Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-14
REDEEMED By A MOUSE.
A True Story of Convict and the Pet he
Loved.


Loved.
Mrs. E. W. Latimsr in ". 2. Herald
Some years ago poet lived in Paris
who had a kind heart and possessed con-
siderable influence among rich ana re-
spectacle people. He was sitting one
day at his desk writing a poem when
his servant brought him a letter from
an old friend asking him 10 find employ
ment s'for the bearer" The poet toid
the servant to show the bearer into MS
study. He was an elderly man, tall,
stoutly built, and scrupulously neat,
with a full gray beard, and he looked
about fifty.
"My friend tells me-" said the poet,
chat you have lately been bookkeeper
with tradesman in the Rue st. Denls?"
eyes, SIR" was the answer.
'Why did you leave your situation?"
The man hesitated and then said with
an effort, Il left it because Of an I'M
fortunate discovery"
But" said the poet, ''what was the
discovery? 1 must know, because II L
recommend you TO a place l shall take
q certain responsibility.
81 will tell you, sir" said the man,
looking full in his face as if he had sud-
denly taken resolution to speak frank
lv. 81 was in that house SIX months
and no one had had any fault to find
with me, when one day they heard OF
it-fonnd out that-that l had been q
convict AZ the galeys."
"Ah, indeed you were a convict at
the galeys," said the poet, in much the
same tone as if he had been saying
"Ah, indeed So you danced last night
at the court ball" "And how have you
been living since you left your situa-
tion?'
son little money that 1 saved when
l was in prison"
81 thought" said the pset, "that con-
victs were forbidden to take money from
visitors"
$50 they are, monsieur. But they all
do il if they can get a chance. 1t seems
no great harm to take 1t if we can do so
without discovery"
"How do you manage it?" persisted
the poet, who was curious to learn some
thing of cOnvict's experiences.
1--WE had several ways" the man re-
piled. milne was one not often used,
but it always interested visitors. Some
Of us used TO tame pet mice and teach
them to bring us any coin thrown down
for Us by visitor. We always kept
these mice in our clothes, where they
would nestle all day without stirring,
and when a visitor dropped little coin
g.. hO a q n
rup from its master, would come out of
it's hiding place, slip down the leg of his
trousers, secure the coin and run back
to its masters breast the way 1t came"
"What an ingenious trick" said the
poet, much interested, but hardly able
to believe the thing was true. Il should
like to see it done," he added presently.
"You can, monsieur"
What! Do you carry any trained
mice about you?"
Only one, monsieur, but can never
part from her. She is the only true
friend l have left" he added sadly.
CIVIL you show me?"
Certainly, monsieur. Please to
throw down a COMA cent, five cents
what you think proper"
The poet threw down q cent piece,
which rolled along the floor. The man
gave a slight chirrup with his lips and
the sleeve of his left arm was agitated.
Then the mouse came sliding down the
leg Of his pantaloons and appeared q
moment later on the carpet. But, to
the great surprise Of both men, it stood
still and seemed inclined to run back TO
its hiding place.
It's master, seeing its hesitation, CHR
ruped again moro loudly. The mouse
obeyed. The coin had rolled under a
piece of furniture in one corner Of the
study. Just as the little mouse was
about to pick it up piteous squeal was
heard. Alas! the poets great Angora
cat had been lying asleep under the
table.
When the convict saw what peril
threatened his little friend he turned as
death and gave a cry of terror.
Poet and convict sprang at once to
the rescue The cat was driven away,
but not before he had seized the prey in
his sharp claws. The poor little mo use
lay still with drop of blood like shin
ing carbuncle on its glossy breast.
Its master picked it up and held it for
a moment in his hands.
Then he laid it on the writing table,
drew himself up to his full height,
doubled his fists and sprang upon the
poet, who received his attack with great
composure, only saying, "Was it for
murder you were sent 10 PRISON."
At these words the poor fellow re-
covered himself.
''Let us see, my poor friend" said the
poet, ''if your poor little mouse is GER
tainly dead"
am sure that all who read this story
and who sympathize with the convict
in his sorrow for the injury to "his only
true friend" will hope the little mouse
got well, though it is hard to cure a
wounded animal. l wish l could inform
them, but do dot know. The story is
q true one, and he from whom l had it
could not tell. But this l know, that
the poet was ever after true friend to
the master, and got him situation In
q bank, where he remains to this day an
honest man.
WHY SHOULD MAN KILL HIMSELF?