Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-29

could not discharge. and the prospect OF
prison in foreign land, threw me INTO
despair. The longer considered, the more
did my situation appear utterly hopeless,
till at length, in a state OF mind bordering
Oh frenzy, and with determination which
such a state only could inspire, walked
cut after a sleepless night, and bent my
course towards the river. was already
within few PAGES of the Pont Neut, when
Jsuues threw himself with greater impor-
tunity than usual, in my way. would not
see him.
Zone word, SIT, said he, in tone OF
eatreaty, and taking hold of the skirt OF
- Leave me. old man, said I, with
forced composure; to-day l have given
all away.
He guessed my meaning better than l In
tended he should.
By all that's sacred, my dear young
MASTER, said he solemuly, contide ID me.
What has happened !?
8" What is that to thee / replied ;
4" thou caust not help me-
Who knows Only speak, SIT! /
cannot rest until l learn what has so
changed you. Tell me the cause Of your
detection.
Why, only q paltry thousand louis !!
said l, with shrug.
- And is that ali? Good will lend
them to you.
The earnestness of his manner, the
firuiness with which he spoke, and the re-
Election that / could at any time carry my
intention into effect, brought my thoughts
into another channel, and induced me to
yield TO his request. Jacques gaze me his
address in remote suburb, and pledged
my word of honor to meet him there the
same evening.
Urged by curiosity more than by hope,
appeared at the appointed time and place,
and found Jaques ID small but extremely
clean apartment, plainly but neatly fur.
nished. He now wore a decent coat, and
came forward to meet me with friendly
look.
Consider all that you see here as your
own said he. l have neither child nor
relation. and what daily receiv5 from the
benevolent suffces for my hCusekeeper s
wants.
"'Help yourself, sir, said he, smiling.
here are about 200 louis. 1t is all that
I have by me in ready cash, but l soon can
procure more.
Do not mistake me, continued my
honest Jacques. l am no common beggar,
who drive the trade from love Of idleness,
and cheat the needy of the charitable gift
of the compassionate. ! am Of noble,
though poor birth. Having lost my parents
early, entered the army in my sixteenth
wear, served under the great SAKE, and il
worthy OF such leader let this testify : 8
cross Of St. Louis lay on the heap OF 5oid.
In my twentieth year cannon shot car
ried away my right arm. l received my
discharge and was thrown on the world
destitute ani hopeless, Ignorant Of any
trade by which 1 could gam 5 livelihood,
and rendered incapable OF labor by the loss
of my arm, l abandoned myself to pro
found melancholy, which threw me into a
long and severe illness. When l recovered,
my disappointed prospects, and sort Of
spite at the world, made me beggar. My
youth and infirnities gained me more com
passion than l had expected, and / soon
earned not only my daily subsistence, but
became enabled to lay by tribe daily,
which by little and little amounted to a
considerable sum.
80 You will not be ashamed Of me, con
tinued Jacques. You are now unfortunate
make the old beggar happy by accepting
his assistance.
81 allowed him TO count out one thou.
sand Louie, and then requested pen and
ink, in order to give him an acknowledg.
ment for the amount; but my benefsctor
would not hear of this. Take, said he,
as much as you require; and if you die,
added he, you can pay me yonder /
want but little here. You are sent to me
as son, whether you viii or not and you
az least canrot deprive me of the secret
satisfaction 4 being your father.
q l did not leave jacques cottage till a
late hour, when 1 returned home with a
hghtened heart, and refreshing sleep once
more visited my eyelids-
Early on the following day I paid of
every creditor, had another interview with
Jacques, and prepared Immediately to
leave France. My first care, on arriving
here, would most certainly have been to
discharge this, which l could truly call q
debt of honor; but as he had expressly
required me at parting not to think of this
till after the end OF year, at soonest, to
give him, as he said, proof OF confidence,
| deferred doing so till very lately, when,
on repaying him his loan, had the salts.
faction of acquainting him with my ap.
preaching union.
An he shall be my father also, ,, said
Adelaide, pressing his hand then rising
and going quietly toward him, she filed
the goblet with WINE. Let us drink to
the health of my worthy fathers ohm Won
2 and Jacques, the beggar,"
Everyone present pledged the toast with
enthusiasm, except the old stranger, who,
still evincing the most cutting Indifference,
pushed his chair back and hastily rose up,
with q oountenance on which was written
in distinct and legible characters g What
fuss about beggar !"
"Sir, you abuse the rights of hospital
ityl cried Otto, angrily, going up to the
Frenchman with the determination of max.
ing him quit the apartment.
Mon ami ah, mon fils p replied the
old man with the tenderest expression,
and removing at the same time the bandage
from his left eye, "now indeed l am salts
fed that my choice has not been misplaced.
You have not been ashamed to acknowl-
edge the old beggsr; your lovely bride, too,
has called me father. For this alone have
undertaken long journey and caused my
carriage to overturn at your gate"
He was now in his turn overcome as all
the guests crowded around him with praises
and caresses, and the grateful Otto, kissing
his Adelaide, called this the happiest day
OF his life.
Otto tenderly embraced his adopted
father, and the wooden cup was frequently
replenished in the course of the evening.
From the French.
FRESH AIR - The London Spectato,