Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1893-04-11
AT THE OLD JAIL.


AT THE OLD JAIL.
1t was an old moss grown jail. N.
Gonyeau had been prisoner there for so
many years that it had been almost for
gotten why he was there, or, indeed,
that he was there at all BE was, in
short, that saddest of all prisoners-a
prisoner forgotten save by the warden
and attendant, who brought him his
meals and swept out his lonely cell.
Henri, - lie said to the attendant one
day. bring me an egg, uncooked aud
fresh laid;
g Yes, monsieur, viii" said Henri,
touching his forehead in sort of mill.
tary salute, as he scanned the prisoners
pallid face in search of reason for this
unusual request; g that is, monsieur, if
it ism going against the rules"
The prisoner groanedi
A fresh, uncooked egg what harm
can that bef''
don t know, monsieur; will see,"
Henr answered, with as respectful duh.
ness as If his old heart were not beating
with friendly warmth for this poor
prisoner, and as if he and his daughter
Marie didnot pray every night and morn
ing that monsieur might be set free.
The next morning Marie put the egg
on the tray in a nest of fresh lettuce
leaves, which Henri carried the prisoner.
" 1t is Just from the nest of Marie's
gray hen, and" He hesitated.
What is it, Henri" asked the
prisoner, closing his thin, white hand
over the egg. 7La
81 didn't tell the warden, monsieur,
that you had asked for it; what can it
matter, fresh egg like that3'
" No; what can it matterT" the pris-
oner repeated mechanically, slipping the
black coffee and munching his dry
bread.
As soon as Henri had gone the pris-
oner balanced the egg ON the palm of
his hand and looked at it triumphantlyi
next he took 1t between his thumb and
finger and shook it gently, to assure him
self it was as fresh as Henri had said;
then drawing out some cotton from the
corner of the old comfort upon his bed
he wrapped it loosely about the egg and
placed it under the pit of his right arm,
ingeniously fastening his sleeve so that
the egg must stay in place.
By giving his full attention to the ex-
pertinent and always keeping the egg
at an even temperature he was rewarded
at the end of three weeks by having a
gray chicken break its way from the
shell, its breast and neck pale yellow.
The excitement caused by the success of
his venture sent the color to his cheek
and a light to his eye that Henri had not
seen there since the prisoner had given
up studying the spiders and flies in his
cell.
"a May morning like this puts new
life into every one-even poor pris,
oner, - he Whispered in explanation to
himself, for the little chicken, brooded
by the old convict, had not yet told its
existence by a single chirp. The next
day It was eating crumbs greedily, run
ming about the cell, picking at dirt-filled
chinks in the briclc-laid floor and chirp-.
ing in answer to its masters call.
Henri, coming in with the prisoners
tray, nearly dropped it in his surprise at
the sight of the chicken.
F" What is it, monsieuri' he asked
like one dunfounded.
The fresh egg Marie sent me, . and
the prisoners eye glinted with amuse-
ment at Henri's confusion.
u,
still rubbing his head, land no harm,
either 1tis as like the old hen as twins
and shall have fine picking of corn
from our grain box when it is larger"
A month went by and the chicken was
growing finely. It had shingled its
wings with mouse gray feathers, had
begun to set Sellow toplnot upon its
head and had almost scratched grooves
into the bricks in its search for more
gravel
Her daintiness would be glad of q
spadeful of earth from your garden,
Henri, said NJ. Gonyeau one day.
3 s' A spadeful monsieur! she shall have
. box full of the wor1niest there, and no
harm done, said Henri, as he tossed
handful of green grass upon the floor for
the chicken to peck at; and then lock-
ing the cell door he went down, down
the double fight of stairs and round tho
corner of the jail to his lodge.
Marie, . he called, have you a box
1 can fill with earth for monsieur's
chicken2" at the word chicken he
lowered his voice. The warden need
not yet know of the chicken.
Marie soon brought box, and with
bright eyes watched her father dig the
etlEGu 10 Qll II. NOW MS bpaQe struck
something hard, buried in the ground. a
foot below the surface. She sprang for
ward with little shrek and drew a big,
rusty key from the hole he had made.
See, see, mon PEREZ she said, sink
ing her soft voice to whisper, per.
haps tits the one lost long ago that fit
ted monsieur's door Hide 1t In the earth
in the box as If it was there by accident
Viola the chicken scratches, scratches.
the key comes to the surface; an idea
strikes monsieur; he viii try the key in
his door; it twists, it turns, behold the
door is unlocked and monsieur is
and she stepped to glance back over her
shoulder, then moving nearer with her
lips close to her fathers ear. cries softly,
very softly, q monsieur Is free. ~"
g Marie, my daughter . said Henri,
drawing away, q you arc too quick; let
me think, and he took the hey into he.
own hands - No, Marie, 1t Is not the
key, but it is not SO bad, :, and he turned
It over and over ON his rough palm, " q
\ little filing. perhaps and scTaping OF Of
the rust win do much We win plant
1t as you say" aud. putting few
spadefuls Of ground into the box, he laid
the key IN and sandwiched It from sight
with another layer of earth.
q Now, " he said gruffiy, the box Is
,1,aII sa4,yT1s,i, ffJaS7 and nth his Ta<ts