The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-06-25

cellar, the uOg-keuuel-tilyW Htre, 80
that L may never again fall into the
hands Of Jean lie Roux," said he, weep
ing and trembling.
Albert ran to the house to get for him
something to eat, and then sought his
father, who consented to see him. On
entering the parlor he approached Mons.
Courts with folded hands, and fell upon
his knees before him III an attitude OF
supplication, but without saying word.
Mons. Courts asked him his name.
They call me Victor, monsieur. L
am not the son of Jean lie Roux, and do
not know who were my parents. L have
never been permitted to ask. / have q
faint recollection of my mother, and
that we lived in small cottage which, l
think, was burned"
Was it at that time that Jean lie
Roux took you in Charge 2"
" believe so, but am not sure"
In spite of the look of suffering the
boys face had an expression of amiabil-
ity and honesty that was touching; and
after many other questions, to which he
replied with a semblance of truth, Mons.
Courts consented to his remaining for
time with them. The poor child, in his
JOY and gratitude, was so gentle and af-
fectionate that Mons. Courts soon be-
came fond of him. AS for Albert, he
had never been so happy. One day
Victor expressed regret that he could
not share with him his studies as well as
bis amusements-for he could not even
read-and Albert offered to teach him.
Victor accepted the offer with great sat
isfaction. A month after, Albert said to
his father
"Papa, Victor surprises me he is al
ready learning to spell, and will soon be
able to read, and then [ shall teach him
other things"
You suppose, then, that he will re-
main herel"
81 hope so, dear papa. You would
not send him away when winter is so
near, without food or firel'
Certainly not. But would place
him where by and by he could learn
trade, for / am not rich enough to sup
port and educate another child"
But could you not dress me more
simply and allow me to share with him
what / have 2"
"That sounds very well, but when the
moment of privation came you would
regret it. In fortnight your birthday
will be here L proposed giving you on
that day the watch you have so often
asked for. If Victor stays 1 cannot give
it to YOU"
Well, papa, 1 will do without the
watch.
Z" In another year 1 should give you a
pony on which to ride in the Bots.
Z" will give up the pony"
And you will not regret it Z"
"Never! never If l think of the
watch or of the pony, will say to my
self, 1t is Victor's bread. ,"
Mons. Courts at length consented, to
Albert's great joy. Victor's conduct was
very exemplary. He made such rapid
progress in his studaes that he soon be-
came Albert's classmate. Winter passed
in this way, when one morning Victor
was sent to the library with letter for
Mons. Courts. While he was reading
it Victor examined the engravings on
the walls. A sister of Mons. Courts
who resided at Campiegne bad sent him
view of the town. Victor passed
rapidly by the other pictures, but this
one riveted his attention, and he invol-
unfairly gave utterance to the thoughts
which it suggested.
Mons. Courts asked, "What is the
matter Z"
Victor replied "Ah, sir that is all
familiar to me. There is the river, the
bridge, the great tower. have often
been on that bridge"
In your infancy Z"
"When L was with mamma"
"Your mother, then, lived at Cam
piegnes"
81 do not know the name of the place,
but L recognize everything in that pic
ture."
This sufficed to induce Mons. Courts
to try TO obtain some clue to the parent
age of the boy. He wrote Immediately
to his sister, asking her to make the nee
essary inquiries, and very soon received
an answer. She had seen the Mayor,
who, strange to say, had remained in
Office some years f; he was sure he had
known the boys parents. Many per-
sons recollected Madame Brocade, who
was the widow of lumber merchant,
who had lost his property through un-
| fortunate speculations and at his death
she had hired n small cottage, which was
destroyed by fire and she persisted in
the flames. Her child, a boy of three
years, had mysteriously disappeared !;
and though rewards were offered for his
recovery, he had never been found.
Mons. Courts was satisfied of Victors
identity with the missing boy, and wrote
to the Mayor his intention of keeping
him and educating him as his son.
The more he saw of Victor the better
satisfied he felt at yielding to Albert's
entreaties in his behalf. But he thought,
however, that he discovered one trait in
his character that did not please him; he
seemed to set too high value on the
acquisition of money; he would notspend
one cent of his allowance, and soon sold
to other boys his prettiest playthings
and gifts which he had received from
friends of the family. Mons. Courts
could not understand how child could
be so penurious; in all other respects he
was most exemplary. He thought, He
does not love us. A miser loves no one"
AT length Albert's birthday arrived.
He received books from his father-bou-
quets from the servants. Victor had
not shown himself since breakfast, and
had not even kissed Albert