The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-07

francs within a week, your child will be
dead" She went to her neighbor and
asked:
"Do you know what a military fever is?"
"Yes," said the old woman, 1T is an i'll
ness"
docs it require much medicine?"
"0h, an awful lot"
"Does it attack children? ?"
"More than anybody"
"Do they die Of it?"
Plenty"
"What can / do What can / do"
moaned poor Fantine. She had N bed
left, she had only a rag she called a blan-
ket, a mattress on the ground and a bot
tomless chair. The people to whom she
owed money made scenes and allowed her
no rest; her eyes were very bright and
she felt a settled pain under the left
shoulder-blade, while she coughed fire.
quently. She sewed seventeen hours a
day. About this same time Thenardier
wrote again to her that he had waited too
patiently and that unless he received one
hundred francs at once "he would turn
Cosette, who had scarcely recovered from
the fever, out of doors into the cold, to get
along as she could"
A little while after this we find Famine
in a hospital. She was very sick, the doc
tors said, and needed careful nursing.
The owner of the factory where Famine
bad worked was called NJ. Madeline. This
man was loved by every one because he
was gentle and kind to all alike; it was
said that he bever killed a harmless ami
NAL or a small bird. The children loved
him because he would make them pretty
little TOYS of straw and c~ocOa-nut shells.
Now a large factory has several depart
ments, and over each is appointed a man
or woman to oversee it and to employ or
discharge as they think best; and so it
happened that VI. Madeline heard now
for the first of Fantine's discharge. Hear
ing of her illness and distress, he went
directly to gee her. He took her hand
kindly and asked:
Glow are your"
every comfortable. l have slept, and
fancy | am better"
He said: Il have Just heard your
story; l was ignorant that you had left
the factory, but why did you not come to
me? This is what | have come to do for
you / will pay your debts and send for
your child. You can live wherever you
please and | will provide for you both"
This was more than she could bear.
To have her child, to live free and happy
~ &OoCNNC. IL idNC oil tbA6 haDHAAAtCS
burst into flower in the midst of all her
wretchedness! She looked as If stunned, at
the person who was speaking and then
tainted. A violent fever arose she spent
part Of the night in ravlng n talking
aloud, but at length fell asleep.
NJ. Madeline fastened to write to the
Thenardiers Famine Owed them over 100
francs but he sent them 500, bidding them
pay themselves out of the amount and to
bring the child at once TO her sick moth
er. They, however, did not send CoSette.
but made a great many poor excuses, and
said that she was still feeble and that it
would be dangerous for her to travel in
winter.
Nj. Madeline went to see Famine twice
a day, and every time she asked him:
"Shall | see my Cosette, soon?"
He would answer: Tomorrow. perhaps;
she may arrive at any moment, for | am
expecting her." and the mothers pale face
grew radiant.
"Oh" she said. chow happy | shall be-"
Fantine did not improve, but on the
contrary, seemed to grow worse week by
week.
Has she not q child that she wishes to
see ," asked the doctor of NJ. Madeline.
YES"
sWell, make haste to send for her
Madeline gave Il start, and Famine
asked him "What did the doctor say to
yOu?"
NJ. Madeline forced a smile. "IIe said
that your child must come at once, for
hat would cure you"
"Oh," she replied, ''he is right; butwhat
do those Thenardiers mean by keeping my
Cosette? Oh, che will come, andathen
shall see happiness close to me"
q 4l..1- - = -
for Cosette," said VI. Madeline, land |
will go myself"
lie wrote to Fantine's dictation the
following words, which she signed:
IN. Thenardier,-You will hama over COsette
TO the bearer, who will pay up ali little matters.
Yours, Famine"
AS my story now turns to Cosette. /
must tell you that Famine died without
seeing her child, but she was happy eX-
pecting her every moment. Poor
mother!