Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-03-02
A Trait of Beranger.

One wintry evening, toward the close Of
the year 1866, young girl, apparently
about ID or IA years of age, dressed in sor-
ry rags, was crouching in the porch of a
fine house in the Rue ST Jacques, sobbing
bitterly. On her knee was bulky parcel
covered with canvas, while by her side
crouched half-starved spaniel, who
seemed by his plaintive howlings to SYM
pathize with the distress of his mistress.
An old gentleman happened to pass, and
the mingled lamentations Of the child and
the dog attracted his attention. He halted
and, stopping down, said in kind voice,
"What is the matter my child? whyd do you
weep SO bitterly" The young girl could
only answer by sobs, SO the new conner
gently raised her from the ground and Of
fered to accompany her to her parents
house and plead her case, if she had got
into any trouble at home. what is your
father my girl ?" said the old man. "Alas,
sir sobbed the girl, "he is dead. / live
with my mother, in the Rue Vaugirard.
She is i'll, and has not been able to work
for nearly month past. Yesterday the
doctor came and ordered her some physic,
and as we had no more money, mother
told me to take her last gown and her
shawl to the pawnbroker's; but oh (. they
won't lend me anything on them, and if
don't get mother the stuff the doctor said
she would die"
"Cheer up" said the old man, "your
mother shall not die if / can help it, but
you must show me where she lives and
taking the child by the hand, and reliev
ing her of her parcel, he proceeded in the
direction of the Vaugirarl. On passing a
chemists shop, the old gentleman halted.
and asked bis young protege for the doc
tors prescription. When 1t was made up
he paid the man, and they proceeded on
their way, the young girl almost weeping
for Joy at the thought of bringing home
to her mother the remedy which was to
make her well. what was your father
| called?" asked the old man. Dumont,
SIR he was clerk in the Octroi at Mont
martre but few months before he would
have become entitled to his retiring pen
sion, he was run over by wagon and
killed" A few minutes more brought
them to the door of very humble look
ing house, where the child stopped, and
said that was her home. "Well, my little
girl" said the old man, "keep good
heart, for though am not very power
full individual, 1 hope, nevertheless, to be
of some help to you. 1t is too late for me
to 90 up and see your mother now, but
you shall hear from me again." and then,
giving her the parcel and slipping Ma
poleon into her hand, he walked off with
out giving her time to thank him, hum
ming the burden of q popular ballad. The
next morning DR.. x, the celebrated
physician, called to see the invalid, saying
he had been sent by friend Of theirs,
whose name, however, he smilingly refus-
ed to disclose. In spite of all their en-
deavors, they could not discover who their
mysterious benefactor was, but in less
than q month letter came for the mother,
inclosing her the certificate for an annuity
of six hundred francs. To the poor
widow and her child this was positive
wealth, after their hard struggle with pow
erty, and they removed shortly afterward
to 'Strasbourg, where the daughter in
few years became one Of the handsomest
little milliners in the place. Before quit
ting Paris they had once more made every
| effort to discover their unknown benefac-
tor. and thank him for all his kindness, but
in vain, and all they could do was to pray
| nightly before retiring to rest that every
blessing might rest upon his head. One
Saturday, lately, young wife, accom-
panied by her husband and mother, came
to place garland on tomb In the cemc-
| terry Of MOntmartre. just a. they were
preparing to leave the place, q little crowd
Of people round another tomb caused
temporary stoppage, and among them stood
an old gentleman with the ribbon of the
| Legion at his buttonhole Ahl' exclaim-
ed the young wife, "Dr. X-p
"Whom have I the pleasure Of seeing,
Madame ?" said he, raising his hat. "Why
doctor, have you forgotten little Emeline