Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-09
THE MISER OF MARSEuLES.
CHAPTER I.


g YES, you have been very i'll, my child, 5"
said Madame Guyot, as she held the mug
to the boys lips.
l can only remember that l seemed
to be burning up; and my mouth is still
so dry and parched!n replied Jacques
You called continually for water and
would sometimes scream at the top of
your voice. But, thank Heaven, you are
better now, dear; and the doctor thinks
you will soon be well again"
am 50 thirsty, and do not believe
another cup of water would do any
HARM" said the lad
No, Jacques, not now" answered the
mother, soothingly. You must wait
awhile"
There was a knock at the front door.
Madame Guyot left the chamber and
found the doctor waiting to be admitted.
After conversing for a few moments
about the invalid, she asked: Is there
no means Of alternating his intense suf-
fering from thirst?"
You may allow him to drink freely
now" returned the physician.
But the water is exhausted, and the
authorities dole it out but once day"
The doctor paused thoughtfully, and
said: "They are compelled to do so.
The drought continues, and it is feared
the supply will soon be wholly cut Off"
"Jean thinks the fire last night might
have been arrested but for the scarcity
of water"
"No doubt Of it," said the other, CURLY,
as they went to the room in which the
patient lay.
Many days passed, and Jacques was
still confined to the house. His thirst
continued undated; and at length Mad
anne Guyot told him the reason she was
unable to satisfy it. He remained silent
for a long time, and at last inquired,
thoughtfully: Mamma, does every one
suffer so much from thirst as | do?"
"A great many people do, my sonF re-
joined the mother, especially the poor"
why, mamma, [ thought water was
free to all, like air and light Do people
have to buy it, like houses, and things to
eat?"
"Not exactly" she returned, little
puzzled. 1t was evidently new thing
to her. After a few minutes she con-
tinued: " Water is free, Jacques; but the
labor Of procuring it must be paid for.
The rich can afford to dig wells; and you
know few of the weather. class have
aqueducts, which bring water from
springs or lakes in the country. When
there is a drought they are amply sup
piled; while the poor depend on the pub
lie wells, and these always give out first"
why is there no public aqueduCt?"
asked the lad.
Because those who feel the need of it
haven't the means to build one"
Mamma" said Jacques, after pause,
"you once told me that papa was rich"
Yes, dear; but his factory was burned
down at tho tirOp :. n rraaf pOpfIo
ton, ten years ago"
why didn't papa build an aqueduct
for the poor when he was able?" said the
boy
1t would cost a great deal of money,
my child" she replied, land we did not
feel the need of it then"
s If there had been plenty of water
couldn't his factory have been saved?"
perhaps it might" responded the
mother; q for it was believed at the time
that the fire would have been extinguished
if there had been q sufficient supply of
water. There had been severe drought
that summer and autumn; and the rich
were afraid to allow the tircmen to use
their reservoirs"
At that time jean Guyot entered; and
as he conversed with his wife on house
hold matters Jacques reclined on q
lounge by the open window, absorbed in
thought.
Jacques recovery was slow; and his
suffering made q deep and lasting i'm
preston on his mind. Finally they were
compelled to use water so muddy and
bracllish that even the swine would
hardly accept it, save in the last eXtrem-
ity. The boys moral power came to his
aid, after the conversation above related /;
and he struggled manfully to conquer by
patience what appeared to have no other
immediate remedy.