The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1902-09-26
. cIIAprIsls II.
MOTHER AND SONS.

Among the large class OF people who
get their living from the street, as it
were, none seemed to have as few Gus
toners lis the scissors grinders, 3 all
though they are tho most useful Of
their class, and IL Is not strange that
was to bring Il new victim TO the Mar
quis Gle Prcsles, Pierre Fro ;hard, the
crippled .scissors~grindcrs, should have
trayersed "a largo portion Of the city
without having an opportunity Of adj
ding much to his little hoard.
His plaintiyc cry, "Knives to mend,
scissors to grind,' was unlike a great
majority Of the street cries, inaslnuch
as it seemed to be the cry of a wound
cd soul striving for something beyond
It's reach, instead OF the rough, un-.
meaning jargon which ycndcrs give
utterance. to in a sing-song manner,
and which expresses nothing save /;
confusion Of cultural sounds.
Pierre FrOchard was a young man OF
about twenty years Of age, but his suf-
fcrngs caused him to have the appear
alCe or one of many years older. His
face was pale and distorted, his form
bent and misslapen, and yet he was
ono whom the careful observer would
have become deeply interested in and
the charitably disposed to have be-
slowed aims upon, had Pierre not been
one OF those few whom aims hurt worse
than q curse.
Weary and footsorc, the poor scissors
grinder had, toward the close Of the
day, found himself near the Font
Ncuf;and after ascertaining that there
were none near who were in need of
| his services, he placed his machine
| near oilo OF tic buildings and was rest
ing his aching limbs.
Chance had brought him near the
| Normandy coacl-house, and he fcsolv-
cd TO await the coming Of the dill
gcnce, in the hope Of earning q few
sous by carrying the baggage OF some
traveller
There was also in the vicinity q
drinking saloon, filled with noisy revcl-
ers, and whenever Il fresh burst Of
mirth from within was heard, Pierre
shuddercd yisibly.
The cripple leaned against his ma
chine, as though long association with
the wood and iron had endowed 1t
| with sympathy for his suffcrings. The
poor creature, although he had a
mother and brother, had never known
what IT was to receive one word Of pity
or consolation from q human being;
and what wonder he should cling alrcc-
tionatcly TO the rude machine that ac-
| 49, PSii'SN' 1870 W. J hAiSlSJ CSCIl IL III
was the work of his own hands, and
endowed with action only when his
poor, withcrcd foot pressed the
| trcadlc?
| For somc time he remained In this
position when he was aroused from
rcvcrfc by the closing Of the door Of
the cabaret, and looking up he saw q
stout middlc-agcd woman approaching
! him. 7
She was in manner and appearance
an exact opposite to the cripple. J, Her
clothes were. whole, and cnyeloped the
stout form In manner Indicative Of
great comfort to the wearer. A pair
OF small, hard, gray eyes twlnkled from
the fat, round face, which was border
ed with short, black hair, that formed
Il distinct beard; and one, on seeing La
Frochard for the first time, would have
Judged her to be an easy, happy old
soul whose only care in life was tC pro-
vide a good dinner, and whose only
want was the material for a good q dtSh
OF gossip. vi
A change came over Pierrc's face as
ne saw her. a change which plainly
told that his poor, bent form was to
receive some insult which would cut
deeply, the great, honest heart which
it held. {
Ina painfully limping manner he APP
preached the woman, and In a tender,
imploring voice said
why, mother, is that you?n
Yes, it's me, you lazy good -for-noth-
ing !" replied the affectionatc mother.
as She gazed at her dcformed boy,
while look or scorn passed over her
face, completely changing her into a
hard, grasping old woman.
a look OF sorrow camo over the poor
crlpplc's face as he put out his hand as
if to ward of the cruel words.
: sLaZy?" he repeated. why, mother,
[ do all the work l can"
"WOrk!" exclaimed the old woman.
as she smiled incrcdulously. "You cali
that work? Bah! why did heaven bless
you with such q beautiful dcformity?
Why, to earn your living, you puny,
limping cripplc-and you work, when
all you need to do Is TO sit here, hold
out your hand, and make your for
tune"
And as La Frochard finished speak
ing she turned away with Il gesture
expressive OF disgust at the honest liy-
ing her son was trying to earn.
a tear came into Plerre's eye as his
mother finished speaking, and he an
swcred sadly:
siblc."
"Eh2 Not possible why not?" que
ricd Mother Frochard in q sharp rasp-
ing voice.
Mother" said Pierre, going toward
her and laying a thin, wasted hand up-
on her arm, "Whcn / was an infant YOU
carried me through the streets and
taught me to repeat begging prayers /
did not understand. They put money
into your .pockct,and I knew no shame.
But now IT is now different. You drove
me out, and bldc me come hcrc to beg.
When ] knclt and held out my hand
to ask aims In the name Of the misfor-
tune with which Heaven has chastcn-
ed me, shame chokcd my utterance, !,
ana was overcome by anger at my
own humiliation. A passer-by looked
on me with pity and put trfling coin
IN my hand. A great lump came In my
throat and my eyes filled with tears.
No.. mother, | can not beg i can
nOt!''
And as Pierre finished speaking, he
returned TO his machine, and leaning
over 1t, seemed to pour oilt his grief to
tho rude structure. 1.a
"'Yon undptifnl son!" exclaimed the
old woman, In q burst Of anger. "You
had rather leave your poor brother and
me to starve." 'I91,
This unkind thrust aroused Pierre,
and he answered, quickly:
My brother need not staryc. {. Hc
mas health and 3trcngth, and yet you
SrDDOrt, him in idlcnnSa " fli '51l.I