The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-06
CITIZEN JACOUOT.

1t was hot summer day and in a dingy
shop on the Rue Pascarin, Paris, boy was
mending shoes. Everything about him be-
tokened poverty and some of his clothes
seemed to hang in shreds from his body
For all this, however, he WAS keen, bright
eyed boy. His only companion was de-
mure raven. which was perched on his
shoulder while he worked.
The Rue Pascarin was a narrow, dirty
street. inhabited for the most part by very
poor artisans. and from more than one shop
like the boys came sounds of hammers. It
was Lot time for work by many in the
greatcapital of the French; thedread revo-
luton was at its height and Robespierre, the
leader Of the Reign of Terror, was still
sending hundreds to the guillotine
Little Fabien. the cobbler. could recall
many Of his patrons who had been carted
first TO the dreary prisons and thence to the
knife There was Blacquemont the butcher,
with whom he used to chat when he wentto
market for something for himself and his
pet; there was Antoine. the little tailor, and
Henri, the wagner. who cried out against
the atrocities of the Terrorlsts when he
should have remained quiet. All these had
felt the sharp knife of the guillotine and
had found unknown graves; and while he
worked this warm DAY, with the door of his
little shop wide open, Fablen recalled them
all.
Every now and then hoarse cav from
the raven, whom Faben called "CitiZen
Jacquot" would cause tie boy TO look uD
and catch sight OF tile cunning eyes set in
the black head. and the bird would flap his
glossy wings as If delighted with the at
tenton.
The boy and the raven had been friends
for years. Citizen JacquOt had belonged to
gentleman who was devoted royalist and
had been taught to repeat certain words
70 1ad n h.aar IN IL,
masters house. His hOarSe Long live the
King" was frequently heard in the boys
shop, and on more than one occasion Fabien
had reproved the raven. saying that such
expressions had cost good many people
their heads.
But while Citizen Jacquot looked abashed
when rebuked, it would not be long ere
he repeated the obnoxious sentence, and
tablen would sometimes shut the door SO
as not to have the ravens cry reach
passers-by.
&On this particular day the little shoe
maker was mendiug pair of shoes for the
vile of a butcher on the next street back,
when shadow fell across the threshold.
The boy, paused in his work, and looking
up beheld leaning against the jamb man
whom he knew we'll.
1t wss Crepin, dissolute fellow, thought
by some to be spy for the Terrorisls, for
he had habit of turning up among the
homes OF the Rue Pascarin, and always
and executions among them. If CTepin
was not paid spy he knew how TO take
care of his own head, while nearly every
body else seemed to be losing theirs.
The moment the raven saw the fellow in
the doorway he tapped his wings and cawed
long live the King" to the shoemaker's
chagrin.
just at that time there was no king for
the revoluti0nists had sent him and the
royal family TO the guillotne, and it was
death to utter a sentence like that which
had just poured from Citizen Jacquot's
throat.
"Thafs a royal bird. NJ. Fabien." said
Crepin. with a Ieer. Don't you know that
he endangers his master by such words as
thOse?"
al don't see why he should, Crepiu. He's
but raven. and surely they don't want the
heads of such creatures"
CTepin continued to look at the raven,
and all at once with muttered words, the
import of which Fabien could ouly guess,
he turned and passed out.
The raven, delighted at the dark-faced
mans departure, gave vent TO sundry caws
OF delight, and among them repeated the
sentence when had met with such disap-
pToval from the supposed spy.
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