Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-08-10
NO. 80.

Thus, although the home is always sad
dened by the presence Of drunkenness, their
affairs are already better, for Camille is
good to his mother
within year or two, when have en-
countered Catharine (she is much changed
poor wnman) leaning on the arm Of her son,
who is dressed as a gentleman-that warns
my heart
"But last night on coming from my poor
eating house, ] met Camille, and on giving
me his hand-oh, he is not proud and he
reddens not at my blouse stained with plas-
teri found he looked strangely.
What is the matter = said |
Yesterday drew my lot for the army
responded he I drew the number TO- one
of those which sends you to die of fever in
the colonies with the soldiers Of the ma
rines in any case there are five years that
| must leave my mother alone without re-
sources, with my father, and he has never
drank so much, he has never been more
cruel she will die, my godfather Oh how
poor people are cursed
Il passed a terrible night Think, mon
p5rc, the twenty years struggle of this poor
woman destroyed in one minute by the stu
pidityof chance, because youth had thrust
his hand in sack and drawn an unlucky
number.
THE next morning, bent like an old man
by a sleepless night, | went to work upon
the editice we were building on the boule
ward Arago.
"If one has the heartache, it is necessary
to work all the same. climbed to the top,
upon the scatIold-we had already carried
the building 10 the fourth story-and | be-
gan to lay my stones
suddenly some one tapped me on the
shoulder 1t was Philip. He worked now
a-days only by caprice, when he wished to
earn a little for drink.
II had not seen Philip for long time,
and | hardly recognized him. Burnt and
withered by brandy, his beard wholly gray,
trembling hands, he was an old mana
ruia. We'll, said | to him, the boy has
drawn an unlucky number.
What Of it, responded he, in hoarse
voice and an ugly look.
" Are you going, also, to bother me with
that, like Catharine and Camille He will
do as others-he will serve his country.
Zounds | know well what would please
them, my wife and my sol. If | were dead
he would not have to 60. But so much the
worse for them. am still solid as a post
and Camille is not the son of a widow
''Son Of a widow Ah mon p@rc, why
did he have the misfortune to say that
word y wicked thought came to me in
stantly, and it did not leave me all the fore
noon while | worked side by side with that
poor wretch.
II imagined what poor Catharinc would
suffer when she would no longer have her
son to nourish and protect her, and she
would remain all alone with that miserable
drunkard, wholly degraded now, to become
a savage capable of anything.
Twelve o'clock sounded from ncigh
boring tower, aud all our companions de-
scenied for dinner.
1--WE were the last Philip and I, but in
stepping upon the ladder in order to descend
in his turn, he suddenly looked at me and
sneerngly said You see, | have still
sailors foot Camille is not likely to be the
son Of a widow.
Then my brain felt a rush of blood and
anger
II seized in my two hands the sides of
the ladder to which Philip hung, crying
help = and with a single effort l made it
totter in space.
He was killed instantly. 1t was thought
an accident but now Camille is the son of
a widow, and he will not depart
This is what have done, mon pa,r, and
what had need to confess to you and to
the good God.
Il repent and beg for forgiveness, sin
cerely-but l must not see Catharne pass
in her black dress, happy, on the arm of her
son should be capable of not regretting
| my crime In order to avoid that | will
emigrate, will find work in America.
will submit to any penance you may impose.
Here, moa pere, is the jewel that Cath
arne refused to take from me when she
confessed she loved Philip.
Il have always kept it in remembrance
OF the only happy days that have had in
my life. Take it, and sell it for the poor"
Jacques arose absolved by the Able Faber.
1t is certain that the old priest did not
sell the gold jewel. After having placed
its value in the box for the poor of the
church, he suspended the jewel as a votive
offering upon the altar of the chapel of the
Virgin, where he goes often to pray for the
!