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

Ou IL iluc ulOIullS III pcptcLucti blc
road to st. Cloud-whose fete was to be
celebrated next day-was filled with
peddlers and people transporting Ma
rione ties, Pmchinellos, etc., who were
going to sell their wares and exhibit
their crriosities in the grand avenue of
st. Cloud. AS large number of these
people passed through the broad street
d'Auteui, Albert Courts had obtained
his fathers permission to stand at the
door of his house to see them pass.
Francois, the old porter, was charged to
watch over him, as he was but eight
years old. "Ah!" said he, 81 should
like to live at st. Cloud. could then
see what they have in their baskets and
in those large boxes"
As he pronounced these words, a large,
red-faced man, carrying table, chair,
and hoop, stopped in front of the
house. He was followed by little boy
with large valise on his back; he looked
pale and weary, and Albert pitied him
very much, especially when he saw him
wiping the tears from his eyes. A woman
who kept hotel in the same street &C.
costed the red-faced man. My chill
dren," said she, "have been watching
for you. Mons. Jean lie Roux, can you
favor us with little performance this
afternoon9 Afterward you can come to
my house and take some refreshment.
eve should need complete change
of Dress" he replied.
"Come to the house," said she; "that
is easily done"
He followed her accordingly. The
boy, who seemed almost crushed by the
weight he was carrying, walked slowly
after him.
"Will you walk faster, lazy fellow, or
must l force you to do iti" said the
gymnast; and he struck him hard blow,
which caused him to increase his speed.
After a lapse of several minutes, Jean lie
Roux reappeared in the costume of a
rope-dancer, and the boy in white panta-
looms, red jacket with border of
spangles, and his pretty curling hair was
covered by cap and feather. At the
sound of drum which was beaten by
the boy, the crowd assembled, and the
gymnast cried in q loud voice: "Take
your places. ladies and gentlemen, and
admire the little Hercules of the North"
Albert was far from enjoying the sight
of the poor boy in whom he had taken
an interest, not only forced to stand upon
his head, but thrown into the air and
caught by the strong arms OF the gym
MAST; then standing on tiptoe on the
back of chair placed upon table, at
the risk of breaking luis neck if he lost
his balance for an instant. Happily he
did not fall, and to his great satisfaction
Albert saw the end of a performance
IL l. Il
"Ask the ladies and gentlemen not to
forget the little Hercules" said Jean lie
Roux to the boy, who, with his cap in
hand, made the tour of the assembly,
offering it to each one for his contribu-
ton. When he came to Albert he smiled
sadly, but said nothing. Albert put five
cents into the cap, and handed ten cent
piece to the little gymnast, saying:
"This is for you to buy peaches with"
but the boy threw it hastily into the cap,
saying softly, "If L kept so much as a
farthing L should be well beaten" eff
you were alone" said Albert, 81 would
ask you to come into the house and take
something, for / know you must be hum
cry" Jean lie Roux at this moment
called to him, "Victor will you finish
your rounds Z" The boy hurried to col
lect something more, and then gave the
contents Of his cap to the gymnast, and
followed him into the hotel.
Albert was so absorbed in the evening
with thoughts of the boy, that his father,
observing that he did not amuse himself
as usual, asked the reason, when Albert
related to him the occurrences of the
afternoon.
"Most of these people," said Mons.
Courts, "are men of bad character
idle fellows-who, i'll boz hood, having
no wish to learn either to read or write
or learn useful trade, are obliged to re-
sort to buffoonery for livelihood"
"This child" said Albert, "weuld, J.
am sure, have learned something better
if he had the opportunity but his
wicked father probably would not EN-
ploy teachers.
"To have teachers" replied Mons.
Courts, Zone must have money. BY in
dustry, when 1 was a young man, [
earned the means of paying for yours,
and in a few years you will have to do
the same in order to pay those you will
employ for your children.
After breakfast the next morning Al
bert went as usual to the garden for
little recreation but instead of playing
he seated himself upon bench and was
thinking of the sweet, sad face OF the
little gymnast, when he noticed move
ment OF the bushes in front of him, and,
surprising it to be the dog, called,
Caesar here, here
"It is not Caesar it is !" replied a
plaintive voice, and the child appeared,
wearing an old coat, and looking eveu
more pale than the day before.
{" How came you here a. said Albert.
CT came in last evening. / bid my
self behind the porter, and have passed
the night in these bushes.
Have you left your father Z"
"Jean lie Roux is not my father.
$50 much the better but he will look
for YOU" =,
"Perhaps but you can hide me and
let no one know / am here and if You
can, give me piece of bread, for l have
eaten nothing since yesterday"
"I cannot conceal from my father