Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-03-03
in a provoking way at his new mas

in a provoking way at his new mas
ter.
"This is Singular said Leon.
"What is the matter with him, after
having followed me so well? But it
was here, or near here, that | met
him; perhaps this is the house of his
old master, We will see.r And he
followed the dog, who sprang briskly
up q dark and crooked stairway
But animal very soon discovered
that, Notwithstanding his willingness,
it was not possible for him to ascend
as rapidly as himself so, stopping at
the landing place, he wagged his tail
and gave little joyous yelps as If to
encourage him, then recommended
his guidance to the upper story, where
he waited in dark hallway between
two opposite doors one of these he
pushed open with mis- muzzle and pre-
sented to the artist a piteous spectacle.
On pallet covered with rags an old
woman, wasted and wan, and SEEM
ingly in the last conyulsions of agony,
and near her boy of ten years, sob
bing, on his knees. In far corner of
the chamber; upon the floor, was q
bed of straw, which still preserved the
print of human form. Upon poor
broken table, covered with white
handkerchief, stood before an image
of the Virgin brass Christ, surround
ed by glasses of artificial flowers and
two candlesticks, in one of which was
still smoking the wick of wax cam
die. No other furniture; nothing but
some ragged garments hanging here
and there on the walls of the desolate
chamber. With bound the dog
threw himself upon the boy and al
most devoured him with caresses,
while the little fellow put his arms
about his neck and sobbed as if his
heart would break.
"Ah, Mouton, it is over them! And
now God is taking from us my grand
mother, we shall be all alone. She
says we must die, tooW
No, no! indeed you shall not die!o
interrupted Leon, much moved. 1--WE
are here, your friend Mouton and |, to
prevent it.'
The child started at the strangers
voice and looked inquiringly at Leon,
whom he had not noticed until now.
The sick woman slowly raised her
head and looked at the stranger, then
at her grandson, and endeavored to
speak, but her voice was SO feeble she
could scarcely articulate.
Leon approached her and leaning
over said, softly: 81 come to bring you
hope"
The woman's eye lighted up for a
moment, then, with an almost super
human effort, she said: "Speak! but
who sent you to us?'
Leon pointed to the Christ upon the
table: "He who cares for all His crea-
lures. For. His sake Providence
watches over your childw
Then he told her of his adventure
with Mouton, and of his fidelity.
She rallied little and said, "Ah,
sir, l thank youn' and she tried, with
a hand fast growing cold in death, to
press that of her benefactor,wh asked,
"What can do for you?'
"Me, nothing; for him, much. He
will be alone and friendless,n and her
filmy eyes rested sadly on the weeping
boy. She stretched forth her trem-
bling arms, into which the child threw
himself, sobbing wildly. My
child! my joy! | am going God bless
your
Leon placed the little fellow upon
his knees by the bed, then laying his
hand tenderly upon his head, he said
to the dying: ~ promise, madame,
always to protect your childn
A ray of divine peace passed over
her face; she could not speak, but
placed her hands on the heads piously
bent over her, which We're soon raised
with the blessings of heaven and of the
departed soul upon them.
There was in the exhibition of 1870
work of art representing an atelier
in which a boy of twelve or thirteen
years, handsomely and tastefully at
tired, smiles upon his teacher, under
whose supervision he is spiritedly
sketching model very solemnly
posed upon velvet cushion. The boy
is the adopted son of our hero, Leon
Varens, and his best scholar. The
model is our friend Mouton-Mouton,
plump, glossy and curly; unrecogniz-
able physically, but morally un-
changed. Translated from the French.