St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-04-12
MISCELLANY.
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK.

Alexander Pope, who ssLisped in Num-
bers for the Numbers Came.v
Translated from French for Springfield Republican
advise any of my young readers
who may visit London during the sum-
mer not to fail to go to Windsor and
spend one day at least in the beautiful
forest that surrounds this ancient royal
residence. In those majestic woods
giant trees stretch their roots over
green and fowery turf; the perfumed
air one breathes beneath their shade is
cool even in dog days; deep stiffness
reigns, save for the rustling tree-tOps
and warbling birds; or when the occa-
sional rolling of carriage filled with
lords and ladies is heard along the fine,
graveled roads intersecting the forest.
One morning in August 1893 trav-
cling carriage was passing through
Windsor forest; it was evident from
the luggage piled upon the roof that
the family within had some other in
tention than merely to take a drive /;
the rapid pace of the horses proved
that they wished TO reach some desti
nation as quickly as possible. The
travellers appeared uninterested in the
beauties nature had lavished around
them although the day was warm
|
were closed and the curtains partially
lowered. In the back of the carriage
sat lady about 30 years old, holding
in her arms a little boy, whose head
was half concealed under the silken
cloak of his mother, as with caressIng
touch her white hands smOOthed his
fair curls. The child was IL years old,
but so puny and delicate that he ap
peared scarcely seven. His figure
would have been ungraceful, had it
not been for the little velvet coat into
whose making mother-love had intro
duced many ingenious cOntrivances
which concealed the poor child's ill
shaped form.
In the front of the carriage sat
naughty, stern gentleman, who smiled
only when his glance fell on the boy,
now apparently sleeping.
ale is resting" said his mother.
GLOW much he suffered at that school
from the malice of his companions !!
| Our dear little Alexander is right !;
henceforward we must live in solitude
and conceal his intirmity from all
eyes"
| ''Solitude will be as pleasant to me
as to our son." replied the gentleman,
''for | shall no longer, as in the streets
of London, be exposed to the chance OF
meeting CromwelPs creatures, who be-
headed our king, Charles l."
The gentleman removed his hat as
he uttered these words, and the lady
bowed her head.
81 will venture to say" continued
the father, "that our son was lll-treat-
ed because he was the son of one who
upheld the Stuarts' cause. The wretch
es to insult him to call one who is
already so intelligent and so noble
minded, hunchback.
At the word the child started, as if
stung by the fang of a viper, left his
mothers arms and stood erect between
her and his father.
eyes," said he, clenching his little
hands with rage, "they called me
'hunchback' and it was in public, be-
fore the assembled parents, the day
when the prizes obtained at school
were distributed. Oh | am sure, pa
pa, had you been there, you would
have Qrawn your sword. But you
were travelling with my mother, and
could not avenge your son."
| AS he spoke, he drew up his little
figure, his eyes flashed fire. his face
giowed with Indignation.
"Calm yourself" said his mother,
"you we'll know that they were jealous
because you had gained all the prizes"
ayes, they were jealous" continued
the child, "and particularly of that
eclog of Theocritus, which had trans
lated into English verse, and was de-
sired by my teacher to recite in public.
But when [ approached the front OF
the platform, dressed in the pretty
shepherds costume that my kind aunt
took so much trouble to make for me
and [ thought SO becoming, their voices
rose in a mocking murmur, and they
all exclaimed: ooh, the little hunch-
back the little hunchback y"
"Hush,n replied his mother, "you
have already told us this; think no
more of it; but of your kind aunt,
whom we shall meet at our pretty cot
tage of Benfield !; she has prepared ev-
cry thing for your reception, has placed
your favorite books in your chamber,
and added some birds that have just
arrived from India to your aviary.
Then see how beautiful nature is"
continued the mother, raising the
window curtains; eve shall find our
garden filled with flowers, our f1ocks
| feeding upon the sloping green turf.
OuI DcduGilul COWS Will anu OesO
bread out from your hand. Come,
smile my little poet, and forget those
naughty boys"
"You are right, my dear mother"
replied the child gravely, 81 also wish
to forget myself, that is, this misshap-
en- body that causes smiles wherever l
pass, and think only of the powers of
my mind, how to develop and increase
them in short, | wish, by means of
the productions of my intellect, to rise
some day above those who mock at
me. Tomorrow, papa, we will COM
mence difficult studies"
eyes. my son." replied the gentle
man; 81 have written to our excellent
and learned neighbor, Father Dean,
and we will teach you Latin and
Greek"
eyes, yes! so that 1 may read the
poets of ancient times, and become a
poet myself" replied the child.
"Look," he cried, leaning out of the
carriage door, "that frightened deer
has rushed into those green thickets
and disappeared"
'There is subject for an eclog,"
said his father "we can thus arrange
little themes, on which you can prac-
tice writing verses"
"Oh what fortunate thought J" said
the child throwing his arms around his
fathers neck.