The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1875-09-30

Stupl0 stomach. On one OF those open
lots, those rocky ones near the Park, a
goat with her kid passed near me.
There was breakfast, dinner, and sup
per. Poor Nanny came to me as the
ravens did to Elijah. It might have
been sin to deprive the kid of her
rights, but I coaxed the mother to nv
side, and her swelling udder gave me a
glorious banquet. I stole my dinner.
It was a fete cbampetre. If the old
Irish crone who beat me with her
broomstick could have forgiven me, or
taken out her pay with blows, should
have been better satisfied. As luck
would have it, this former clerk in our
establishment was passing by, and res
cued me. He must have read Victor
Hug0's Notre Dame. He dubbed me
Quasimodo. Associated me probably
with Esmeralda or her goat. I am
Quasi. Why notp How the owner of
that goat laid it on! I have longed to
breakfast that way again, but have been
afraid. Quasi! Why a certain un-
shapeliness about me-" he continued,
simply, s'has made an abbreviation of
Quasimodo appropriate. have adopt
ed it. My back is bowed, my legs are
crooked. Twas born so. That does
not prevent my enjoying excellent
health. | have rude power of exist
ence which defies privation. Without
boasting of it, few men are stronger
than am. Twas trifle out of sorts
an hour ago, but, thanks to you, have
had good supper, and feel myself
quite restored. There, can you do
that?" Here, like the monk, Amidor,
he took bone from plate, and, hold
ing it between his fingers, without any
visible effort save muscular contraction
OF the hand, he splintered it. Iopened
my eyes in astonishment, thinking of
the many coarse jokes the men in the
office had played on Quasi, and how,
with a single blow, he might have anni-
hilated them. ''My father and moth
err" he continued, swere straight,
shapely people, of race famed for
their personal beauty. Old friends
have told me that my face alone bears
the family type
'Are you Pole ?'' asked.
eyes. My poor mother---it hap
pened before was born--saw my father
bend his back, his legs and arms were
|fettered, and when life had been dashed
out of him, his mangled body was cast
before her. That was before the En-
peror Nicholas time. That shock was
lasting. / came into the world shortly
after that, and my body perpetuates
that narrowing impression. My moth
er never forgot it, and may be ac-
cursed if ever I do.'' Here the whole
appearance of the man was terribly
metamorphosed. From the listless ex-
preston of Indifference, of calm resig-
nation, there came one of intense, pain
full concentration. The eyes shot fire,
the lips quivered, and hair bristled, and
the nostrils were dilated. 1t was,
though, but momentary flash, for an
instant afterward Quasi became the poor
hack the writing drudge, the butt of
the office. Evidently he did not like
recurring to a painful subject, nor did
l feel just then that I had the right to
be inquisitive. We talked about our
calling, of writing letters paid for with
the fraction of a penny, and we ended
by laughing over our miseries. From
the conversation I had with the man / |
found / had to do with person whose
information was not only vast but solid.
l ventured to say to him that, with his |
talents, even at his age, he was sure in |
time to better his position.
'Why,"I asked, "do you stay in
the Office? Had l your gift of Ian
guage, would soon find a good posi-
ssHave you ever read Hoffmanp''
asked Quasi. s'H you have you may
remember how he tells story about q |
painter. Now, this artist was partially |
That longing after the ideal so |
many natures seek for and never find,
had got the better of his reason. Forms |
Of grace and beauty had overtaxed his
strength. The only relief the stupid |
fellow found was in working out with |
rule and compass the most rudimentary
figures. At certain hours of the day, |
very brief ones, lovely faces would
come before him, and he would out
line them on his canvas, but a garish
not of color would make his pure
drawing but the vilest daub. Then
he would go to his church---he had
hired himself to paint it---and would
methodically lay the color on its wooden
walls, in imitation Of stone, bringing
'ut with Chinese accuracy even the in
erstices of the building blocks. Po-
and and liberty! The former is my
deal; she exists: how she shall be free
that increasingly occupies my
thoughts. It may have crazed me at
lines, like the hero of the story-teller's
history. In the meanwhile, in the me-
;hanical humdrum toll of copying let
ers addressed to cheese sellers or tail
'rs my mind finds relief. 1t may be
eth hot