Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-25
Gales ano SI;ettbcs.
BENJAMIN JACQUES.
Continued from yesterday. }

Stth luft vi abu ilht. Inv 'i'N'
boy was also dressed in blue; he was
grave and sedate.
The Young takers made il lively at the
cottage. jacques had not heard such nut
sic there for many a dreary day.-not since
the picnic. three years before
The bows looked at the bees and the
flowers, and the younger one explored all
the surroundings of the place. VIII, the
elder, sat with Jacques and converscdquiet-
ly of the news of the day. The conyersa-
ton turned npon books The boy was
well informed
.'You are a student" said Jacques.
when ! was young. | too had some
schooling; in my solitude ] still find in
reading my chief enjoyment and solace. "
And then Jacques produced a worn volume
Of Millions Poems, and read, in slow
measured manner, part OF the poem be-
ginning at mans first disobedience, that
brought death into our world and all our
woe.
The old man became confidential with
the sober, scholarly lad. II know little
of the great world in which you live, :"
said Jacques, humbly, land of literary men
and fame; my father was writer for the
press in France" And then Jacques,
with diffidence and embarrassment, con-
fessed that in the long silent hours. just To
amuse his thoughts, he had himself COM
posed few lines and had them in mem
DRY. They were not much, he said. but
they gave him something to think about.
and impaired to his solitary hours GER
tain pleasure.
II am not skilled in punctuation he
remarked in his unaffected way, ''and so
have never written them down"
As the two men became more acquaint-
ed, the old man blushing little, repeated
poem Of his own, and the young student
.iotted it down in cipher in his notebook
The hermit was greatly pleased at this,
and smiled with a simple, honest pride, rs
his words were read back to him to see
that all was right. jacques was correct in
saying that the lines were not very much.
They were evidently inspired by Millions
Paradise Lost, and treated of the same
great theme. With all their rudcncss,
however they revealed the native gran
deur of his soul, and would tain believe
that they reflected in some degree the
great epic that inspired them.
As the sun was going down, the boys
and Jacques sat in the cottage door.
.''You call each other VIII and George, =
said Jacques, ''but if may ask, what are
your full names ?''
The boys gave their names and the
name of their father.
What was it that made jacques tremble
and then remain so still? The boys
noticed the agitation and the silence, but
knew no cause. BY degrees the CONVEX
sation was resumed. A half hour passed
away.
jacques said to Will, as if casually,
'your father is the missionary-pastor that
has recently come to this region and visits
the settlement sometmes?"
VIII replied in the affirmative. The
conversation turned again to other mat
ters. An hour later Jacques said to VIII
"Ioa favor your tather in your looks, |
Yes, so they say replied Will, smil-
ing at the old mans curiosity.
''But he is not like your father" said
jacques, pointing to George.
NO." said VIII, unconsciously, che is
like mother, they say"
Why was the old man so quietp Why
did his voice tremble when he spoke /?
The boys noticed how humble and sad and
subdued he seemedthat evening, and won
dered why he consulted every wish of
theirs so anxiously, and seemed to strive
ty serve them.
- In spite Of their expostulations the her
init gave up his own bed to the boys.
The brothers sat by their bed before re-
firing. They were whispering moment
together. What was it? jacques heard
the words, George, mother said we al
ways must and then the two knelt silent
4, ly at the bedside. When they rose they
saw that Jacques was also kneeling, and a
low sound like a sob came from the dim
corner where he was, as he rose from his
knees. There were kind goodnights said
and wishes for a bright tomorrow, and
the lads slept. .rl
The wishes for bright morning were
realized, and the youthful travellers pre-
pared to resume their journey. Before
they went away jacques said, II was ac-
qualnted with your parents many years
ago; that is, y he continued, with strange
taltering, 81 do not know as | was ac.
quainted with your father--you might tell
them," he added, THAT Mr. Jacques sends
his respects,---if they should remember
me-
1t was seven o'clock, and the sun was
shining very brightly. when the rosy-f,ced
boys left jacques cabin, and with kind
words of .'good-byn started along the
road out toward the mining settlement
As they passed into the woods they turned
and looked back once more ut the garden
and the flowers, and they waved one more
adeu with their caps to the hermit. A.
they did so jacques stood by the roadside
leaning upon his staff and weeping bit
terly. se7a. -
THAT is very strange old man. said
George. aa
$50 he is, said viii II think he wa,
crying all last night And the two, Sc
young and inexperienced in the voyage O
life, passed on. not knowing what messag,
they had brought 10 this shipwrecked mar
liner. upon his lonely rock in the vast and
mysterious ocean.
jacques health declined Nellie said
it was not safe for the old man to be living
alone. She urged upon her husband the
propriety of bringing their friend to theil
own house. But jacques, when invited
refused-he could not leave his home. II
the winter following, Nellie's h,.sban,
visited jacques several times, making tia,
journey on snow-shoes. But he alwav
found the hermit in about his usual health
and able, he said. to visit the settlen,en