Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-09-18

if ever he had posed in his gayest season
for parsonage Of Importance. 10 give
an idea Of bis spine " simply impossible
The bones were piercing the skin; little
more and he had been transparent, but his
face had gained only the more expression,
something. know not how else to describe
It, of human intelligence, benevolent good
ncss.
Why had he been condemned to such
marty rdom? Was it eXpiation for one of
his kind or punishment for a previous ex
lstence passed in OrgiesP
But now the ragpicIer was returning
carving in one hand n piece of bread, in
the other lump Of sugar.
Pierrot raised his lip and attempted to
show his teeth worn and yellow as the
keys OF an old harpsichord; but though
it was the breakfast hour, he let the bread
drop again, he had no more strength IN
his jaws than he had in his legs.
The ragpicker tried him then with the
lump of sugar; he took it rs if it gave him
pleasure, but let it fall beside the bread
"Ah, mon Dieu, mon Dieul what n mis-
fortune" cried the poor woman sorrow
fully
She thought no longer of getting her
goods to her house; she thought of moth
ing but her old friend perrot
"Pierrotl pierrotW she called again.
she OWNED That the ass was lost; two
great tears Hllstened IN Der eyes. She
opened her arms, TOOK ms ne'u IN her en-
brace and kissed him rs II he had been
beloved chlld
And swear to you, my friend, that the
ass himself let fall two tears!
This cares,iug, too, apparently per
formed a miracle, TRANSMITTING itself first
by cry from he heart-the ass began to
bray as in his better days. feared, myself,
that it was as the cry OF the swan, but no,
Pierrot had revived, had returned to him
self
Deeply moved by the spectacle, | ap-
preached aud held out my hand to the
worthy woman
at is well, madame, this thing that you
have doue' said [.
An! monNi,ur' said She sobhing BIT
ter.N eff only y"1 hue" how | love this
beastl Figure To Yourself that it was ]
that saved him from the ah1ttoir, seven
years ago, That VAS ana WhHh h0d only
a hotiH, mlseinhs basket for the back
ana my pick hook with which to provide
Tor seven children. The good God is just,
mOnSicuU The father YOU see has gone
with another; rascal stole from me my
had twelve, nonsIeur-oIed at the breast
for one has not good miIN when one must
work and toI, all day and night long-and
the youngest Of the twelve, to save its life
was forced 10 place IN founding asy.
lum
'N'7 ass monsieur mas ueeh my only
oon>olI''on' be,ter companion, ZOO, than
ever Was my man 10 me Nlh MN one
mas ne'o' 10 "u''l ~ N'eP H'l! from U"e
ciDaret or run 10 escape ms pcatIngs, no
more than re mas 10 rum my mite Flerrot,
VINO never was beaten - 10 not So my
friend. my dear Htfle assf'
AND truly the ASS hRd tue air OF compre'
hendlnE ana joining IN the conversation.
lie pricked up his ears seemed to Put on
his thlnAln& cap ana TO try to give AN
opinion
An scqlMatance pissed at int moment
and asked what was doing there.
Making a new friend, my dear, said !,
p9ftlnS ana smoothing Plerr"t ihot'Ied
sides with feeling of tenderness that was
steadily growing upon me,
He is doubtless Il steed Of spirit, that"
resumed the newcomer critically, but GER
t9irlK ha - ,Ct Lpn1 .O,,.