiles and celebrated au-
lors of the age were present, fair ladies
I'D pretty young girls, All the guests
egan by partaking of the lunch
II in England a good repast is pleasure
ot to be despised: we might say, "Eat
ell and drink well, "tbut scorn the cpl
'am. The whole party passed from the
niug-room to the wainscoted room which
as to serve as a theatre. At one end was {
10 estrada which was to represent the
age, and in front of which fell curtain
Beauvais tapestry. At the sound Of the I