Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-10-23
Ghildrru's department.
A NOBLE BOY.

Jean Vigier was the son Of wealthy parents.
He was born in Aurillac, in France. No
family in all the district was more charitable;
and there was nothing the boy loved better
than going out with his mother when making
her charitable visits. We think she was not
very judicious sometimes in dispensing her
gifts for she frequently gave money to those
who were quite able to earn a living for
themselves. In the Church Of Rome there
are numerous orders of monks and friars, lazy
fellows, who think they are doing God service
by begging instead of working and these she
seldom passed without dropping piece of
money into their hands.
A day of trial came, however, and the rich
lady became a poor widow. She had four
sons, of whom Jean was the youngest. Two
kind gentlemen obtained good places for the
three older boys; but as Jean was bright
lad, they sent him to a boarding-school that
he might be we'll educated. The expense of
doing this, and supporting his mother at the
same time, they soon found to be too great,
and so resolved to send the poor mother to a
hospital, as it was then called but in reality
an alms.house.
The child, away at school, knew nothing of
this. Wishing to break the matter to him as
tendery as possible, the curate of the village
invited Jean to his house for holiday; and
the boy came in his best clothes. Just as he
arrived the curate was called away for few
minutes, and while alone, little Jean opened a
book, when out fell paper. 1t was an or
der to admit his mother to the hospital. As
soon as Jean read it, he left the house and
ran back to school as fast as he could 90 put
off his holiday clothes and dressed himself in
his every day suit.
"Ah, poor child |" said the curate, when the
boy came back, "curiosity led you astray
but the fault has brought its own punishment
you have been hiding yourself to cry over it. u
"No, Monsieur lie Cure" answered the
brave little fellow; I have not been crying
I know it all. My mother shall not 60 to the
hospital; she would die of grief I will moi
return to school. will support her.
Touched and surprised, the curate tried to
reason with him, and took him to several Of
his friends, who told him that he would best
serve his mother by getting good education
which would enable him, in after years, to
provide for her comfortably. But, his one
idea was to save her from the hospital, and
he could not be turned from his purpose. He
asked his brothers to help him, and I am
sorry to say they refused. Then he begged
them to lend him small sum to begin some
business. Poor boy only nine years old
what could he do and they coldly and cruelty
denied this also!
A tender child, alone friendless; what a
task he had before him God leads the right
purpose into right ways. Jean had watch
which the project had given him as a reward
for study and good conduct at school, This,
and some of his clothing, he sold, and with
the small capital thus obtained, bought cakes
and children's toys and went about the streets
selling them. In this way he was able to
earn money enough to keep both his mother
and himself from starvation. He did right
Dear little fellow! Do not your hearts grow
warm toward him? Think Of his pure love,
and devotion, and care for his mother. Take
that dear one, who had watched over him and
cared for him so fondly in his infancy and
childhood, to the alms-house? No mo! Not
while he had heart, and brain, and hands
Did little Jean persevere in his good work
Was he able to support his mother? Yes,
nineteen years afterward, when he had grown
to be man, he was living as porter to an
inn in Aurillac, still taking care of her, and
making her happy by his loving attentions
During all these years, he had been faithful to
her, refusing all offers that would separate
him from his mother. Was not this life de-
votion of Jean Vigier as golden deeds, pre-.
cious in the eyes of Him who knoweth all
hearts, and who, in his good time, gives rich
and eternal rewards