The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-10
plERRoT THE FAITHFUL.

and famished, led by the bride poor
little donkey which seemed a hundred
years old, and which dragged poor lit
tie cart, full of the rubbish of the street,
rags, broken bottles, torn papers, worm
out skillets, crusts of bread, = the thou
sand nothings which are the fortune Of
the rag pickere. The woman had done
good work since midnight but the donkey
was ready to drop.
The sight touched and arrested me. A
man would have cursed and beaten the
poor beast to arouse him. The woman
looked at him with an eye OF motherly
pity. The donkey returned the look as
it saying: "You see it is all over. I have
done my best for you night after night,
because | saw your misery was greater
than mine. You have treated me we'll,
sharing your bread with me, and your
neighbours oats when you could get them.
But am dying at last"
The woman looked at him, and said
gently, Come, dear Pierrot, do not leave
me here" She hghtened the load by
taking out basket of broken bottles.
"Oome, now," she said as if talking to a
child, ''you can get along nicely now" She
put her shoulder to the wheel, but the don
key did not move. He knew that he had
not strength to walk to st. Ouen, his
wretched home. She still coaxed him.
"How do you think we can get along this
way, Pierrot? To be sure 1 could drag
the cart But I can't put you in it, and
you would be ashamed to be dragged
after it," The donkey raised his ears
but no move.
was going to speak to her when she
ran into the nearest bakeshop. The DON
key followed her with anxious eyes. He
seemed fearful that he should die with
out his mistress. He was SO little you
would have taken him for Pyrenean dog.
He had grown gray in the harness. A
few tufts of gray hair remained here and
there on his emaciated body. He looked
like mountain burned bare in many
places. His resigned air showed mind
free from worldly vsnities. He was
far past the age when one strikes atti-
tudes. He was almost transparent in his
leanness, but his face was all the more
expressive. 1t had something almost
human in its intelligence and goodness.
Why had be been condemned to such
suffering?
The rag-picker soon returned, bring
ing piece of bread and lump of sugar.
The donkey turned and showed his teeth
like old piano keys. But although it
was his breakfast time, he had no more
strength in his mouth than in his legs.
She gave him the sugar. He took it as
if to oblige her, but dropped it again, and
the same with the bread. "Ah, what
shall I do?" said the rag picker. She
thought no more of her cart. She was
full of anxiety for her friend Pierrot.
"Pierrotr' she cried again. Two great
tears came to her eyes. She took his
head in her arms, and kissed him like a
child. The caress did what nothing else
could do. The donkey reused himself,
and brayed as in his best dsye.
I approached aud said to the woman,
"You appear to be in trouble"
"Oh," che said, crying, 'if you knew
how love this beast. saved him from
the butchers four years ago. In those
days had only hod. I have raised
seven children with my hook. The faith
or is gone and one other, and my eldest
daughter was taken only a fortnight
ago. It's no use. You can't take good
care of them when you work in the
streets all night"
One of my friends passed by. I said:
"Let us buy this donkey and put him on
the retired list. This good woman will
taks care of him. How much did the
donkey cost?' asked.
"Ten francs"
$50 back and buy another donkey,
and take care Of this one," said, putting
the money into her hand.
That evening the woman came to me
in tears. I understood at once.
"Oh, sir, he has gomez
"Poor Pierrot?"
"Yes, sir. We got to st. Ouen one
way or another; but when he came in
sight OF our hut he fell on his knees. 1
tried to raise him. but this time it was all
over. Think of it! He wanted to die at
home, after finishing his days work.
Johounot's Natural History.