The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-02-21


CLASSY. and fits with Il faltering voice
he whispers: GIVE my love to grand
mother and tell her-father! motherl
l am coming his hands grasp the
vines tighter, he raises himself to a sit
ting posture, the moon coming from
behind the clouds shines on the wine
leaves in his curly hair, a cry rises in
his throat: "Vive Ia belle France!' he
sinks back, his eyes closed, and the
orphan boy is gone a.
''And it was meme alone-who
murdered him, " complained the grand
mother when she concluded her tale
Her eyes were dry, but the muscles
round the corners of her mouth worked
convulsively and there was a great sob
in her throat. 'It was all my fault,
the result of my unforgiveness; holy
Mary have. mercy and the old
woman run the black beads of her
rosary through her fingers, murmuring
her prayers.
We arrived shortly after at our desti-
nation, the atelier of n French photo
grapher, with whom L was slightly
acquainted. introduced my compal-
ion to him, and he, Offering her seat
addressed some question to her about
her picture. She looked at him with.
wonder, and finally replied that she
only wanted picture of her boy.
"Ahp' said the photographer, ga little
boy, very good, where is hep" A tear
dhmmed the old woman's black eye,
and for answer she pointed up to
Heaven. "Oh!'' exclaimed my friend,
dead! ! do not like TO photograph
dead bodies; but still as monsieur
brought you here ! will make an eXcep-
ton; when did your little boy die?'
when the grapes ripen he will have
been gone a year, = replied the grand
mother.
"But, my dear, began the photo.
grapher, perplexed, when l interrupted
him, and taking him aside told him the
old woman's story and how she had
walked fifty miles on her old legs to
procure a likeness Of her dead grand
child.
"But, my dear fellow, what can
do? I am grieyed, upon my word |
am; but what would You have me do?
| can't photograph anGelsn'
A noise of romping children was now
heard and two boys, about eight and
ten years old, came running into tho
atelior, crying at the top Of their
voices: ooh, papa, Toici!'
Hush, ehildrenn said the parent,
ego away; | am busy" and the happy
boys disappeared laughing in the next
room. A sudden idea struck me, and
turning to the old woman, who looked
wistfully at the door through which the
hove, ocro,,gI ogl-,,l b,,s if clio boI
kept any of her little boys clothes.
Indeed 1 have M0nsieur! She
answered. Il have kept everything
belonging to the little dear" and open
ing bundle she carried with her she
continued: Here is his best dress find
Cher voice sunk to a Whisper the last
ever saw him wear.
l now took the photographer aside
and made him acquainted with my
plan for photographing angels = and
after obtaining his promise OF carrying
out my instructions l persuaded ih2
grandmother to leave her grandson's
clothing in the atcIier and follow me
to an inn, where | LETT her to the care
Of the buzom hostess.
Two days after the photographer
sent for her and on her arrival handed
her a picture, at sight OF which the old
woman began crying freely. My
boy! my own darling boy! IL lie the
clothes [ spun every thread of myself
and his pretty curly hair-but why does
he cover his face SO? Won't he look
at me?h she asked, suddenly, looking
up from the picture that represented a
little boy kneeling in a chair with his
folded hands before his face.
"0h!'' remarked the photographers,
che is saying his prayers.
Eyes, YES, | know he is praying for
his poor old grandmerc. Oh, my dar-
ling boyr' and the great tears rolled
down her wrinlsled cheeks. "God and
our lady bless you, messieurs!' said
she, when she grew calmer. ~ am
now going to pray by my'boy's grave
until ! follow him. aud refusing M
aid for her trip home, but pressing her
newly found treasure fast to her brave
old heart, "Grandlhere Jeanneton''
left Us.
As to the picture, the intelligent read
ers Of the Free Press have Of course all
guessed that the photographer dressed
his Oldest boy in the poor peasant boy S
clothes; and who would not practice
such deception to see the tears that
rolled down Grandmere Jeanneton's
aged checks Detroit Free Press,
Fortunately, children are scarce in
Fish avenue; the necessities of fashion
. forbid large families. Such as come
receive Little Of q mothers care until
.thoI tfes dA,snoqgh,to bemten eXhibi