Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-07-09
THE MISER OF MARSEILLES.
CHAPTER l.

YES. YOU have been very ILL., my child"
said Madame Guyot as she held the mug
to the boys lips
81 can only remember that | seemed
to be burning up and my mouth is still
so dry and parchedw 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
a am so thirsty, and | do not believe
another cup of water would do any
harm" said the lad.
mo, jacques, not now, answered the
mother, soothingly You must wait
awhile"
There was knock at the front door
Madame Guyot left the chamber and
found the doctor waiting to be admitted.
After conversing for few moments
about the invalid, she lked: is there
no means of alleviating 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 a 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 OIL
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 Guvot told him the reason she was
unable to satisfy it, He remained silent
for long time, and at last inquired,
thoughtfully: Mamma, does every one
suffer so much from thirst as do?"
a great many people do, my son." 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?n
Not exactly" she returned, little
puzzled. 1t was evidently a 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 a few of the Weather class have
springs or lakes in the country. When
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 the time of the great contlagra-
ton, ten years ago"
"'Why didn't papa build an aqueduct
for the poor when he was able?" said the
boy.
" 1t would cost great deal of money,
my child she replied, land we did not
feel the need of it then"
" If there had been plenty Of water
couldn't his factory have been saved;'
Perhaps it might" responded the
mother; " for it was believed at the time
that the fire would have been eXtinguished
if there had been sufficient supply of
water There had been severe drought
that summer and autumn; and the rich
were afraid to allow the firemen to use
their reservoirs
At that time Jean Guyot entered; and
rs he conversed with his wife on house
hold matters Jacques reClined on a
lounge by the open window, absorbed in
thought
Jacques recovery was slow; and his
suffering made a deep and lasting i'm.
preston on his mind Finally they were
compelled TO use water 50 muddy and
brackish that even the swine would
hardly accept it, save in the last eXtrem-
itv. 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.
CHAPTER II.