The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-10-06
The Boy Who Old Mis- BEST.
[Daughters Of America.l

BE is doing his best, that boy Of sixteen,
slietcned out before bright fire in the old
tanning shed. Reclining upon an old sheep
SKIN, with book In hand, he is acquiring
knowledge as truly as any student as his desk
In some favored institution with all the con-
veniences and facilities for learning.
He is doing his best, too, this same boy,
Claude, as he helps his master prepare the
sheep and lamb skins for dyeing, so they can
be made into leather. He Is doing his best
by obedience and by respectful conduct to
his master in endeavoring to do his work
well, although he makes mistakes, as his
work Is not so well suited TO his tastes as the
study of Greek and Latin.
'See there, young repscallion!" calls out
Gaspard Beaurais, the tanner. "See how
you're mixing up the wools~ For Claude's
wits were wool gathering" sure enough;
AYE, aye. sir" replied the apprentice; "but
will fix them all right" And he quickly
sets to work to repair his mistake.
Hell never make tanner, said Gas,
pard to his wife, "and much / fear he'll
never be able to earn his bread"
"Sure enough" replied his wife; "and yet
he's good and obedient, and never gives
back word to all your scolding."
And In after years, when the aged, couple
tice, they thought of these words.
One evening there came stormy. bolster
GUS wind, and the little stream In which the
tanner won't to wash his wool upon the skins
was sWolien 70 torrent. To attempt to
cross IL by lord at such time would render
one liable to be carried down the stream to
De dashed to pieces ON the rocks,
we must get all the skins under cover"
sai ga Gaspard to his apprentice. "a storm is
The task was finished and the tanner was
about to return to his cot and Claude to his
shed, when the boy exclaimed Surely |
ford"
And in an instant he darted toward the
river, followed by his master carrying the
lantern. Some villagers we're already there.
and strong rope was tied around the waist
of the brave boy, who was about to plunge
into the stream, for man on horseback was
seen coming down the stream, both rider
and horse much exhausted. Claude succeeded
in grasping the rein and the strong hands of
the master that held the rope drew him to
the shore, and all were saved. Soon after
the stranger sat by the tanners cheerful
fire, having quite won the hearts of the good
man and wife by his kind and courteous
manners
What can do for your brave boy?" he
asked.
Hes none of ours, and not much credit
VIII he be to any one. we fear. He wastes
bluff reply of the honest tanner, who could
not see what possible use Claude's studies
would be to him.
MAY l see the books ?" asked the stranger.
Claude, being called, brought the books of
Greek and Latin classics, and stood with
downcast face, expecting to be rebuked.
But, instead, he received words of common
dation from the gentleman, who, after some
talk and questions, was aStOnished at the
knowledge the boy had acquired.
few months later. instead of the old
tanning shed as study, Claude might be seen
with his books in a handsome mansion at
Paris, the house of M de Wallis, whose life
he had saved, and who had become his friend
and benefactor. The boy felt that he had
done his duty and that he was receiving
much In return, and he determined to make
every effort to meet the eXpections of his
patron.
He succeeded. Claude Capperonier, the
boy who did his best, became the most dis
tinguished Greek and Latin scholar of has
time. At the age of twenty-five he filled the
chair of Greek professor In the Royal Col
lege of Paris. More than this, he became
man who feared God, and was much beloved
for his goodness and amiable qualities. He
never forgot his former master and wife.
There old age was cheered by many tokens
of remembrance in the form of substantial
gifts from the man who, when boy, studied
so diligently by the fire of their old shed,
who would never make tanner"