The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-11-13
LAMBERTvILIE. n. J.. WEDNESDAY,, NOVEMBER Ii, 1878


of pity into the old soldiers heart. He chang
ed his mind and looked at him more search
ingly.
There seems TO be no end to poverty in
Paris? Little one, what's your name?"
"Johnn
g John what /"
Nothing but John.''
Old Bouin felt weakness in his eyes, but
be shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, what did you want to say to your
Blessed Virgins"
wanted to tell her that mamma has
been asleep ever since yesterday evening"
She went asleep about four o'clock And
wanted her to wake her, il she would be so
good, because can't"
The old soldiers heart gave great throb.
He was afraid he understood the situation.
He asked, however
why did you say just now you were go-
ing to ask for something to eatan
"Well,n said Johnnie, because we must
have something to eat, you know. Yesterday
evening, before mamma went to sleep, she
gave me the last morsel of bread"
What, did she not eat herself boy ?"
" She has been saying for the last two days,
don't want anything am not hungry
What did you do when you tried to wake
her |? y
" did as always dol kissed her."
" Did she breathe ?"
Johnnie smiled. His face lighted Up like
landscape in the sunshine.
g don't know sir" he answered. g Don't
people always breathe !"
Old Bouin turned aside his head, for two
great tears rolled down his leathern cheeks.
He did not answer the childs question, but
he said in an unsteady voice, /" When you
kissed her did you notice anything 2n
" Yes, sir. She was very cold. 1t is so cold
in our room y
" Didn't she seem to shiyer. boy?"
ooh, no. She was beautiful. | never saw
her look SO bea utiful. Her two hands we're
crossed-so-upon her breast. They were
whittier than | ever | saw them before. Her
head was lying back upon the bolster, so that
little bit of her eyes, and l thought she was
looking right up at God in heaven.'
All thought old Bouin many time
| have been envious and wished for riches
while | have had plenty to eat and drink and
this poor woman died of hunger and cold y
He held out his hand to the child. johnnie
came up to him. lie took him on his knee
and said softly, Little man, your letter has
been written, sent, and got an answer. Take
me to your mothers roon.'
/" Oh, yes sir, that | WILL" cried john
But what makes you cry ?"
9 | am not crying, boy" said the old sol
dier, though his tears were dropping fast on
the child's curls as he pressed him to his bo-
som. Men never cry. But you are going
to cry bitterly, Johnnie, darling. Do you
know love you just AS if you were my own
child? What fool am unless. Listen,
Johnnie /: Once l had a mother, too, like
you. 1t was a long, long time ago, but now
l seem to see her sitting up in bed and telling
me before she went away. Bouin, be an
honest man and good Christian. There was
a little picture of the Blessed Virgin hanging
over the bed It only cost two cents. But
every time looked at it she seemed to smile,
and her smile went down to my very SOUL
AS for being an honest man, that have been +;
my comrades and superiors can say that of
me but when it comes to the good Christian,
but am afraid ----. Hang me "
He got up, holding little Johnnie in his
arms, and, pressing him still closer to his
breast, he added, looking upward, "see here,
mother see here, old lady My friends no
doubt will laugh at me, but let them laugh.
Where you are I'll strive to come, and bring
along this little one, poor little man ! He shall
always have a home with me because of his
rascally letter which never got written, it is
true but has had a double answer 1t has
given him father, and brought me back to
the good Father in heaven!"
That is all. have given it to you ms
heard it, knowing it is not worth half quar-
ter of the lovely tale, The letter to God, :"
which / can never read without emotion
Johnnie's poor mother, who had died Of hun
ger, never ION this earth) came back to life a
gain. Who was she ? don't know What
was the story of her life | never heard
But there is now living in Paris man about
twenty.six years of age who is writer, :"
but not the same kind of "wliter" as old
Bouin. He writes famous articles and bril-
liant tales, and all the public know him. Ev
erybody in France would know him were | to
tell his name. But will only call him John.
Old Bouin is very happy old man. He
has always been an honest man, and for TWEEN
ty years has been faithful Christian. He
enjoys the fame of his "petiot Ibis little
man, as he still calls the distinguished son of
his adoption, aud he added for own that he
himself told me the story /: g don't know
what postman delivers letters of that kind
but they always manage to go straight to
their address in heaven
-->.--sSs--.s--
AN INTERESTING Doc Story we'll
known physician has very fine dog that is
II. lxrI -.