Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-10-08
SON TO ORDER.
THE LOST LIE NOME HEIRS

On May 6, 1910, Jennie VacherOt mar
ried Lancelot lie Nome, notary, at Cathelot,
near Paris. Three boys were born to them.
Their father died in 1649, and named his
wife as guardian Of the three minor chill
dren. The mother sent them to school,
and they grew into bright, intelligent and
we'll behaved boys, reading and writing
well, and knowing something of Latin, as
well as their mother tongue.
In September, 1854, Jeanne Vacherot
went to Vernon, where some of her late
husbands property was Pierre was then
IA years old, Jacques 10, and Louis nearly
s. She took Louis with her, leaving the
older boys in the care of their grandmother
them. Scarcely had the mother departed,
when the two boys, with a couple of ccm-
panions, played truant from school. Four
days later the latter returned to their
homes, tired out with vagabondizing.
Pierre and Jaques, they stated, had left
them two days before and travelled off on
their own account, they knew not where.
All the researches of the police failed to
discover them.
Six months were passed in useless search
es; then the police abandoned the quest as
mere waste of time, and the poor mother
was left with her one remaining child to
console her in her sorrow.
| One day she was walking when she saw
beggar sleeping on the steps of the Hotel
Dieu, Ill Paris. By his side was child.
A vague resemblance to her lost Jacques
drew the mother to him. She found that
| it was not he, but as the man exhibited
sympathy with her an idea struck her.
"You travel much?" she said.
"Yes, Madame he replied.
"And you see many lost children
| "Alas. Madame, yes"
s'Come with me to my house, where we
can speak more freely"
| He went. There she showed him por-
traits of her sons, and gave him full descrip-
money.
ssNow listen," she said. eff you find
my son for me you shall never want a
home, and your child shall be as one OF
mine. Is it a bargain?"
The begger assented joyously. He was
quite superior man, and told plausible
and pitiful story. His name was Jean
Monrousseau, the son of stonecutter at
Limousin, and he was about 30 years old
A shepherd in his younger days, he enlist
ed at the age of 20, and served in Italy and
Flanders. While in the garrison at Ba-
paume, he married Jeanne le Blond, the wild
ow of boot-maker.
| As soon as he married, MOnrousseau left
| the army and became successfully a farmer,
| gardener, and butcher. But he had no
! luck, and his wife bore him many chill
| dren and was always sick. The children
died one after another. Monrousseau was
reduced to begging and travelled through
the greater part of France soliciting charity.
Finally, his wife had died only few
months before he met the desolate mother
who now implored his aid.
Monrousseau was kept informed of the
movements Of the widow. In the summer
| of 1866 she was in Vernon, and the beggar
| being in that section of Normandy sought
| her there to get little money flom her.
| On the 25th OF July she was at church. He
| entered among the congregation with his
| little son, and she saw him. The lady
beckoned to him, spoke few words in his
ear, looked at the boy for moment, and
then opening her purse, gave him some
money. The beggar thanked her with a
gesture. and then mingled with the crowd
of peasants that blocked up the door Of the
church.
This incident did not escape the curious
eye yes of the devotees of Vernon. The story
Of the lost children was well known to
them, little Jacques having been born in
the village. When they saw the widow
whisper to the beggar they began to whis-
per, too, among themselves, and some one
said:
s1t is little Jacques himself"
''But why should his mother abandon
him to beggar?" was asked.
s'Pshawr' was the significant reply.
''Have you never heard Of wicked mothers
who desired to lose their children
'sYou see she will not even look at him,
said one of those near her, "ani yet it is
certainly the little Jacques. There can be
no doubt of it,
As the widow went out woman ap-
preached her and said, bitterly:
':Your little Jacques is poorly clad, Mad
anne the Notaress, and it seems to me that
good clothes and good food are more need
ed by him than few sous given In char
ity.''
Jeanne Vacherot regarded the woman
with surprise, and, seeing her eyes turned
toward the little beggar, she comprehend
ed her meaning; then, Struggling her
shoulders, she replied:
"NIy little jacques that child! Mine had
a much shorter nose. Besides, do you net
see the difference in age?''
And she went on her way home, pursued
by indignant glances and evil remarks.
''She denied her own son." was the cry.
"This is what she does with her children,
this Madame the Notaress. She casts her
babies out in order to reyel In the wealth
which belongs to them.'
The beggar had fled, but had not sense
enough to leave the town. He established
himself at sunset near the gate de Bissi, and
there squatted on stone and extended his
hand for aims to the passers-by. Several
of those who had been in the church recog
nized him, and in ten minutes a dense
crowd surrounded the two beings.
''And the poor cherub, to what a condi-
ton has his mother Abandoned him!''
"Great God! does this not cry for ven
geance?"
These outcries were followed by shower
of stones. The tumult attracted the Pro-
cureur du Roi who was cousin OF the
widows husband. He was walking on
the ramparts, and he demanded what was
the matter.