Year: 1871

h1m the humble employment by which
he lived his employers seemed to con-
fer favor, and to require his thanks


He lived in an old house In the fau-
bough, where some workmen lodged,
as poor as he, but less abandoned.
Only one of his neighbors lived with
out family, in small garret, into
which the wind and rain penetrated.
/ This was young girl, pale and 81
lent; without beauty, and whose only
recommendation was her resigned
misery.


She was never known to address a
word to any woman; no song enlivened
her garret. Enveloped in a gloomy
dependency, as in a sort of a shroud,
she worked without ardor and without
recreation. Her languer touched Mau-
rice. He tried to speak to her. She
replied with gentleness, but briefly
It was PLAIN that her silence and her
solitude were dearer to her than the
watchful friendliness of the little
hunchback. He saw this and became
dumb


But Toinett's needle scarcely support
ed her Soon there was no work, and
she was idle. Maurice learned that
the young girl needed everything, and
that the tradesmen refused to give her
credit. He went to them Immediately Y,
and agreed to pay them secretly for
whatever they gave to Toinette.


Things Went on thus for several
months. The scarcity of work CON
tlnued for the young seamstress, who
was now quite frightened at the debts
she had contracted with the tradesmen
She tried to explain to them, and in
this explanation all was discovered


Her first movement was to run to
Uncle Maurice, and thank him on her
knees. Her habitual coldness had
given place to an inexpressible tender
ness 1t seemed as though gratitude
had melted the ice of this chilled
heart.


Delivered from the embarrassment
of the secret, the little hunchback
could give more efficacy to his kind
ness. Teinette became to him a sister
over whose wants he had the right to
watch. Since the death of his mother
this was the first time he had given
any one place in his life. The young
girl received his kindness with re-
served sensibility. All Maurice's eff
forts were unavailing to dIssipate her
deep sadness. She seemed touched by
his goodness and told him so, some
times, with effusion; but here her
confidence ended. Maurice could not
read this closed heart In truth, he
tried but little, for the happiness of
having a friend, he accepted Tolnette,
such as her long trials had made her;
he loved her thus, and wished for moth
ing else than to retain her companion
ship.


until it effaced all else The young
girl was alone in the world like him
self; habit had softened to her the ug-
iness of the little hunchback; she
seemed to regard him with a compass
ionate affection. What more could he
expect. Until then the hope of accept
ing companion had been repulsed by
Maurice as dream; but chance seem
ed to have made it reality. After
considerable hesitation he decided to
speak to her, to ask her to be his wife.


It was evening, the little hunchback
with much emotion, proceeded to the
garret of the seamstress. When he
reached it, he seemed to hear strange
voice which pronounced the name of
the young girl He opened the door
quickly, anu perceived Tionette, who,
weeping, leaned upon the shoulder of
a young man, wearing the costume of
a sailor


At the sight of my uncle she disen-
gagged herself, and running to him
cried


'tAh come, come, it is he whom [
believed to be dead it is Julien, my
betrothedn


Maurice staggered back Of all she
had said, he had comprehended but
one word


1t seemed to him that the earth gave
way, and that his heart was going to
break; but the same voice he had
heard at the death bed of his mother
rang newly in his ear, and he straight
ened himself terminated God remain
ed with him always.


He accompanied the newly married
couple on their wedding trip, when
they departed and after having wish
ed them all the JOY which he had been
refused to him, he returned, resigned
to the old house in the faubourg.


1t was here that he ended his life,
abandoned by men, but not, as he said,
by his Father IN heaven. Everywhere
he was sensible of His presence. He
took the place of all that he had lost
He died with smile on his face,
like an exile who has embarked for his
native land.


God, who had been his consolation
in indigence, in infrmity, in injustice
happiness and benefaction to him.