The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-04-23

there were so many claims and petit
tions to be made to the government,
and SO many people, like Jean, that
did not know how to write.
And the writer that kept this shop
was an old soldier, far on in years, a
brave man, but little testy, who was
everything but rich and had the adj
ditional misfortune of, not being chop
ped to pieces to secure admission to
the Hotel DIES Invalides.
Jean, without paying at all, had
many times seen him through the
dingy glasses of his little cubby-hole,
smoking his pipe and awaiting Gus
toners, and so today he entered fear
lessly with civil: .
"Good-day, monsieur I have come,
if you please, for you to write me a
letter."
"Ten sous, little one" Pere BONN
responded, gazing over his spectacles
at the midget before him.
Jean had no cap, and was there
fore unable to lift it, but be said very
politely:
"Then excuse me" and he turned to
reopen the door.
But, pleased with his manners, Pere
BONN stopped him.
"Stay!" he said. "Tell me first, lit
tie one, if you are the son of sol
der"
ooh, no." said Jean; ''only mama's
son, and she's all alone"
Il see," said the writer, "and you
have not the ten sous?'
"Nor thy mother, either, tbs plain
to be seen! And thy letter, little one
lis it to make the soup Gomez
Advance then. Ten lines on half
sheet; one is never too poor for
that"
And Pere BONN spread out his pa.
per, dipped his pen in the ink, and
wrote at the top of the page, in the
beautiful hand of the quartermaster
that once he had been:
Paris, January II, 1885.
Then line lower:
"Well, go on" said he; "what do
you call him, baby?"
"Who," demanded Jean.
"Parbleu! The gentleman"
what gentleman, monsieur"
"The one to make the soup come
Jean this time, comprehended.
"But, it isn't a gentleman" said he
"Ah! bah! lady, them"
"Yes-no-that is"
Name of names! midget" Pere
BONN cried, don't you know to whom
you are going to write letter."
ooh, yes," said the child.
"Out with it, then, quick! can't
wait all day!"
But little Jean stood all red and con
fused The fact is, it is not as easy
as it looks to address ones self tc
public writer's for correspondence o.
| this kind, but Jean was brave, ant
presently answered softly:
| 'It is to the Blessed Virgin that
| wish to send letter.
Pete BONN did not laugh; not a
all; he simply wiped and laid asid,
his pen and took his pipe from hi
mouth.
See you, midget" he said severe
ly. 81 don't want to believe you noel
an old man, you are too small for M
| to trounce. Face about; march! Gu
you go!"
Little Jean obeyed, and wondering
ly turned on his heel, or foot, rather
since heel he had none; and seeinl
him so submissive, Pere BONN sec
ond time reconsidered and regarde,
him more closely.
Name of names, of names!" b
|grumbled, "but there is misery il
Paris! What do you call yourself?
"Jean."
Jean what?"
"Nothing-just JEAN
/ Pere BONN felt his eyes sting, bu
he only said:
i "And what do you wish to say t
the Holy Virgin?''
"To tell her. that mammals bee
asleep since 4 o'clock yesterday, an
that l can't wake. her up"
i The heart of the old soldier SUE
denly stood still. He feared to con
prehend. He demanded again:
But that soup you spoke of Will
ago."
YES said the child, 81 know;
had to speak of it, you see; becaus
mamma before going to sleep yeste
day gave me the last piece of bread.
"And what did she eat, pray?' 49,
Nothing for more than two days
she always said she wasn't hungry
"And you tried to wake her, sa
you? How?"
"As always do-kissing her."
did she breathe?"
Jean smiled, and that smile mad
him beautiful.
Il don't know" said he, don't "
always breathe?"
Pere BONN had to hastily turn h
3 head, for two. big tears were rollin
down his cheeks and his reply to til
l child was another question.
81 And when you kissed her." sal
he, you noticed nothing stranger"
yes, did, said Jean, ''how col
2 she was. But then it's always SO col
in our house,"
"She shivered then, your mammal
!, shivered with the cold?"
J mo, she was just cold, but {
= pretty-her hands crossed so, h,
head back and her eyes looking at ii
sky
UAnd uanfpd richocf0 poro u