The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-06-10
UNCLE MAURICE.
Translated From the French of Souvestre, by Fan
ME S. Worden.


ME S. Worden.
To-day I remember uncle Maurice
Every time [ need to be assisted in
well-doing, L turn my thoughts toward
him; / see him with his sweet express
sion, half smiling, half tender; [ hear
his voice always even and caressing as
breath of summer His remembrance
guards my life and lightens it. He
has been a saint and martyr here be
low. Others have shown the way to
heaven; he has pointed out the paths
of earth.
Save the angels, charged with keep
ing watch over unknown devotIons and
hidden virtues, who remember uncle
Maurice, perhaps | only have retain
ed his name, and yet | recollect his
history Well l may write it, not for
others but for myself. They say that
at the sight of Apollo the body straight
ems itself, and assumes more dignifi-
ed attitude At the remembrance of a
beautiful life, the soul should be ele-
waited and ennobled
A ray of sunlight brightens the small
table at which L write. The breeze
brings me the odor of mignonettee, and
UIt' SNdllONS LILY DuCh tHtt IoloIl, Will
their Joyous cries outside my window.
The story of my uncle Maurice will
have it's place right here, among the
light and the perfumes.
1t is with destinies as with the day
dawns. Some radiating thousand
lights; others are buried in sombre
clouds That of my uncle Maurice
was of the latter class. He came into
this world so puny, that it was behev-
ed he was condemned to die, but in
spite of these predictions, which could
almost be called hopes, he continued
to live, suffering and deformed.
Deprived of all grace, he was equally
deprived of all enjoyment. Oppressed
. by the cause of his feebleness, rallied at
for his ugliness, the little hunchback
opened his arms to the world in vain :;
the world passed by pointing at him
the fingers of scorn.
However, his mother remained to
him, and it was to her that the
child confded the aspirations of re-
pulsed heart.
Happy in this refuge, he attained
the age of manhood His education
could have opened to him all occupa-
tons he became receiver of tolls at
one of the small toll gates which
guarded the entrance to mis- native city.
Enclosed in this habitation of a few
feet, he had no other amusement be-
tween his writing and his calculations.
than reading, AID the visits of his
mother. On beautiful summer DAYS
she brought her work to the door OF
his cabin, and sat there under the
shade of some wild vines which Maur-
ice had planted. Although she was
silent, her presence was pleasure to
the haunchback. He heard the click
of her long knitting needles; he per
ceived the gentle and sad profile which
reminded him of so many trials cour-
ageously supported he could from
time to time, rest a caressing hand
upon the bent shoulders and exchange
a smile
But this consolation was soon to be
taken from him. The old mother fell
Ill, andlt was necessary, at the end OF
some days, to renounce all hope
Maurice, distracted at the idea of q
separation which would leave him
alone IN the world, abandoned himself
to a sorrow without measure
On his knees near the bed of the DIV.
ing woman, he called her most tender
names, clasped her IN his arms as
though he could hold the life in her
His mother forced herself to return his
caresses; but her hands were cold,
her voice already departed. She could
only press her lips to her sons fore
head, sigh, and close her eyes for ever.
They wished to take Maurice away,
but he resisted, and leaning his head
on that motionless form
dead, cried he, Dead, YOU who
never left me, you the only one in the
world who loved met Dead, YOU.
my mother What then remains to
me here Below"
4 A faint voice replied" God"
Maurice rose terrified. Was it the
last breath of his dead mother, or his
own conscience which had replied
He did not try to know; but he com
pretended the response and accepted
it.
It was then that / became acquainted
with him. Invent to see him frequent
" at his little toll house. He took
part in my childish sports; told me
his most beautiful stories; and per-
mitted me to pick his flowers. Depriv-
ed of all gracesswhich attract, he was
indulgent to thneo WIN came to
him. WIFI self he