Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-01

decoration Tor the agreeable man who re-
ceived Jacques in his cabinet like that of
the old physician. Jacques looked at him,
not recognizing the clown, and kept twist
ing his felt hat between his fingers. The
other waited. Then the father made his
excuses: 1t was astonishing-that which
he came to ask-not on his own account
pardon-excuse-but in truth, for the lit
tie one nice child, monsieur. and so in
telligent Always the first at school, ex-
cept in numbers which were hard to un-
derstand. He was dreamer, that little
one, you see; yes, a dreamer; and the
proof the proof-Jacques now hesitated
and stammered, then he collected his eour-
age and quickly said:
The proof is that he wishes to see YOU
he thinks only of you; that you are there
before him like star that he wishes TO
hold and look at"
When he had finished, the father, very
pale, had on his forehead great drops OF
sweat. He did not dare to look at the
clown, who remained with his eyes fixed
on the workman, and what is it that Boum-
boum is about to say? Is he about to send
him away-take him for an insane person
put him out of the house?
Where do you live?" Boum-boum
asked.
"Oh, very near on the street of the
Abbesses"
Let us 60" said the other. "Your bow
wishes to see Boum-boum? Eh bien in
a moment he will see Boum-boum."
When the door opened to admit the
clown Jacques Legrand cried joyously to
his SON:
Francois, be happy, little one Look
here is Boum-boum p
And the child had on his facea ioyful
look. He raised himself on hi Pmother's
arm and turned his head toward the two
men who had entered, looked moment al
the figure beside his father, at that strange
gentleman in dress-coat, whose kind
bright face smiled at him, and when they
| said, " 1t is Boum-boum," he slowly and
sadly let his head fall on the pillow and
remain there, his eyes fixed, those great
| beautiful blue eyes that seemed to gaze faI
beyond the walls of the little room and to
be always searching for the spangles and
butterfly OF Boum-boum, as lover who
pursues his dream. "No," said the child
with voice still sharper and more heart.
rending, No; it is not Boum-boum."
The clown standing near the little bed
gazed at the face of the little sufferer with
penetrating look, very grave and of in.
finite sweetness. He shook his head, looked
at the anxious father, the sad mother, and
said, smiling, "He is right. 1t is moi
Boum-boum," and left the room.
/ did not see him. / will never sec
him again, Boum- -boum," the child re-
peated, his little voice seemed now speak
ing to the angels, perhaps Boum- -boun
| will be there, where little Francois is 90
ing soon."
Just then-had hardly been half an houl
since the clown disappeared door
opened abruptly, and in his spangled suit
| yellow top-knot on his head, the gilt but
terfy on his breast and back, with hi,
| huge smile, his face well powdered, Boum
boum, the true Boum- -boum, the Boum
| boum of the circus, the children's favorite
| the Boum-boum Of the little Francois
Boum-boum appeared.
And upon his little white bed the ioy o.
life in his eyes, laughing, crying, saved, the
child clapped his thin little hands to-
gether and cried bravo, and said, with the
gaiety of his seven years awakened by the
enhancing sight before him:
Boum-boum 1t is he, it is he thi.
time! This is Boum- -boum! Viye Boum
boun! How do you do, Boum-boumw
When the doctor came next day he
found, seated at the bedside of little Fran.
co.'s, clown with painted face, who made
the little one laugh continually, and who
said to him, while stirring morsel of su
gar in the bottom of the medicine glass:
Thou knowest if thou dost not drink it
little Francois, Boum- -boum will not come
back again"
And the child drank.
Is it not good to take?"
Very good thank you, Boum-boum."
Doctor" said the clown to the phvsi
clan, "d do not be jealous-though it ap
pears that my grimaces do as much good
as your prescriptions"
The father and mother wept, but this
time from joy.
Aud until the time little Francois was
once more on his feet, carriage stopped
every day before the laborer's quarters III
the street of the Abbesses at Montmarte
ana man descended enveloped In a large
mantle, the cape pulled over his head, and
under that dressed as if for the circus, with
his gay visage well painted.
What is it that l owe you, monsieur ?'
Jacques Legrand said finally to the clown
the day the child took his first walk In the
open air; " for indeed we owe you every.
thing"
The clown held out his two hands, large
and strong as those of Hercules, to the pa.
rents and said:
"Only clasp of the handsr'
Then placing two great kisses on the
cheeks-once more rosy-of the child, said
laughingly: And the permission to write
on my visiting card:
BoUN-BOUM
80, !" Doctor, acrobat, physician ordinaire to the
little Francois"