The daily critic., 1890-10-08
QUARREL OF THE PIN AND THE NEEDLE.
How a Bright Little Chap Kept a
Big State Secret,
TEE DUEE OF WELLlEGTONS TOAD
Little Fanny and the Gate Of Heaven
Royal Fish-.-Tbe Nickel That
Burned in Jogs Pocket.

reported by the Globe. Democrat
II should like TO know" said the
pin, what you are fit for, aud how you
expect to get through the world without
ahead ?"
what Is the use Of your head" re-
piled the needle, sharply, "if you have
no eye2"
What is the use of your eye If there
is always something in it2" retorted
the pin, bluntly
II am more active. and can get
through more work than you can"
said the needle.
YES; but you will not live long. for
you have always a stitch in your side"
said the pin.
You are poor, crooked tbingl"
said the needle
And you are so proud that you
can't bend without breaking your back"
Tetorted the pin.
'I will pull your head of II you In.
suit me again" quoth the needle.
II will pull your eye out II you
touch me" snarled the pin, "for, re.
member, your life hangs upon
thread"
While they were thus pickering a
little girl entered, and, trying to sew
something hard, soon broke the needle
at the eye ahd threw II under the CRATE.
She then tied the thread round the ok
OF the pin, and, trying to pull Il through
her work, the head came of, when she
threw II into the ashes, where the needle
was already.
well, here we are together again"
said the needle.
I'VE have nothing 10 quarrel about
now" said the pin. 1T seems mis-
fortune has brought us to our senses"
-
State secrets, as rule, are not per
miltcd TO fall into the hands OF the
young All nations guard their in
ierests with jealous care, but there was
once boy who for a long time held
possession Of a very important State
secret which affected to large extent
the welfare Of this country at time Of
pressing need.
According TO Golden Days It came
about in this way;
In the month of March 177G, the
Continental Congress sent Sllas Deane
as q political agent to the French court
TO enlist Louis XVI. In our cause, and
bring about negotiations which would
result In a treaty or alliance. At the
same time Arthur Lee, another dis.
tingulshed American, was Ia London
In secret correspondence with lnauen-
tial FTenchmen.
Lee, one day, was approached by
Beaumarchis, secret envoy of the
French Government, who told him
that the King was desirous OF helping
the colonies but did not want TO do so
In manner which would involve him
In an open war with England. Beau.
maTchis said that Louis would give us
plenty OF money and arms, If he could |
do so without exciting suspicion, for he |
cordially hated England, though l fear
he did not Ike the thought Of helping |
10 establish a republic In America.
Accordingly, Lee, Deane and the |
crafty BeaumaTchis put their heads TO. |
gelher and agreed upon a witty plan OF |
secrecy. When Beaumarchis returned /
10 Paris a correspondence began be- /
tween a firm called RodeTidue, HOT- /
tales & Co. and one Mary Johnson-the
former being, In reality, Beaumarchis
and the latter Arthur Lee.
Lee represented that he had large
amounts of tobacco to sell, and directed
that the purchase money received from
HoIlales * Co. be sent TO him by way
OF Cape Francois. In the meantime
NeTgennes, the French Minister OF
Foreign Affairs, and the King had been
Informed Of the plan and had approved
of II, and Louis directed his treasurer
TO hold 1000, 900 liVTes subject 10 Yer
genne's orders.
Now, II was very important that al
the correspondence on behalf OF the
French Government should be con
Quoted by one person, and the one Sc
lected 10 conduct Il was Minister Yer
gennes' son, a boy Of only 10.
lie was well educated, bright, aud
knew how to keep a State secret as well
as bis illustTiOus parent The boy took |
charge Of the important business, aud
from time 10 time large sums Of money
found their way from the royal treasury
TO the Golfers Of the Colonies.
In order 10 give the transaction a bust 1
ness complexion some tobacco was sent
In return.
If England had discovered that a
shrewd little boy IN the office Of the
French Minister was thus damaging her !
cause With his pen, over the signature !
OF 'HOrtales 4 Co, she Wauld have I
called King Louis 10 account for his |
duplicity; but the secret was so well
kept that England never suspected it. |
Young FergeDnes displayed so much !
tact In the part he played that, when Il
was all over, be was summoned 10 court |
and received the thanks Of the King
In one Of his letters he offered az
hortales q Co.. % furnish the Ameri-
cans with any thing they needed OF
course, all he did vas done with the
free consent Of the French Court
The little fellow would couch bis let
leTs IN adrOit commercial phrases. So
hat II they bad fallen into the hands Of |
he enemy tue truth would not have
0Cen suspected. In an "MessFs. Hor- |
tales & Co. " furnished the struggling
v ith SlS5, COO
History Is silent concerning the sub |
5equent career Of the boy with the State
secret, but i am almost ready % say that
be became a noted diplomat for be
bad shown that be could keep an im-
pOrtant secret and conduct c0rresDOnd-
ince between tWO nations. No doubt
ais iliustTlous father, the great Minister,
5as proud Of him.
-
A peculiarly delightful letter Of the /
Duke Of Wellington has been un- I
.aTthed By Short Cas, which runs as
Oll0Ws
"oIEATHFIELDsAIE, July 2T, ls87.-
field Marshall The Duke of Wellington I5
IappF % inform William Harries chat bis
Oad is alive aud Wella
During one Of his country walks the
Duke found a little boy lying on the :