Year: 1879




1t is with mems liyes as with days
some dawn radiant with q thousand
colors, others dark with gloomy clouds
That of my Uncle Maurice was one of !
the latter. He was so sickly when ne
came into the world that they thought
he must die; but notwithstanding these
anticipations, which might be called
hopes, he continued to live, suffering and /
defOrmed


He was deprived of all the joys as well
as of all the attractions of childhood. He |
was oppressed because he was weak, and |
laughed at for his deformity. In vain
this little hunchback opened his arms to |
the world; the world scofed at him and |
went its way.


However, he still had his mother, and |
it was to her that the child directed all |
the feelings of heart repulsed by Others |
With her he found shelter, and was
happy, till he reached the age when a |
man must take his place in life; and |
Maurice had to content himself with
that which others had refused with con-
tempt. His education would have quail
flied him for any curse in life and he
became a clerk in one of the little toll
houses at the entrance of his native
town. He was always shut up in this
dwelling OF few feet square, with no
relaxation from the Office accounts but
reading and his mothers visits. On fine
simmer days she came to work at the
door of his hut, under the shade of 3
clematis planted by Maurice. And even
then, when she was silent, her presence
was pleasant change to she hunchback;
he heard the clinking of her long knit
ting needles, he 9aw her mild and mourn
full profile, which reminded him of so
many cOurageoUsly borne trials; he could
every now and then rest his hand affsc-
tionately on that bowed down neck, and
exchange a smile with her. But this
comfort was soon to be taken from him,
His poor mother fell sick, and at the
end of a few days he had to give up all
hope. Maurice was overcome at the
idea OF separation which would hence
forth leave him alone On earth, and
abandoned himselfto Boundless grief. He
knelt by the bedside OF the dying wo-
man; he called ber by the fondest
names; he pressed her in his arms as il
he could so keep her alive. His mother
tried to return his caresses and to answer
him; but her hands were cold, her voice
already gone. She could only press her
lips against the forehead of her SON.
heave a sigh aud close her eyes forever.
Those who were present tried to take
Maurice away, but he resisted them and
threw himsel ON that now motionles'
form,


"Dead | " cried he, ''Dead She who
had never let me; she who was the only
one in the world who loved me You
my mother, dead What then remain
for me here below ?"


A stifed voice replied:


"GodI"


Maurice, startled, raised himself up
Was ita last sigh rom the dead, or hi
own conscience that had answered him
He did not seek to know, but he under
stood the answer, and accepted it.


It was then that first knew him.
often went to see him in his little tol
house; he mixed in my childish gsme
told me his best stories. and let n
gather his flowers. Deprived as he ws
of all external attractiveness, he shove
himself full Of kindness to all who can
to him, and though he never would pu
himself forward, he had a welcome fl
everyone. Deserted and despised,
submitted to everything with gent
patience but those who might othe
wise have promoted him as his servic
deserved were repulsed by his delormit
AS he had no patrons, he found h
claims were always disregaTded. The
preferred before him those who We
better able to make themselves agree
bic, and seemed to be granting him
favor when letting him keep the humt
office which enabled him to live. UnC
Maurice bore injustice as he had Dor
Contempt unfairly treated by men,
raised his eyes higher and trusted in t
justice OF him who cannot be deceived


He lived in an old house in the subuI
where many work-people, as poor b
not as forlorn as he, also lodged, Amo
these neighbors was a single woman, W
lived by herself in a little garret, II
which came both wind and rain.
was a young girl, pale and silent, a
with nothing to recommend her but
wretchedness, and her resignation to
She was never seen speaking to 6
other woman, and no song cheered
garret. She worked without inter
and without relaxation; a depress
gloom seemed to envelop her like
sbroud. Her detection affected Msuri
he attempted to speak to her; she
piled mildly, but in few words. 1t


easy to see that she preferred her sile
and her solitude to the little hun
backs good will; he perceived it,


said no more.


But Toinette's needle was hardly


fcient ,oT her support, and Presel
work failed her. Maurice learned
the poor girl was in want of everyth