The San Francisco call., 1910-01-08
Cfrausleted from the French OF J. n. Bouillyl
ny JOSEPH DILHAN FOR THE
JUNIOR CALL

IN a village near Paris there was es-
tablished for long time aNpublc
school directed by Mr.. Germont,
man of great merit, who combined
with his attachment for his pupils the
prudence and the austerity necessary
TO guide them In the paths of virtue
ana VINO consequently enjoyed the en-
tire confidence of the people. In his
school were almost all the boys of the
town from 10 to ii years of age He
combined so much art and patience I'm
developing the first impulses of their
Intelligence and in directing their
early tendencies, while imparting to
them the primitive ideas of religion,
moral and historic, that all the pupils
loved MN dearly and respected him as
rather. The young men who had
been instructed at his school and were
established in business felt a sincere
gratitude and affection for him, of
which he every day received the most
fattering and touching proof. The
hearts of his pupils, in fact were like
little trees cultivated by an expert
horticulturist which would soon cover
his white hairs with a protecting
shade.
The pupils of the venerable Germont
formed, so to speak, one large family.
Nothing unites children more Intimate
ly than the duties and sports incident
general domain in which each one
takes his part 1t was like a flock of
lambs grazing the spring grass and
coming to caress the hand of the old
shepherd who guided them.
Peace and harmony reigned then in
the interior of Germont's institution,
but as soon as the clock announced the
end of the study hours the movements
of the pupils quickened rapidly, their
eyes shone with the desire for liberty
so long suppressed, and the prayer fin
ished, they poured out of the school
building like a torrent spreading over
q steep rock and abandoned themselves
to their play with all the enthusiasm of
their age.
One hot July afternoon, while the
sun was yet shedding it's devouring
rays. they espied a young grid from IA
to IS years of age sleeping in the shade
of q wall near the church, her head
resting on a stone bench. Her clothes
bespoke poverty. her head was pro-
tected by an old straw hat and her
face, which was covered with perspira-
ton. had a remarkable expression for
one so young.
Il recognize her." said one of the
boys named Felix, the son of the car
riage maker 1T is Elisa Bernard the
daughter of laborer who has a COW
and from whom my father buys milk,
and which. by the way, is always ex-
cellent--if we were to test it, he
added. pointing to the big jar with two
iron handles which stood close to the
sleeping girl.
II want to test it also" said an
other mischicvous youth, rolling his
tongue over his lips in anticipation.
That will teach her not to go to sleep
when she should be distributing her
milk to her customers"
With these words he went softly
toward the sleeping girl on tiptoes
slowly uncovered the jar and. taking
the tin measure attached to the handle
filed it with milk, which he gulped
down. saying in whisper. Delicious,
upon my honor 1t is too bad that it
is so warm"
Felix drank in his turn, and. success
sively following their example, the
dozen children soon emptied the jar
while the young milkmaid still lay in
q deep slumber.
Let us go away little said
Felix. "to enjoy her surprise when she
awakes."
"Yes. yes answered all his corh-
rades in unison. "Oh! how we shall
laugh"
They crept softly away. hiding in
little alley which communicated with
the school and from which they glanced
furtively at the young girl, who very
soon awoke. and rising, took on her
arm the jar of milk which she was to
distribute to her customers.
Surprised at its lightness she trem-
blingly removed the cover from the
jar and found it empty. At first she
feared that it had been cracked, but in
that case the spilled milk would be
shown in the soil, and OF it there was
no trace. While she looked vainly
around for the cause of this strange
occurrence the children laughed among
themselves at her embarrassment and
uncertainty Finally she noticed some
milk in the bottom of the tin meas
ure and, with tears rushing to her
eyes, she exclaimed:
some one has drunk my milk
Robbed me of our only income since
nay father was hurt and can not work!
What will he say when | go back