San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-10-24

true DaVfanche, upright as all the DaV-
ranches.
In a second letter. sent two years
later, he said
NV DEAR PHILIIPE-l write you so that
you need have no fears regarding my health,
which Is all that can De desired. My business
also goes we'll l start tomorrow on a long
voyage To South America several years may
pass, perhaps. before you will hear from me-
But If | do not write do not he alarmed. |
shall return 10 Havre with Il fair fortune.
hope il will not take too long. and then we
sGall all be happy.
This letter became the gospel of the
family. 1t was read at every opportu-
nifty. il was shown to every one
During ten years, perhaps, we did not
hear from Uncle Jules: but. as the time
heightened, my fathers hopes also grew
in proportion, and my mother often
said.
When Jules is here our situation viii
be entirely changed
And every Sunday. when regarding
the huge black masses of smoke on the
horizon that assembled to the sky like an
immense serpent. my father repeated his
eternal phrase.
All, if Jules were on one of these
what a surprise it would BET
And then he rubbed his eyes briskly
with a handkerchief
They made a thousand projects when
the return was assured. they would buy.
with uncles money. small house in the
country | do not know but that my
father had already commenced negotia.
lions in reference to that affair.
The eldest of my sisters was twenty
eight years old. the other twenty-six.
They had never married. which was a
cause of great sorrow to all A wooer
finally presented himself for my young
est sister He was a clerk. not wealthy.
but honorable.
have always had the conviction that
tine letter of my uncle Jules, shown again
one evening had ended the hesitation and
strengthened the resolution of this young
man
He was accepted eagerly, and it was
decided that after the wedding the whole
family should take little trip to Jersey.
Jersey is the ideal Of a journey for
poor people. 1t is not far; one traverses
the sea in a packet and finds ones self in
a strange land, an island belonging to
the English. Thus Frenchman, after
two hours sailing, can see his neighbors
and can study their strange manners and
deplorable circumstances This trip to
Jersey occupied all our thoughts, our
entire attention, and we dreamed of it
constantly
Finally we started remember it as
if II happened yesterday-the smoke
blowing over the dock; my father, very
much pertlIrbed. watching the trans
porting of our luggage, my mother, also
disquieted, had taken the arm Of my I'M
married sister, who appeared lost since
the other sister had gone from her, like
chicken sitting alone in its coop. and
behind us came the young married pair,
always tagging which compelled me to
turn my head often
The whistle sounded We went on
board, and the ship leaving its dock,
glided ont upon SEA as smooth as glass
We watched the recedIng shores, happy
and joyous. feeling doubtless expert
enced by all who have travelled
My father wore his long coat, from
which all the spots had been washed
with benzlue, and consequently he
strongly suggested that valuable cleans
ing agent, and recalled to my mind our
Sunday outings.
Suddenly he espied two elegant ladies,
to whom two gentlemen were Offering
oysters An old ragged seaman opened
the bivalves with one blow of knife
and passed them to the gentlemen, who
immediately carried them to the ladies'
who ate them IN most genteel manner
holding the shells in a cambria handker-
chief, and conveying them to their
mouths without dropping any juice or
staining their toilets Then they drank
the liquid with pretty, rapid move
ment, and threw the shells into the sea-
Undoubtedly my father was capuvated
by this distinguished act Of eating oys-
tiers on vessel while it was under sail.
He thought 1t was good taste, refined
superior, and approached my mother
and sisters, saying
What would you say if | should
offer you some Oysters|
My mother hesitated on account of
the expense. but my sisters accepted i'm
mediately
My mother said in querulous tone:
II am afraid they will not agree with
me. Give some to the children. but not
many. as the oysters will make them
sick" Then turning toward me, she re-
marked, As to Joseph, he needs none;
it is best not to spoil the boy."
remained beside my mother and
thought her very unjust. | followed