Year: 1875




As sure as a gun; as true as n clock.


As frail as pfomise as firm as a rock.


AS brisk as bee as dull as an ass


AS full as tick; as solid as brass.


As lean as a agreyhOund; as rich as Jew;
And ten thousand SMILES equally true.


-


MOUTON.


On a cold and rainy morning in
March, 1S-, a young man might have
been seen sauntering leisurely up the
Boulevard Sebastopol. He was about
twenty-four years of age, with frank,
ingenious face, and his costume,
though elegant, was almost coquet-
tishly simple. Arriving at the upper
end of the Rue DIES Lombards, he stop
ped suddenly and respectfully raised
his hat. A sombre hearse came slowly
down the street and crossed che boule-
ward. On the threadbare and discol-
ored pail which was thrown across the
bier not a flower or the slightest token
of remem brance. Alone, with moist
eye, hanging head and muddy to his
middle, followed sadly spaniel, look
ing the picture of desolation. At sight
of this moving spectacle the young
man shuddered and murmured sadly:
"Shall it be said that there is not a
Christian man capable of following
the example of this dog? What an
unfeeling worldl | will follow the
poor, abandoned one; it shall not be
said he was buried without pray
and stepping into the muddy street he
took place by the faithful and last
friend of the dead.


The dog turned his head and looked
inquiringly at the new conner, then
falling back little. he walked with
him, looking up at him from time to
time with his soft brown eyes. They
arrived thus at the place OF burial.
The grave-diggers in hardened and
Indifferent manner took the coffin on
theirshoulders, muttering at the same
time maledictions upon the rain and
the bad road leading to the grave. AT
the side of this frightful gaping hole,
surrounded by the thrown-up earth,
the dog stopped, posed himself across
it, stretched his paws, and raising his
head, uttered long, dismal howl.


The young man, already much
moved by the desolate surroundings of
the place, shuddered, and, carried
away by his feelings, cried. - Stop!
This is horrible. Is there no means OF
depositing these remains in a more
decent place than that?' and with a
trembling hand he pointed at the hole
where the just and unjust are thrown
pell-mell, to the great grief of the poor
friends of the departed who have no
means of buying spot of that earth
which God made for all.


''BahW growled one of the men,
there or elsewhere it is all the same to
usv "Citizen,p said the other scent
ing a windfall, ''if you can pay it can
be arranged, though this person is
hardly worth the trouble"


at is well,u said the young man;
swat for me while / speak to the su-
perintendentn


They placed the coffin upon the
ground and seated themselves upon it
with the most philosophical indiffer-
ence. The dog following with his
eyes upon his new friend, until he
was hidden from his view by the
tombs of the cemetery, when, as il
fancying that his masters remains
were quite abandoned, he recon-
menced bowling; then went and laid
his head upon the coffin regardless oil
| the men who vainly endeavored to
drive him off. An hour later, the sad
ceremony of interment was finished,
and the poor dead reposed in six feet
of earth, decorated with black cross.


After having commended to God the
soul of the departed, the young man
arose and called the dog ''COme,u y
he said, passing his hand softly over
his wet head, 1.-THE day has been well
spent! Come, my poor friend, thy fl
adopt thee, and sometimes we will
come together to visit thy old master,
| promise theeW And, as if he COM
pretended these words, the dog raised
his head, looked at him intelligently
gave a joyous bound, and having lick
ed his hand trotted on before him.
Master and dog returned by the Ave
nue. Sebastopol.


And here word of the hero of this
little story. The young man, whom
we shall designate as Leon Varens, is
painter, whose talents are too well
known to render eulogy of them al
all necessary. He had several years
before the period of which we are
writing adopted an artistic career, to
the very pinnacle Of which his father
had arrived long before his death.
Educated under the supervision of a
pious and good mother, he had so
profited by her counsels and example
as to have retained the purity of his
heart and action in the midst of the
dissolute artist life of Paris. Cav,
frank, and enthusiastic in all that
was beautiful and good wherever he
encountered, he had formed him to be
good, truthful and brave. Living
alone, he labored assidiously in his
studio in spite of the ridicuIe OF
his young friends, who knowing him
to be rich sneered at his industry,
ignoring the fact that it had pre-
served him from the temptations to
which an artist, young, rich, and
handsome, is always subjected. His
atelier was decorated with sweet and
precious souvenirs of a beloved moth
er, and with many of his fathers CHEF
d' d'9uVreS-objects of respectful pride,
examples of glory to be acquired.


To return to our two friends of the
Boulevard Sebastepol. Arrived at the
corner of the street AUX Ours, before
a high house of sombre appearance
the dog stopped and refused to pro-
ceed.


"Well, will you come?n said Leon,
falling back little after having
Whistled and called in vain uConne