Daily globe., 1879-06-01

thus provided for the most urgent needs,
Madame Davannes called the eldest girl,
who had been watching her very quietly,
though with much surprise, and feeding
her youngest brother all the time. .tHas
your mother seen a doctor?" she asked.
"Yes, madame; month ago"
''Do you know what ails her?''
"She said she was dying Of hunger
and it is true, madame, ever since she has
grown weaker and weaker. We have
hardly anything to eat; and when there is
a bit she gives it to US.
where is your father2"
AT the Champs Elysees, madame"
us he better to-day?'
"Oh, yes, madame; we got good
dinner yesterday. The cab would not
take any money. He was very kind, that
cabman and the gentleman in the great
hat gave us big loaf, besides the money
your children gave to father
Madame Davannes sent Suzanna to call
her servant to SPEAK to her on the stairs,
and sent him to get firing, a caldron, and
two loaves: and she took from her parcel
some sugar, wine, oranges, for the poor
sick woman, tapioca, salt, and other little
stores. Then she asked the mother, who
was little revived, where her other chill
dren were.
sat the infant school, ma'am.''
.''And do not these go to school? You
surely have free school here!"
Poor Mrs Punch looked sadly at her
two little boys, and Madame Davanne
saw that they had hardly any clothing.
II have brought two old pairs of shoes
that perhaps may fit them," she said,
"and I will send them some clothes to 20
to school in. A little meat, bread and
firing is coming, and here are five francs
to help out. Do not be uneasy, good
Madame Ransom; trust in God, who has
permitted us to learn your condition, and
we will do what we can for you. Does
your husband earn so little?'
"Ah, madame, some Punches are much
handsomer than his" said the woman
"and then, when one does not eat, one
has SO little heart to make people laugh
81 will bri ipg you some scraps to make
the puppets new clothes. Can you make
them when you are better?'
"Oh yes, madame; and Jeanette there
is as good as am.''
"We shall meet again, Madame Ran
som. Here comes the kettle, jeanette
can manage it. Good-by We'll, chill
dren," she added, on the stairs, "you
seemed to lose your tongues. You did
not think one could play Punch, and yet
be so wretched.'
Oh, mamma" cried Suzanne" how
thin that poor woman was and, jeanette,
how sad she looked'
81 don't mean to be Punch any more, }
added Charles; "it is horrid to have moth
ing to eat"
Only little Paul still kept his mouth
stand little children without shoes.
Thanks to Madame Davannes' active
kindness, the mother was well cared fol-
and recovered, the children had clothes
and went to school, Jeanette went out
as an apprentice, and the puppets were
so well dressed that everybody in the
Champs Elysees stopped to look at them
Suzanne gave her mothers dressmakel
no peace till she had given her plenty .o1
fnery for Punch and Judy.
Summer had come, aud Madame Da.
vannes and her children were spending
three months at Saint Cloud, when she
saw coming into the garden man, s
woman and two children, whom she die
not know at first; but the shouts of hel
children soon informed her that Mr.. anc
Mrs. Punch were come to ask leave t.
show themselves off gratis to their youne
friends. The box was set up on th'
grass. the cat came out of Mrs. Punch'
basket, and the performance be
gan, to the children's great delight
Never had Punch beaten his wife so we'll
never mad the soldier been more spirited
nor the cat behaved better After tn
performance, Mr.. and Mrs. Punch ant
their children dined in the kitchen, an,
went home delighted to have gratife,
those who had been so kind to them.