Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-10
THE CUIRASSIER.

1t was raining, but a scarcely visible
fall, as if the drops were pressed through
fine sprinkler by gigantic hand be-
hind the clouds, which sailed low in the
chilly air
But in spite of the stinging slaps of
the saucy wind the boulevard was full
of people, two crowds, one of which
moved by the force of business neces-
sity, the other more slowly, impelled
only by curiosity, but both meeting and
passing in constant succession.
At the corner Of a street and the
boulevard was stationed little boy
scarcely 10 years old. His brown, thick
uncombed hair fell in locks almost to
his eyebrows, or stood out like bristles
from his temples. His jacket, vest and
pantaloons were i'll fitting and remade
from old, worn corduroy, which had
changed from yellowish brown to a
dirty gray hue. They were entirely too
large for him, but then Gt was reasoned)
he would grow inevitably, whether econ
'omy made this desirable or not. His
face and hands showed the spots of mud
which were spattered on him short
time before by a luxurious carriage
that, in passing, almost touched his
three feet of corner territory. He had
small, bright, gentle blue eyes, and was
named Charles Froer
His father, who was a street vender of
toys, had placed him there some days be-
fore to sell something which he had late
ly invented. 1t was wooden cuirassier
of brave bearing, mounted on spirited
steed When a certain spring was
touched the horse would prance off on
quick moving wheels, and the soldier
would brandish heroically his formida-
BILE saber, rising and then falling to
pierce some invisible breasts, or to NOW
off the heads of some imaginary host of
the invading enemy. During this terrific
attack the cuirassier would roll his eyes
ferociously, and his savage mustache
would bristle with fury. What more
'alluring and enhancing toy could be
offered to boy with drop of French
bravery in his young heart? The father
sold many of them in walking the neigh
boring streets near the wonderful
Church of the Madeleine But he chose
to have his son remain at the street cor
ner, having suspended from his neck
frame in which a company of the cuiras-
siers were in line in the full splendor of
paint and gliding.
Every morning he received twenty of
them, and each one sold for twenty sous.
Thus every evening, in mounting to his
home in Acacia street.-the sixth story of
the house-he must show twenty sous
for each missing cuirassier Now he
shivered in the misty air; his cheeks,
nose and ears were purple, and his little
'chapped hands were buried to the elbows
an his pantaloon pockets. In a feeble,
thin, but sweet and melancholy voice he
cried:
''The cuirassier, the fine, brave cuiras-
sier, for twenty sous!" But the indiffer-
ent crowd passed on, leaving him to re-
peat his offers as regularly as he had
heard his father do.
g.nis good man, glider by trade, but
now out of his proper work. turned to
this business to keep out of idleness,
that he might the better feed his mother
less children. He naturally sold many
more OF tho toys, because in his good
natured way he added to these attrac-
items by his sparkling Partisan jokes,
they compelling attention and inducing
the listeners to buy. The little boy
could not do this; indeed was rather
sad while crying, ''The cuirassiers,
brave cuirassiers, for twenty sousr'
Tears were in his voice, but not because
of the cold he was accustomed to that
Nor was he i'll or hungry; on the con-
trary he was strong, and his father gave
him plenty to eat.
Why, then, was he shedding tears,
and why did he regard with an air of
disturbance, almost of fear, the children
of the wealthy who were tempted by
the pretty toys to approach him?
And when he sold one, and the twenty
sous sank deep in his pocket, why did
>sighs burst from his curved lips and his
eyes follow with jealous and desolate
expression the happy child who disap-
peared in the crowd triumphantly bear
ing away the gallant soldier? That day
business had been excellent, only one
toy remaining-one only, and nineteen
pieces of silver jingling in his purse.
Ncsr ullli, tIuOSJ tOuCIlluS LlI1, CdIue d
little boy, clinging to his mothers hand.
Although of the same age he was much
smaller than Charles and very thin, his
face being emaciated and wan. Itseem-
ed hard for him to walk, for his right
shoulder projected in hump.
They had never spoken, but they knew
each other very well by sight, having
often met. The deformed boy was named
Castor Lembelly, one which Charles
thought almost too grand for so small a
body. His mother was rich widow,
who lived in the first fiat of the house in
Acacia street, of which she was owner.
Castor stopped before Charles, recog-
sniZing him with a smile and bow. He
:gazed earnestly at the remaining toy,
and exclaimed, ooh, mamma, see the
splendid cuirassier"
His dark trimmed eyes-those of one
condemned to soon close them forever
opened wider, and he reached his long,
thin, waxy hand to grasp the wooden
soldier and touch the spring. Immedi-
lately the horse gave fierce bound, and
the rider brandished his weapon as if
moving the heads and piercing the
breasts of an invisible host.