The morning call., 1890-12-26

fingers, wide open. sparkling eyes, half
smiling. while hesitating to believe In his
happiness.
MAY not give it to him, mammaa Are
you not willing?'
surely, my darling" said the mother in
deep emotion, putting her hand in her
pocket, but suddenly withdrawing it she
murmured:
perhaps his self-denial will win him more
of heaven" and she disappeared in the
crowd with her physically deformed but
undetermined child.
Charles Froer returned to Acacia street.
His account was correct. For his twenty
cuirassiers he returned twenty francs.
He hid his toy in his pocket. In the even
ing he played with it; In the morning also
before starting out. He even took 1t with
him TO the boulevard, fearing if he had it al
home that his father might find it and make
him resell it,
This continued through all the cold month
of December, but the little street-vender
was now merry, and his voice, though still
feeble, was no longer sad when he cried:
The culrasslers, fine cuirasslers fOrtwen-
ty sous p
Two months passed in which Charles had
not SEEN the little invalid, hut the gift was
daily Joy and reminder of the giver.
One evening he heard his father say:
Castor Lembelly, the son of our house
keeper, is very ill.,"
Charles felt sharp pain in his heart, and
large tears filled his eyes. Two days after
his father again said:
"Gaston LambelIy, the son of the proprie-
tor, is dead"
Charles shut himself into the closet where
he slept. In bed he drew the sheet over his
head and wept, hardly knowing why. He
doSed, but continued to weep In his dreams.
Two days more he saw tue large door of
the house hung with black drapery, bear
ing III silver the Initials &c. l..
On table at the entrance, beneath the
wreaths of flowers, and lighted by wax
| candles, was the little casket, not larger
| than would have been required for child
| OF wears. When it passed out under the
| hangings many friends followed it. But far
| behind the procession. more unliempt than
usual, his hands still deep in the pockets of
his corduroys, Charles Froer followed. The
sky was covered with pail of dark gray,
and at times fakes of half-melted snow
were beaten by strong gusts of wind into
the face and eyes.
Truly living in such time was not cheer
full; 1t was a happy thing for little Castor
10 go away 10 country where the children
of the rich who had been good to those of
| the poor here below would meet and play
and love each other, and never know cold or
| want.
Charles did not dare enter the church.
but fingered in the vicinity until he could
| join the procession in its slow movement
toward the cemetery of Montmartre: He
| Kept Tar away from every one while the re-
mains OF his little benefactor were being
| hid away forever. He felt almost ashamed
TO be there. as if it were bad action. not
! having been invited by any one. And he
| trembled for the safety of his company of
| cuirassiers which he dared TO leave in charge
| OF friendly cOmrade, unknown to his
| father, that he might follow, even afar in
the mourneis' line, weeping for his little
| friend. lie also avoided the keepers, fearing
| they might chase him away.
Men, women and the little children,
| friends of the dead boy, passed back
through the gate and CASTOR was left for
ever under the cold of the wet earth. 1t was
| then that Charles timidly approached, look
| ing behind him to see if he was watched.
| No, lie was entirely alone. With care and
| tenderness he drew from his deep pocket
| the wooden cuira3sier.
| =" His mother did not buy him another,
and there won't be any up there. perhaps"
he softly whispered To himself.
! lie considered the toy a minute, touched
the spring, and for the last time the steed
| galloFed, the saheI cut and pierced and put
| in fight the terrible but invisible enemy.
| Then he kissed the brave man on each
| cheek, pressed him on his breast, kissed him
| again and gently placed him beneath the
| lovely and odorouS wreathS-a fitting grave
| for hero and steed. In leaving the cemetery
| he continued TO turn and throw kisses until
| the made grave had faded from his
Slglt-EX