New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-24
THE TWO ORPHANS S.
THE STREETS OF PARIS.

TIE l. WV ohTI1a4S %
1.-THE STREETS OF PARIS.
1t was terrible time of which we write
for all, and from the King, Louis XIV, down
to the wretch who died in the gutter with
ont raising hand to fight against his mis-
erv.
But the revolution was some years distant
upon that particular summer afternoon, at
a certain Quai des Fleurs, on the southern
side of the Seine, and whence view of the
Popt Neuf, and beyond it of the Cathedral
Of Note Dame, was to be seen readily
enough.
There were no very signal signs of pow
erty to be noted-the wretcled, as the
wretched ever do were hiding in the dark.
But pinched faces and eager eyes were com
mon enough 10 be seen, and angry glances
would now and again follow a sedan, as
two human beasts of burden carried past
some grand lady, whose jewels and silks
could be seen behind the little tluttering
silk curtains.
The flowers had all been sold, and the
sellers and purchasers long since gone
abont their business, when a huge man
might have been seen strollng toward q
beetle-browed wine shop which shelyed
away in one corner of the market place.
He was raggedly dressed, it is true, and
there was an ugly, quick look in his eyes,
like eur brought to bay; but his body
showed no signs of poverty. 1t was well
nourished, and evidently he possessed her.
culean strength, as he seemed to be aware
by the very mode in which he threw his
body from side to side.
He was known in the quarter as one of
the most dangerous and least scrupulous of
men. When in good humor, he would
laughingly say he belonged to a killing
family. No one who heard him doubted
the statement
He had killed on account of others as well
as on his own. He was one of those men of
the people who, too lazy for steady indus
try, yet eager to indulge their appettes
readily fall victims to the temptation
offered them by the more INSCRIPTIONS of
the rich and great, and thereby become the
tools by which the people, whence they
themselves have sprung, are injured.
Beyond his strength he had not one good
duality. 1t was even to be doubted whether
or not he was commonly brave. But that
quarter of the town feared him, and the
knowledge of that dread was his greatest
delight.
Yet this man had one genuine and con-
slant admirer-his own mother, La Fro
chard, as she was called, whose chief de-
light was to contemplate this son of hers
leaning upon the parapet of the quay and
summing himself; or pouring out wine with
the air OF a bravo at the counter of some
black walled and dusky wineshop.
She gained living by cropping among
heaps of otfal, and in the cutters, for sale
able refuse. She worked hard, that Jacques
should be free from work, and cir himself
IN the sunlight.
She was hideous, dirty, coarse voiced, but
she looked almost gracious as she caught
sight of him, the sunlight falling on his
wicked but handsome face.
He was active in a moment, shot an en-,
dearing glance toward the wineshop, and
said, "Mother, hast thou any money!"
Brave boy--brave hoy 7" she cried exuIt-
ever free hand Here, take all / have,
and glad am to see thee with it."
He took the coin, glanced at it contempt
uously and flung it into loose pocket
"a poor day I've had" cried the dotipg
mother, in genuine grief; yet some days
are bad and others good. But see, here
comes Pierre, poor wretch! My hope is that
he has found work.
The Pierre mentioned was thin, frail,
small man, with bent head wistful-looking
aspect, and who was painfully lame. He
was driving knife-grinder's truck before
him, and it, and he, and his clothes, all
looked forlorn and poverty stricken.
Pierre, lad" shouted Jacques, "hast any
money"
1.-TWO bits of silver" said the cripple,
meekly; "there has not much work to do
to-day, but / have done all could"
'Workp repeated the other, as though
mentioning the most abiect thing in the
world; why, where is thy silver7 1t will
look better in gentleman's pocket than in
thy hand" .As o-f
'Here tits, Jacques" replied the poor fell
low. approaching the rufian.
stop there" said the old woman.
'sWbat would one like you dare go near
euch as Jscques!, Give me thy money, and
Z will carry it to him."
Thu knifo. oriUdor did ba Suoa
hidden; and jacques, taking the money
from La Frochard, said, loosely, "Como,
mother; thou shalt drink with me."P
What a boy r. cried La Frochard. "He
works No, no, no! Such as he are not
born for working days"
They turned and lett the cripple, whose
money they had grasped, without further
look or word. And yet he was the son of
one and the brother Of the other.
He had not eaten, and he was moneyless;
but he fell to trudging again willingly
enough, and calling out for . job. To be
sure, he was very mean.looking, weak,
sickly, and uniformed; while Jacques lived
strong, hearty, and, in his way, handsome;
but had the world chosen between the
br0tbers for usefulness, the victory would
have been with the cripple. MAJ q 4
Very different did he look, limping along
in the roadway, from the Marquis de Pres
lee. tor instss = 80 q those nobie%sn q
the country had been made for him and his.
and that tho people were : necessary incon-f
yenionco, who were useful In THAR way, but
who, whom they talked q 1igh1se Aa jsstice,
Musc be pnt down. A. Da1y Of tdDm were
evsrcone foF lie II they wers notsAvsd BY
4 vsfs - IS 6ru16od usell. =. "a - q
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