The Wichita daily eagle., 1898-01-01
A Wonderful Christmas Night
From the French of Francois Coppee. L
FIVE parts.)

| sieep," says Pierron, trying to soften his
| rough voice, land as / did not know how
| soon the little ar-stocrat would be called
for, 1 put them both on my bed, and as
| soon as they were asleep l went TO the
| station. Zidore generally sleeps in the loft,
| but l said TO. myself they VIII be better
here together, and 1 can sit up all night
and be ready all the earlier TO go to mar
| ket"
But NJ. Godefroy does not hear, Is not at
| tending. IN a condition of mind entirely
new TO him, he is gazing fxedly at the
sleeping children. They are lying on an
| iron beadstead covered with a coarse grey
| blanket, such as are used il soldiers bar
| racks and hospitals. What a pretty pic
| ture they make, But how delicate how
| fral seems his little Raoul, as, with child
| Ike trust, he lies in the arms Of his sturdy
little companion in well-worn wooden
blouse. The anxious father almost covets
for his child the healthy brown tan, and
the strong. well-defined features of the 1T
lie street boy
This is your son?' asks NJ. Godefroy.
ooh, no, sir. I am not married. 1 shall
never marry now on account OF my acci-
dent-a heavy truck passed over my arm
but that has nothing TO do with this. Two
years ago this boy was left an orphan by
a little neighbor of mine; a good young
woman who killed herself trying to sup
port herself and the child, and so / took
him-oh. there isn't any merit in that!
And then, too. I have been already re-
warded. for, though he is not but seven
years old. he is like little man, and is
great help TO me. After school he holds
the scales, and ne pushes the cart, which Is
not easy for one like me to do-and only
10 think, not so long ago. 1 was earning
my two dollars day, Yes, Zidore has his
wits about him. He found your boy
Not this little fellow, surely?'
Eyes, indeed he did. AS 1 told you, he
is already a little man Coming out Of
school, he saw just in front of him your
little monkey crying as if he were foun-
tain. So he tried to comfort him, and find
out his name; but, you see, the poor little
mite was not easy to understand. A few
words of German and few words OF
French-:t was impossible. So Zidore
brought him to mel was near by, selling
my salads-and then all the old women
came around, and chattered ard croaked,
like SO many frogs: Take him to the sta
tom But Zidore said No, it would fright
en- him. You see he is like all of US Par
isans, he does not love the police. And,
besides, the little creature would not be
separated from Zidore, and so I had to
come home with them. So much the wrose
fer me. for l missed the sale of my veg
etables-but that IS nothing. The little
monkeys, they had bite together Ike good
little comrades, and then were glad enough
to go to sleep. Don't they look pretty lying
there together?''
But NJ. Godefroy makes no reply. stand
ing quite still and looking apparently at
the children, in reality he is looking into
his own heart. Naturally he had intend
ed giving a handsome reward to the man
who had found and cared for Raoul; large
handful of the gold so easily gained at the
Big tables covered with green cloth in the
presence of the monumental inkstands.
Now, however. a corner of the curtain
concealing the life of the poor had been
lifted, giving him a glimpse of suffering
and poverty, of courage and charity to one
another such as he had never dreamed Of |
The patience of the young mother work |
ing day and night. the sweet charity of |
the manned soldier in caring for the IA |
theriess and motherless boy. and above all |
the intelligent hepfulness of the 'gamin'' |
in rescuing a small child, constituting him |
self elder brother and protector, and f1n- |
ally sparing the delicate, shrinking little |
fellow from contact with the police-all !
this deeply moved VI. Godefroy.
All, if those hard-featured, shrewd-eyed, |
business acpua.ntances could read what is /
now passing in NJ. Goiefroy's mind, how /
astonished they would be- He is now alb
sorbed in the most important question OF
his life. He has also discovered that he |
possesses a heart-a warm, human heart,
full of sympathy and tenderness.
Ah,neonsieur, you have been planning
how TO reward this honest Pierron and
Zidore and behold, it is they Who have
made YOU a gift, so great, so beautiful, that
It cannot be eStimated-Your first emotion
Of pity, of sympathy, the noblest sentiment
,f which the human heart is capable,
New, strange thoughts are passing
through his mind He realizes that there
must be many others in the world manned
ike PieTron, orphans like Zidore. Going
ieeper still. he is seriously asking himself
f, after all, money is to be used only as
means for acquiring more, if there may
lot be something better to do. between
breakfast and dinner, than buying at fail
Lnd selling at an advance.
These are some OF the thoughts which |
bsorb him, as he continues to stand by |
he side Of the iron bedstead. At last he
urns and finding himself face TO face with
'serron he IS charmed with the clear. hon.
st eyes, the frank, loyal countenance OF
he old soldier, and says:
You have rendered me an inestimabie | ,
ervice, and will show you 1 am not un- {
rateful, but today" he adds with hesita-
on you must let me leave you trifiing ,
ouven:r-I can see you have not very
luch means .
But, with his one hand. Pierron checks
he movement of VI. Godefroy's hand, al
lady on its way TO the bank notes in his
lside pocket.
NO no. monsieur. Any one would have
one quite as much-I cannot receive any
ward. but you must not be offended. I !
iean no rudeness. Perhaps I am little :
-oud. but though I am poor. have been q
soldier. I have my Tonquin medal there
that drawer-snd one cannot eat bread
,e has nor earned a
so be IT, answers the banker, but lis | =
n, my friend. A brave man Ike you, an ! 1
q soldier, ought 20 have something bet j
r 10 90 than push a handcart about the
reets. AS 10 that, 1 can find something 4
2 you" 4
But PerTon. with pathetic smile, which 4
.trays a bitter experience OF broken :.
'omises. and a past full OF discourage
ent. answers quietly: 5,
1T viii be very kind IL monsieur should II
member ne" 4
p
Prof Nomms-p's Absent -Aindedness
The Rarlira-E tell MANY a S-r-v Nfo-,-,, | -