The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1880-06-18
BLEBET'S FIRST L0 E.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF
HENRY MURGER.


TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF
HENRY MURGER.
A blouse of blue stuff of an elegant
cut and stylishly fastened about the
waist BY a narrow belt, cap Of blue
velvet ornamented with silk tassel
and pantaloons of blue cloth-such was
invariably our hero's costume, and to
it he owed his soubriQuet.
At the time this history begins,
Bleuet was pretty sehoolboy Of ten
years, whose nature and character eaYo
The life to his humble origin. His man-
ners naturally affected (if such phrase
may be used), his delicacy, his fine
features and the choice turn of his lam
guage were not those of d child of the
people, and one would have readily
taken him for the heir of some rich and
noble house, SO much of the superb was
there in his little person. This defect,
which, however, was merely super
fetal, was due to blind maternal ten
derness. But, after all, is pride de-
fectp At any rate, Bleuet's pride pre-
served him from those street corner COM
Partnerships which are formed between
the children of the same neighborhoed,
and the result was that he knew nOtha
ing of the picturesque but vulgar Yocab.
ulary of the Paris gan1in
In the same house with Bleuet, and on
the first fat, lived Mile. B., whose
father was then travelling. This charm
ing lady had not been able to follow him
because of great infirmity which
forced her to keep her room. She had
broken a&1eg through a fall, and the
physicians had condemned her to abso-
lutte motionlessness. Confided By her
father to the care of a governess, she re-
ceived at rare intervals only the visits of
a few intimate friends of her family.
The young invalid, who was terrible
weary of her isolation, thought one day
that she would make the acquaintance
of her youthful neighbor, whom she had
surprised many times standing at her
window while she was singing. So she
asked her goVernesS to invite the school
boy to visit her. But Bleuet judge it to
be in good taste TO extort more press
Jug invitation, and desired to know the
lady's motive for wishing to see HIM.
ssShe has service TO ask of YOU. p
answered the goEeEness at q hazard
But, said Bleuet, why don't she
come here and ask it of me flerselfpn
Mile. B. cannot walk, or she GER
tainly would have come; SO be good
enough to step down to her for an in
slant.
Every well. Tell her from me that /
shall do myself the honor to call upon
her presently" :"
The governess retired, greatly aston
ished at the fashion in which the droll
lad had received the invitation. She
told Mile. B. all about it.
Bleuet made his toilet. He pomaded
himself for an hour, put on gloves and
got angry with lis mother because she
would not let him carry q cane.
"What can she want with mePn he
asked himself, as he gave the bell a
violent pull.
The femme de chambre answered the
summons.
Announce me to your mistress, y
said the schoolboy, briefly.
The servant looked at him with q
mocking air, and in voice more mock
ing still announced
Monsieur Bleuet.n
You sent for me, mademoiselie,
said the schoolboy, when he found HIM
self in the presence of the pretty In
valid.
$ Yes, monsieur, and hope you will
pardon me for the arrangement I have
caused you. have great service to
ask of you, and as it has been repre-
sented to me that you are q very
amiable young man, / have dared to
| hope that you would not refuse me. =
Bleuet, who had pushed away tht
armchair that had been offered hisn
stood as straight as en- ] before the lady
and as he did not lack a certain amount
of tact, although be felt fattered by
the politeness of his reception, he had
| the idea that all these fine praises might
simply serve as cover for some trick
Hence he held himself on his guard, an6
was ready to return fire should it be
come necessary.
" Monsieur" resumed Mile. B.
with difficulty preserving serious
countenance, this is what beg 81
your politeLess. You have yers
handsome voice, and wish you to teach
me how to sing Meet Me by Moonlighi
! Alonepn
For an instant. despite his self-posses,
sion, Bleuet was disconnected he Szszs
| not expected anything like this.
Afiush of purple mounted to his face
But Mile. b., who was brave youas
lady, wasn't in the least DIT frightened
at the terrible glance the sehoolboy shoi
at her with all the fire of his black eyes
She continued, calmly:
Yes, I would like to know thal
beautiful song which you sing SO wsll
and you will be exceedingly obliging /
| you will teach it to me. Besides, vii
pay you for your lessons.
At the word pay Bleuet commenced
1 A Il Ia a 80 =