Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-06-10

f1Oet OF the PruneS, MS nrSJ page ol
prose appeared in the semi-weekly FL
garo, under the above title. This fancl-
full sketch, in which can be found in
germ the style and manner of the mas
terly writer, and which opened the Sc
ries os Les Gueux de Provence, has
never been published IN a volume
write this aJ the end of long dor
mitory, on a wretched table that the
kindness of one of the hall walters has
allowed me to put near my bed; the pu-
pills are asleep; it is dark and it is
damp; three little lamps are tliclsering
In their places; from the four corners of
the great room rises a sound of regular
breathing, with now and then n snore,
pr long drawn sigh.
Outside, slight wintry wind is blow
ing, that brings me by whiffs the echo
bf voices and of musical instruments.
There is ball at the town hall, n great
ball and a concert given by the gentle
men members of the Society of Saint
Vincent de Paul. From my seat,
through the moist window panes and
Ehe gratings, can see the guests pass
and repass, like black cuttings behind
jill Olleu DdpGT. MonSlcuI. lllc
pal. and madame, his wife, must be
here also. Brrou! 1t is awfully cold;
ny feet are frozen and my throat is
parched: l must go and refresh myself
1t the fountain and walk up and down
while to get warm.
All! thrice accursed be the day when
entered the Internal place; especially
Is thousand other openings could
lave been found for me! 1t is true that
have not sou; yet how many, who
re no better off than l, have succeeded!
Elargerot enlisted; Quarteron is study
ng law; PiradouX, the first scholar in
he class, plays on the flute most nasal
y, and goes about with strolling COM
anies. Yet again. it is | who am the
lost to be pitied. Had 1 but entered
ONE great Lycee at Paris, or at Lyon,
would have been different. But no!
must needs shut myself up at b in
little collegiate school. Why did l
OF go to Timbuctoo at once? Or why
ot have made myself an igEpraptia
rother while was about it?
Good heavens, what an eXjs 1
"a obliged to get up at four O'CLOCK in
le morning, to go to bed much later
ian the others, always to be on foot,
WAYS with eyes and ears wide open,
brewer scolding calling loud, spying,
lnting and correcting. If any pupil
ows his nose at the wrong moment,
wishes to laugh inopportunely; if a
omestic passes the night out of the
ouse, or if lamp has no wick; if l
nd crust OF bread in the courtyard,
bit of paper under table, | must
once take pen and write out a re-
Drt and u denunciation.
This is the state to which l am re-
lced: /, who have always been called
ank, amiable and, in short, good
How. All this, that at the end of each
onth may receive forty-seven francs
nd fifty centimes. 1t is true that | am
dyed and fed; but so poorly!
The boys are snoring like contra
asses; the wind glides through the
benings of the doors and strikes my
,or legs. The water of the fountain
frozen. Oh! if had just few drops
rum to warm my stomach little
I am up to my ears in debt, and l
unge deeper and deeper in that
ouble every day. Yesterday, even, /
dered a costume of my tailor; it was
olish to do so, and almost robbery
II how could do otherwise after the
front received the previous evening?
II principal was going upstairs, hav-
on his arm the pretty wife of the
us-prefee; was behind them, tightly
ittoned up in my old jacket, and stiff
a cane: 1 know not what ridiculous
ide made me desirous to parade my
;sJ,x o,,1 &c,
1T with a bound | rushed up three
cps at time, with my hat in my
md, rubbing against the wall, and
owing plainly, without wishing to do
the white threads of my own shoulder
AIDES. That evening NJ, the principal,
He'd me into his private room, and,
rutinizing me from head to foot, told
= that was disgrace to his estab-
hment, and that looked like beg
r. / think he was, indeed, half in
ned to offer me an old frockcoat that
wore on rainy days. The next
prning | called on the best tailor in
e town, and now | have one more
eat debt. Oh, what miserable life.
hen can / escape from it?
Hush! the door at the opposite end
d it moves silently on its oiled hinges.
is the proctor, going on his rounds.
advances on tiptoe, his feet covered
til heavy cloth shoes, like the oars OF
5muggler. He has on his woollen
lwers and knit waistcoat. Sol,
lnly he carries dark lantern, that he
ms quickly from bed to bed, on the
hit and on the left. His great
listed nose casts grotesque shadows OF
wall Good evening, STRIP He goes
4 without having answered me, the
prig. May the bony arms of hi
fe lovingly encircle his neck ant
angle him, as if he We're mad dog
Whether end my life or not in thi
son, l shall always remember thu
.ning entered here. i arrived a
hit O'clock. On approaching the col
e from the end of the street, heart
sal voices singing, accompanied b,