The National tribune., 1892-12-22

Rue Taitbout and the
boulevard a little gamin
had stopped-a little fellow 10 years old, per.
haps, his unkempt chestnut locks falling over
his brow down to his eyes in q Stiff, splky
fringe: hi. coat vest, and pantaloons held to-
gether by bits of Irvine, his cotton jacket,
which had seen its best days, patched with a
thousand colors, and once. like his hair, chest
nut hued. but now gray with dust, and too long
and too wide besides for he was, as said, only
very small and very poor little street-boy.
passing carriage, awhile ago, had spattered ms
face with grayish spots; he had wiped the mud
off on his sleeve, hut the marks were still
there, through which shone pair of beautiful
blue eyes, clear, sparkling. and shrewd.
His name was Charles Frou, and be was a
little toy-seller, SIS his father had taught him,
and as his father still was. For some days past
business with both of them had been very
brisk. A new plaything had come into the
market and was selling rapidly-a gay and
martial little soldier-man, brsndishing his
saber and going full-tilt ahorseback. Wound
up. the horse galloped on wheels the sword
rose and fell and pierced invisible breasts and
cut off unseen heads, while the furious little
soldier, with his bristling mustache, ferociousiy
rolled his eyes.
Father Frou had sold lots of them along the
boulevards of the Madeleine and the Ambiqu,
which was why he now had stationed Charles
pended from his neck, and on the tray squad
ron of little warriors Respondent and proud.
The toy cost 20 sous; every morning his
father gave him 90, and every evening when
Charles climbed YEARLY to the sixth floor of
the Rue Acacia, he was obliged to turn in 20
times 20 sous, to account for the sale OF his
wooden soldiers.
Under the fine, chilling drizzle the little
fakir shivered. His cheeks ears, and nose
were fairly purple, and his little rough,
ehapped hands, plunged nearly to the elbows
in his breeches pockets. Nevertheless, in his
thin, shrill, wailing voice, he continued to call
out at intervals, as his father had taught him
to do:
Soldiers! soldiers! Handsome soldiers
here, 90 sous apiece!"
The crowd passed indiferently on.
Passed to stop at the tray of the old doll
seller opposite, who called out his wares also,
and banded jokes and gay Partisan pleas
aptries with the hurrying people till he caught
their attention and forced them to buy in spite
of themselves.
"soldiers soldiers. 90 sous for handsome
soldiers!" the little fakir called again.
There were tears in his voice now; not that
be was cold-he was used to that; or that be
was i'll or hungry; he was strong; his father
was good to him. Why, then. did he cry?
Why, with startled eye, almost with fright,
did he regard those who approached his stand
those children of the rich. whom he tempted
with his gay, galloping little men?
And when little soldier was gone, and the
90 sous dropped into bis hand, why, with lips
Quiyering with barely restrained sobs did he
follow with jealous and infinitely sorrowful
gaze the child disappearing into the throng of
passers bearing away with him his little SOL
dier-man?
Sales had been better, too, to-day, than
usual. Only one more toy, one only, remained
aLa 10 If on1I,
clinked in the bottom of bis pocket.
Near him, almost touching him, child was
passing, led by its mother. Weak, emacated
yellow, and faded, he had scarcely strength
enough TO drag himself, much less the big hump
that rested on his frail little shoulders. He
was the same age as Charles Frou, and though
they had never addressed each other a word
they knew each other well. Charles had often
met them: in fact, the little hump back, CASTOR
Lembelly-a droll name, thought Charles, for
so poor q body-and his mother, the rich
widow, who lived Oh the first floor Of the Rue
Acacia, which belonged to her.
Suddenly CASTOR stopped snd nodded his
head; the little soldier-man and the little fakir
boy had caught his eye at one and the same
time.
"oh, mamma, mamma, see!" he cried; "the
beautiful soldieri"
His eyes, circled with black, the eyes of one
incurably III, condemned soon to close, opened
wide with delight, and bis hand, long, bony
bloodless, and wax, eagerly advanced to seize
the toy and make the spring play. The horse
began to gallon, the little cavalryman TO lunge
and brandish the sword, which pierced breasts
and cut of heads that one could not see.
Boy it for me, mamma; please, please
mamma. buy it for me :" he duplicated
What does it cost your soldier, my child q"
his mother demanded of the little fakir.
Twenty SOUS, madam"
And CASTOR Lembelly bore away the pretty
Christmas toy.
On the tray there was nothing mora Charles
bent his head till il almost touched il. his Inns
twitched pitifully; with all his might he tried
TO hold back the tears-he did not want to crv.
But sorrow was stronger than he. A Sob a
loud sob-as il always is when one seeks with
all his strength to keep it in, shook his poor
little breastl another, another still, and CASTOR
Lembelly heard him and turned about He
stopped. hesitated, pulled his mothers dress,
and they were standing again at the little
fskir's side.
All children are brothers. He softly laid his
hand on Charless ragged arm.
Why do you cry 80" said he; "has any
body hurt your"
Charles sobbed on. but answered nothing.
How could he. poor little man2 CASTOR re.
pested his question.
Charles drew his sleeve across his ewes and
tears eucountering the mud-spots Of a while
ago, broad, dirty smear striped the gamin's
face now from ear TO ear; be explained as well
ss be could through his sobs:
IL am not crying" said he; NOBODY has
hurt me, only-only my-my little soldierso-
Well, your soldiers-go on; are they not
paid for, my little one?" Gaston's mother
said, pityingly.
Oh, yes, madame, but-but they were so
pretty and gay. and when had them before me
was always so happy, because could look az
them, though i dared not touch them-papa
has forbidden me. And now they are all gone
III was just crying, be-beeause / wanted
one. too, one for myself, all by myself
madamei"
" Then ask your papa to give you one child
IL have madame; he cannot, they-they
cost too dear"
The little hunchback considered Charles with
great astonished eyes. A plaything that cost
too dear 10 be given when il was wanted? He
could not understand il.
"You wanted it go bad, Them continued he
"Oh, yes, yes" said Charles, his sobs begin.
ming anew, in spite Of himself, in spite even o.
the two little rcd fists that he had pulled from
his pockets TO dig deep In bis eyes.
Here. take il, then" said CASTOR; "keev
il, the 20 sous. too, and give them to your
father"
Keep it, Charles could not believe his ears
he dared not believe il. He put out his hand
timidly; his eyes snarkled, his lips half parted
he was not convinced yet Of the happiness
that awaited him.
CASTOR himself set the little warrior back Oh