The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-06-04

! i am sure mamma will go and see Mr..
and Mrs. Punch. .....,.,.-. -4..--:a,
"What is your name, good MANI" said
nurse Is. ... Il Ms
"Why, Mr.. Punch, to be sure, cried
little Pail. y
| "No, my little master, my name is not
Punch. My box is my bread-winner, that
is all. My name is Jacques Ransom, and
I live at 81 Old Temple street." -.
~. sold Temple street-where is its" said
Charles ''Was there temple there?"
81 don't know, sir; but it is a great
way off," F.. -...y ..sz,ste 80 E,
While they were talking, a policeman
had fetched cab and called. a comrade
to supply his place; and he promised the
children to take home poor: Jacques, or
Mr., Punch, as Paul chose to call him. ,
The children lost no time in the street,
they were in such haste to get home and
tell their mamma what had happened,
to ask her leave to make up to nurse, out
of their own money, what she had given
to Jacques, and to entreat her to take
them with her to Old Temple Street.
Madame Davannes willingly granted
their request, and the next morning, after
breakfast, the whole party got into the
carriage, with a great parcel of things
| that Madame Davannes thought might be
| useful to the poor people. On the way
| she stopped to inquire of, some persons
whom Jacques had told the nurse might
be able to give her information about him
and his family; and she convinced her.
self that they were honest folks, whom
! only their bad health and the number Of
their young children had brought so slow.
Before going to their room, which was in
the fifth story of the lodging house, she
knew she should find the woman Ill; but
when she had knocked at the door and
heard feeble "Come in - she was shock
ed, on entering, at the almost dying ap-
pearance of the woman, who raised her
self in her bed with great difficulty to
look at her. = $500
Three of the children were in the room
which was wonderfully clean, though ter
ribly poor. A bed with only one coverlet,
two bundles Of straw covered by cloaks
and mended with thousand patches
the children Barefoot little girl of II
years old with a saucepan in her hand,
boiling up the remains of the rolls that
the children had given Jacques. the day
UCAOAC-SuCu "dS llAC SCCuc C1AdC SlIuCk
Suzanne's eyes. Her mother more used
to the sight of poverty, approached the
poor woman's bed, and after gently wish
ing her good morning, opened the parcel
and spread a warm quilt over the bed.
Then going to the fireplace, she took
the saucepan, and seeing that its contents
were ready, she poured them into a brok-
en- basin on which the two little ones threw
themselves; while she at once prepared
for the poor woman some spoonsfuls Of
broth thickened with taploca, which she
had brought with her. When she had
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. elias
your mother seen doctor?" she asked.
"Yes, madame; a month ago."
"Do you know what ais her?''
'tShe 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
bit she gives it to US. --
"Where is your father?"
AT the Champs Elysees, madame"
lis ne 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 Susanna to call
her servant to speak to her on the stairs,
and sent him to get firing, 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 we're.
Eat the infant school, ma'am.''
"And do not these go to school? You
surely have free school here!''
Roor Mrs Punch looked sadly at her
two little boys, and Madame Davanne
saw that they had hardly any clothing.
~ have brought two old pairs of shoes
that perhaps may fit them," she said,
land will send them some clothes to 90
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
II will bring you some scraps to make
the puppets new clothes. Can you make
them when you are better?" - .ss>
ooh yes, madame; and Jeanette there
is as good as I am"
ave 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." ~ - gsS
Oh, mamma" cried Suzanne" how
thin that poor woman was and, jeanette,
how sad she looked!"
II don't mean to be Punch any more,"
added Charles; lit is horrid to have moth
ing to eat.'' ,,.-.3 ia. .-....-h ..,sE....
Only little Paul still kept his mouth
I md -