Evening Star Newspaper, December 21, 1895, Page 23

THE . EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1895—-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. : 23 THE LOST CHILD A FRENCH CHRISTMAS STORY BY FRANCOIS COPPEB. —_—__-+—_ — ¢ On that morning, which was the morn- {ng before Christmas, two important events happened simultaneously—the sun rose, and so did M. Jean.Baptiste Godefroy. » Unquestionably the sun, illuminating sud- enly the whole of Paris with Its morning rays, is an old friend, regarded with affec- tion by everybody. It is particularly wel- come after a fortnight of misty atmos- phere and gray skies, when the wind has cleared the air and allowed the sun’s rays to reach the earth again. Besides all of which, the sun {s a person of importance. Formerly, he was regarded as a god, and was called Osiris, Apollyon, and I don’t know what else. But do not imagine that because the sun is so Important he is of greater influence than M. Jean-Baptiste Godefroy, millionaire banker, director of the “Comptoir General de Credit,” admin- istrator of several big companies, deputy and member of the General Counsel of the Eure, officer of the Legion of Honor, etc., etc. And whatever opinion the sun may have about himself, he certainly has not @ higher opinion than M. Jean-Baptiste Godefroy has of himself. So we are au- thorized to state, and we consider our- selves justified in stating, that on the morning in question, at about a quarter to 7, the sun and M. Jean-Baptiste Gode- froy rose. © Certainly the manner of rising of these two great powers mentioned was not the same. The good old sun began by doing a great many pretty actions. As the sleet had, during the night, covered the bare branches of the trees in the Boulevard Matesherbes, where the hotel Godefroy is situated, with a powdered coating, the reat magician sun amused himself by transforming the branches into great bou- quets of red coral. At the same time he Seattered his rays impartially on those poor passers-by wiom necessity sent out, so early in the morning, to gain their daily bread. He even had a smile for the poor clerk, who, in a thin overcoat, was hurry- ing to his office, as well as for the “gri- sette,” shivering under her thin, Insuffi- cient clothing; for the workman, carrying @ half loaf under his arm; for the car con- ductor, as he punched the tickets, and for the dealer in roast chestnuts, who was roasting his first panful. In short, the sun gave pleasure to everybody in the world. M. Jean-Baptiste Godefroy, on the con- , trary, rose in quite a different frame of mind. On the previous evening he had dined with the minister of agriculture. The dinnér, from the removal of the “po- tage” to the salad, bristied with truffles, and the banker's stomach, aged forty-seven years, experienced the burning and biting of pyrosis. So the manner in which M. Jean-Baptiste Godefroy rang for his valet- de-chambre was so expressive, that as ke got some warm water for his master’s shaving, Charles said to the kitchen maid: “Thi he goes! The monkey is barhar- ously ill-tempered again this morning. My poor Gertrude, we're going to have a mis- erable Whereupon, walkin on tiptoe, with eyes st down, he entered the cham- opened the curtains, lit and made all the necessary prepa- rations for the totlet, with the discreet de- meanor end respectful gestures of a sacris- tan placing the sacred vessels on the altar for the priest. “What sort of weather this morning?” demanded M. Godefroy, curtly, as he but- toned his undervest of gray swandown upon a stomach that was already a little too prominent. “Very cold, sir," replied Charles meekly. “At 6 o'clock the thermometer marked 7 degrees above zero. But, as you will. see, sir, the sky Is quite clear, and I th we are g¢ to have a tine morning.” In stropping his razor, M. Godefroy ap- proached the window, drew aside one of the hangings, looked on the boulevard, which was bathed In brightness, and made a slight grimace which bore some resem- blance to a smile. It is all very weil to be perfectly stiff and correct, and to know that it is bad taste to show feeling of any kind in the pres- ence of domestics, but the appearance of the roguish sun, in the middle of Decem- ber, sends such a glow of warmth to the heart that it is impossible to disguise the fact. So M. Godefroy deigned, as before observ smile. If some one had whis- pered to the opulent banker that his smile bad anything in common with that of the printer's boy, who was enjoying himself by makirg a slide on the pavement, M. Godefroy would hav@ been highly incensed. 3ut it really was so, all the same; and during the space of one minute this man, who wa% so occupied by business matters, thts leading light in the financial and po- litical worlds, indulged in the childish pastime of watching the passers-by, and following with his eyes the files of con- veyances as they gayiy rolled in the sun- shine. But pray do not be alarmed. Such a Weakness could not last long. People of no account, and those having nothing to do, may be able to let their time slip by in doing nothing. It is very well for women, children, poets and riffraff. M. Godefroy had other fish to fry; and the work of the day which was commencing promised to be exceptionally heavy. From half-past 8 to 10 o'clock he had a meeting at his office with a certain number of gentlemen, all of whom bore a striking resemblance to M. Godefroy. Like him, they were very ner- vous; they had risen with the sun, they were all “blases,"" and they all had the same obzect in view—to gain money. After breakfast (which he took after the meet- ing), M. Godefroy had to leap into his car- riage and rush to the bourse to éxchange a few words with other gentlemen who had also risen at dawn, but who had not the least spark of imagination among them. (The conversations were always on the game subject—money.) From there, with- cut losing an instant, M. Godefroy went to preside ever another meeting of acquaint- ances entirely vold of compassion and ten- derness. The meeting was held round a baize-covered table, which was strewn with heaps of papers and well provided with ink-wells. The conversation again turned on money, and various methods of gaining it. After the aforesaid meeting hey in his capacity of deputy, had to appear before i+commissions (always held in rooms where there were balze-covered tables and ink-wells and heaps of papers). ‘There he found men as devoid of senti- ment a3 he—all incapable of neglecting any occasion of gaining money. After kaving quickly shaved, he donned @ morning suit, the clegant cut and finish of which showed that the old beau of nearly fifty had not ceased trying to please. When he sh: spared the narrow strip of pe; alt beard round his chin, the air of a trust- worthy family man in the eyes of the Ar- rogants and fools in general. Then he de- scended to*his cabinet, where he received the file of men who were entirely occupied by one thought—augmenting capital. These gentlemen discussed several pro- Jected enterprises, all of them of consider- able importance, notably that of a new raflroad to be laid across a wild desert. Another <cheme was for the founding of monster works in the environs of Paris, another of a mine to be worked in one of the South American republics. It goes without saying that no one asked if the railw would have passengers or goods to car or if the proposed works should mann e cotton nightcaps or distill whisky whether the mine was to b of virgin ad or of secon ate copper; cer- tainly not. The conversation of M. Gode- froy’s morning callers turned exclusively upon the profits which it would be possible to realize during the week which should follow the issue of the shares. They dis- cussed particularly the value of the shares, which they knew wo be destined before long to be worth I than the paper on which they were printed. These conversations, bristling with fige ures, lasted till 10 o'clock precisely, and then the directcr of the Comptoir General de Credit, who, by the way, was an honest man—at least, as honest as ts to be found in bus!ness—courteously conducted his last visitor to the head of the stairway. The visitor named was an old villain, as rich as Croesus, who, by a not uncommon chance, THE ONLY GOCOA WITH RIGH CHOCOLATE FLAVOR, enjoyed the general esteem of the public; whereas, had justice been done to him, he would have been lodging at the expense of the state in one of those large establish- ments provided by a thoughtful govern- ment for smaller delinquents; and there he would have pursued a useful and healthy calling for a lengthy period, the exact length having been fixed by the judges of the supreme court. But M. Godefroy showed him out relentlessly, notwithstand- ing his importance—it was absolutely neces- sary to be at the bourse at 11 o’clock—and went into the dining room. It was @ Puxuriously furnished room. The furniture and plate would have served to endow a cathedral. Nevertheless, notwith- standing that M. Godefroy took a gulp of bicarbonate of soda, his indigestion refused to subside, corsequently the banker could only take the scantiest breakfast--that of a dyspeptic. In the midst of such lux- ury, and under the eye of a well-paid but- ler, M. Godefroy could only eat a couple of boiled eggs and nibble a little mutton chop. The man of money trifled with dessert took only a crumb of Roquefort—not more than two cents’ worth. Then the door opened, and an overdressed but tharming little child—young Raoul, four years old— the son of the company director, entered the room, accompanied by his German nursery governess. This event occurred every day at the same hour—a quarter to 11 precisely, while the carriage which was to take the banker to the bourse was awaiting the gentleman who had only a quarter of an hour to give to paternal sentiment. It was not that he did not love his son. He did love him— nay,”he adored him, in his own way. But then, you know, business is business. At the age of forty-two, when already wordly-wise and “blase,” he had fancied himself in love with the daughter of one of his club friends—Marquis de Neufontaine, an old rascal—a nobleman, but one whose card playing was more than open to sus- picion, and who would have been expelled from the club more than, once, but for the influence of M. Godefroy. The nobleman was only too happy to become the fath in-law of a man who would pay his debts, and without any scruples he handed over his daughter—a simple and ingenuous child of seventeen, who was taken from a con- vent to Le married—to the worldy banker. The girl was certainly sweet and pretty, but she had no dowry, except numerous aristucratic prejudices and romantic illu- sions, and her father thought he was fortu- nate in getting rid of her on such favorable terms. M. Godefroy, who was the son of an avowed old miser of Andely, had al- ways remained a man of the people, and intensely vulgar. In spite of his improved circumstances, he had not improved. His entire lack of tact and refinement was painful to his young wife, whose tenderest feelings he ruthlessly and thoughtlessly trampled upon. Things were looking un- promising, when, happily for her, Mad- ame Godefroy died in giving birth to her first-born. When he spoke of his deceased wife, the banker waxed poetical, although, had she Aived, they would have been di- vorced in six months. His son he loved dearly for several reasons—first, because the child was an only son; secondly, be- cause he was a scion of two such houses as Godefroy and Neufontaine; finally, cause the man of money had natu great respect for the heir of many millions. So the youngster had golden rattles, and ether similar toys, and was brought up like a young Dauphin. But his father, overwhelmed with business worries, could never give the child more than fifteen min- vtes per day of his precious time—and, as on the day mentioned, it was always dur- ing “‘cheese’"—and for the rest of the day the father abandoned the child to the care of the servents. “Good morning, Raoul.” “Good morning, papa. And the company directcr, having put his serviette away, set young Raoul on his left _knee, took the child’s head between his big paws, and in stroking and kissing it actually forgot all his money matters and even his note of the afternoon, which was of great importance to him, as by It he could gain quite an important amount of patronage. “Papa,” sald little Raoul, suddenly, “will Father Christmas put anything in my shoe tonight? The father answered with “Yes, if you are a good child.” This was very striking from a man who was a pronounced free- thinker, who always applauded every anti- clerical attack in the chamber with a vig- orous “Hear, hear.” He made a mental note that he must buy some toys for his child that very afternoon. Then he turned to the nursery governess wi “Are you qu.te satisfied with Raoul, Mad- emoiselle Bertha?” Mademoiselle Bertha became as red as a peony at being addressed, as if the ques- tion were scarcely “comme il faut,” and replied by a little imbecile snigger. “Its a fine day,” said the financier, ‘but cold. If you take Raoul to Monceau Park, mademoiselle, please be careful to wrap him up well.’ Mademoiselle, by a second fit of Idiotic smiling, having set at rest M. Godefroy’s doubts and fears on that essential point, he kissed his child, left the room hastily, and in the hall was enveloped in his fur- coat by Charles, who also closed the car- riage door. Then the faithful fellow went off to the cafe which he frequented, Rue de Miromesnil, where he had promised to meet the coachman of the baroness who lived opposite, to play a game of billiards, thirty up—and spot-barred, of course. Thanks to the brown bay—for which a thousand francs over and above its value was pald by M. Godefroy as a result of a sumptuous snail-supper given to that gen- tleman’s coachman by the horse dealer— thanks to the expensive brown bay, which certainly went well, the financier was able to get through his many engagements sat- isfactorily. He appeared punctually at the bourse, sat at several committee tables, and at a quarter to 5, by voting with the ministry, he helped to reassure France and Europe that the rumors of a ministerial crisis had been totally unfounded. He voted with the ministry because he had succeeded in obtaining the favors which he demanded as the price of his vote. After he had thus nobly fulfilled his duty to himself and country, M. Godefroy re- membered what he had said to his child on the subject of Father Christmas, and gave his coachman the address of a dealer in to: There he bought, and had put in his carriage, a fantastic rocking horse, mounted on castors—a whip in each ear, a box of leaden soldiers—all as exactly alike as those grenadiers of the Russian regi- ment of the time of Paul I, who all had black hair and snub noses, and a score of other toys, all equally striking and costly. Then, as he returned home, softly reposing in his well-swung carriage, the rich banker, who, after all, was a father, began to think with pride of his little boy and to form plans for his future. When the child grew up he should have an education worthy of a@ prince, and he would be one, too, for there was no longer any aristocracy except that of money, and his boy would have a capital of about 000,000 francs. If his father, a pettifog- ging provincial lawyer, who had formerly dined in the Latin quarter when in Paris, who had remarked every evening when put- ting on a white tie that he looked as fine as if he were going to a wedding—if he had been able to accumulate an enormous fortune, and to become thereby a power in the republic; if he had been able to ob- tain in marriage a young lady, one of whose ancestors had fallen at Marignan, what an important personage little Raoul might become. M. Godefroy: built all sorts of air-castles for his boy, forgetting that Christmas is the birthday of a very poor litle child, son of a couplé of vagrants, born in a stable, where thé parents only found lodging through charity. In the midst of the banker's dreams the coachman cried, “Door, please,” and drove Into the yard. ' As he went up the steps M. Godefroy was thinking that he had bately time to dress for dinner, but on en- tering the vestibule he found all the do- mestics crowded in front of him in a state of alarm and confusion. In a corner, crouching on a seat, was the German nursery governess, crying. When she saw the banker she burled her face in her hands and wept still more copiously than before. M. Godefroy felt that some mis- fortune had happened. “What's the meaning of all this? What’s amiss? What has happened?” the valet de chambre, a sneak- scal of the worst type, looked at his master with full eyes of pity and stam- mered, “Mr. Raoul—" “My boy? Lost, sir. The stupid German did tt. Since 4 o'clock this afternoon hs has not been seen.” The father staggered back like one who had been hit by a ball. The German threw herself’ at his feet screaming ‘Mercy, mercy!” and the domestics all spoke at the same time. “Bertha didn’t go to ‘Pare Monceau.’ She lost the child over there on the fortific tions. We have sought him all over, sir. We went to the office for you, sir, and then to the chamber, but you had just left. Just imagine, the German has a rendezvous with her lover every day, beyond the ram- Parts, near the gate of Asineres. What a shame' It 1s a place full of low gypsies and strolling players. Perhaps the child fas beer stolen. Yes, sir, we informed the police at once. How could we Imagine such a ching! A hypocrite, that German! She had a rendezvous, doubtless, with countryman—a Prussian spy, sure enoug! His son lost! M. Godefroy seemed to have a torrent of blood rushing through his head. He sprang at mademoiselle, seized her by the arms and shook her fu- riously. “Where did you lose him, you miserable girl? Tell me the truth before I shake you to pieces. Do you hear? Do you hear?” But the girl could only cry and beg for mercy. The banker tried to be calm. No, it was impossible. Nobody would dare to steal his boy. Somebody would find him and bring him back. Of that there could be no doubt. He could scatter money about right and left, and could have the entire police force at his orders. And he would set to work at once, for not an instant should be lost. “Charles, don't let the horses be taken out. You others, see that this girl doesn’t escape. I'm going to the prefecture.” And M. Godefroy, with his heart thump- ing against his sides as if it would break them, his hair wild with fright, darted into his carriage, which at once rolled off as fast as the horses could take it. What irony! The carriage was full of glittering playthings, which sparkled every time a gaslight shone on them. “My poor little Raoul! Poor darling! Where is my boy?” repeated the father as in his anguish he dug his nails into the cushions of the carriage. At that moment all his titles and decorations, his honors, his millions, were valueless to him. He had one idea burning in his brain. “My poor child! Where {s my child? At last he reached the prefecture of po- lice. But no ore was there—the office had been deserted for some time. “I am M. Godefroy, deputy from L'Eure. My little boy is lost in Parts; a child of four years. I must see the prefect. He slipped a louis into the hands of the concierge. The good old soul, a veteran with a gray mustache, less for the sake of the money than out cf compassion for the poor father, led him to the prefect’s private apartments. M. Godefroy was finally ushered into the room of the man in whom were centered all his hopes. He was in evening dress and Wore a monocle; his manner was frigid and rather pretentious. The distressed father, whose knees trembled through emotion,sank into an armchair, and bursting into tears, told of the loss of his boy—told the story stammeringly and with many breaks, for bis voice was choked by sobs. The prefect, who was also the father of a family, was inwardly moved at the sight of his visitor’s grief, but he repressed his emo- ion and assumed a cold and self-important al “You say, sir, that your child has been missing since 4 o'clock.” “Yes."" “Just when night was falling, confound it. He isn’t at all precocious, speaks very little, doesn’t know where he lives, and gan’t even pronounce his own name “Unfortunately, that is so.” Not far from Asnieres gate? A suspected quarter. But, cheer up. We have a very intelligent commissaire de police there. I'll telephone to him.” The distressed father was left alone for five minutes. How his temples throbbed and his heart beat! ‘Then, suddenly the pre- fect reappeared, smiling with satisfaction. “Found!” Whereupon M. Godefroy rushed to the pre- fect, whose hand he pressed until that fune- tionary winced with the pain. must acknowledge that we are exceed- ingly fortunate. The little chap is blond, isn’t he? Rather pate? In blue velvet? Black felt hat, with a white feather in it? “Yes, yes, that’s he. That's my little Raoul.” “Well, he's at the house of a poor fellow down in that quarter who has just been at the police office to make his declaration to the commissaire. Here’s his address, which I took down: ‘Pierron, Rue des Cailloux, Levallois-Perret.’ With good horses you may reach your boy in jess than an hour. Certainly you won't find him in an aristo- cratic quarter; his surroundings won't be of the highest. The man who found Fim is only a small dealer in vegetables. But that was of no importance to M. Gode- froy, who, having expressed hi® gratitude to the prefect, leaped down the stairs, four at a time, and sprang into his carriage. At that moment he realized how devotedly he loved his child. As he drove away he no longer thought of little Raoul’s princely edu- cation and magnificent inheritance. He was decidedly never again to hand over the child entirely to the hands of servants, and he also made up his mind to devote less time to mcnetary matters and the glory of France and attend more to his own. The thought also occurred to him that France wouldn't be likely to suffer from the neglect. He had hitherto been ashamed to recognize the ex- istence of an old-naid sister of his father, but he decided to send for her to come to his house. She would certainly shock his lack- eys by her primitive manners and ideas. But what of that? She would take care of his boy, which to him was of much more im- portance than the good opinion of his ser- vants. The financier, who was always in a hurry, never felt so eager to arrive punc- tually at a committee meeting as he was to reach the lost little one. For the first time in his life he was longing through pure affec- tion to take the child in his arms. The carriage rolled rapidly along in the clear, crisp night air down Boulevard Males- herbes; and, having crossed the ramparts and passed the large houses, plunged into the quiet solitude of suburban streets. When the carriage. stopped, M. Godefroy saw a wretched hovel, on which was the number he was secking; it was the house where Pierron lived. The door of the house opened immediately, and a big, rough-looking fel- low with red mustache appeared.’ One of his sleeves was empty. Secing the gentie- man in the carriage, Pierron said checrily: “So you are the little one’s father. Don't be afraid. The little darling {s quite safe,” and, stepping aside in order to allow M. Godefroy to pass, he placed his finger on his lips with: “Hush! The little one Is asleep!” Yes, it was a real hovel. By the dim light of a little ofl lamp M. Godefroy could just distinguish a dresser from which a drawer was missing, some broken chairs, a round table on which stood a beer mug which was half empty, three glasses, some cold meat on a plate, and on the bare plaster of the wall two gaudy pictures—a bird's-eye view of the exposition of 1889, with the Eiffel tow- er in bright blue, and the portrait of Gen. Boulanger when a handsome young lieuten- ant. This last evidence of weakness of the tenant of the house may well be excused, since it was shared by nearly everybody in France. The man took the lamp and went on tiptoe to the corner of the room where, on a clean bed, two little fellows were fast asleep. In the little one, around whom the other had thrown a protecting arm, M. Godefroy rec- ognized his son. “The youngsters were tired to death, and so sleepy,” said Plerron, trying to soften hts rough voice. ‘I had no idea when you would come, so gave them some supper and put them to bed, and then I went to make a declaration at the police office. Zidore generally sleeps up in the garret, but I thought they would be better here, I should be better able to watch them.” M. Godefroy, however, scarcely heard the explanation. Strangely moved, he looked at thé two sleeping infants on an iron bed- stead and covered with an old blanket which had once been used either in barracks or hospital. Little Raoul, who was still in his velvet sult, looked so frail and delicate compared with his companion, that the banker almost envied the latter his brown complexion. 's he your boy?’ he asked Plerron. No,” answered he. “I am a_ bachelor, and don’t suppose I shall ever marry, be- cause of my accident. You see, a dray passed over my arm—that was all. ‘Two years ago a neighbor of mine dled, when that child was only five years old. The poor mother really died of starvation. She wove wreaths for the cemeteries, but could make nothing worth mentioning-at that trade—not enough to live. However, she worked for the child for five years, and then the neighbors had to buy wreaths for her. So I took care of the youngster. Oh, it was nothing much, and I was soon 16- paid. He is seven years old, and is a sharp Little fellow, so he helps me a great deal. Or Sundays and Thursdays, and the other days after school, he helps me yush my handeart. Zidore is a smart little chap. It was he who found your boy.” “What!” exclaimed M. Godefroy—“that child!” “Oh, he’s quite a little man, I assur? you. When he left schgol he found your child, who was waiking on ahead, cryin: like a fountain, He spoke to him ‘and comforted him, like an old grandfather. The difficulty at one can't easily understand what little one says—Eng!ish words are mixed up with Gera@an and French. So we couldn't get mach out of him, nor could we learn his address. Zidore broueht him to me—I wasn’t far away; and thon all the old women in the place came round chat- tering and croakiny like s9 many frogs, and all full of advice. ‘Take him to the police,’ sald some, But Zidore protested. ‘That would scare him,’ sald he, for, like all Parisians, he has no particular liking for the police— and, besides, your little one didn’t wish to leave him. So I came back here with the children as soon as I could. They had sup- per, and then off to bed. Don’t they look sweet When he was in his carriage M. Gode- froy had decided to reward the finder of his child handsomelf?-to give him a hand- ful of that gold su eaSily gained. Since en- tering the house he had seen a side of human nature with Which he was formerly unacquainted—the brave charity of the poor in their misery. The courage of the poor girl who had worked herself to death weaving wreaths td! keep her child; the genercsity of the poor ple in adopting the orphan, and, abov. , the intelligent goodness of the littl» street Arab in pro- tecting the child. Who was still_smaller than himself-—all*this touched M. Godefroy deeply, and set hr reflecting. For the thought had occurred to him that there were cripples who’ heeded to be looked after as well as Pierron, and other orphans as well as Zidore. He also debated whether it would not be better to employ his time leoking after them,,and whether money mght not be put'to a better use than merely gaining moti¢y. Such was his re- verie as he stood looking at the two sleep- ing children. Finally he turned around to study the features of the green grocer, and was charmed by the loyal expression in the face of the man, and his clear, truthful eyes. “My friend,” said M. Godefroy, “you and your adopted son have rendered me an immense service. I shall soon prove to you that I am not ungrateful. But, for today—I see that you are not in comfort- able circumstances, and I should like to leave a small proof of my thankfulness.” Bui the hand of the cripple arrested that of the banker, which was diving into his coat pocket where he kept his bank notes. “No, sir; no. Anyhody else would have dore just as we have done. I will not ac- cept any recompense; but pray don't take offense. Certainly, 1 am not rolling in wealth, but please eacuse my pride—that of an old soldier; I nave the Tonquin medal—and I don’t wish ww eat food which I haven't earned.” “As you like,” said the financier; “but an old soldier like you is capable of some- thing better. You are too good to push a handcart. I will make some arrangement for you, never fear.” The cripple responded by a quiet smile, and said, coldly ‘Well, sir, if you really wish to do something for me—” You'll let me care for Zidore, won't you?” cried M. Godetroy, eagerly, his heart intent on this new pieasure of really helping others. “That I will, with the greatest of pleas- ure,” responded Pierron, joyfully. “I have often thought about the child’s future. He is a sharp litle fellow. His teachers are delighted with him.” ‘Then Pierron suddenly stopped, and an ex- pression came over his face’ which M, Godefroy at once interpreted as of distrust. The thought evidently was: “Oh, when he has once left us he'll forget us entirely; that is the way of these rich People.” “You can safely pick the child up in your arms and take him to the carriage. He'll be better at Home than here, of course. Oh, you needn't be afraid of dis- turbing him. He is fast asleep, and you can just pick him up. He must have his shoes on first, though.” . Following Pierron’s glance, M. Godefroy perceived on the hearth, where a scanty coke fire was dying out, two pairs of chil- dren’s shoes—the elegant ones of Raoul and the rough ones of Zidore. Ea contained a little toy and a pac bon bon “Don't think about that,” said Pierron, {in an abashed tone. “Zidore put the shoes there. You know, children still believe in Christmas and the child Jesus, whatever scholars may say about fables; so as I came back from the. commissaire, as .I didn’t know whether your boy would have to stay here tonight, I got those things for them both.” At which the eyes gf M. Godefroy, the freethinker, the hardened capitalist’ and “blase” man of the, world, filled with tears, He rushed out of. the house, but returned in a minute with his arms full of the su- perb mechanical horse, the box of leaden soldiers and the ft ly play- things bought 1 in ‘the aftcraoon, and which had not even been taken out of the carriage “My friend. my dear friend,” said he to the green grocer, “see, these are the presents which Christmas has brought to my little Raoul. I want him to find them here when he awakens, and to share them with Zidore, who will henceforth be his play- mate and friend. ‘You'll trust me now, won't you? I'll take care both of Zidore and of you, and then I shall ever remain in your debt, for not only have you found my boy, but you haya also reminded me, who dm rich and lived only for myself, that there are dther poor who need to be looked after. I swear by these two sleeping children I won't forget them any lenger.” Such is the miracle which happened on the 24th of December of last yeur, ladies and gentlemen, at Paris, in the full flow of modern egotism. It doesn’t sound likely —that I own; and I am compelled to at- tribute this miraculous event to the in- fluence of the Divine child who came dcwn to carth nearly nineteen centuries ago to command men to love one another. HIS UNCLE PAID. An Incident of the Days When High- waymen Were Common. From Tid-Bits. At the close of that season in which Shuter, the Toole of fifty years ago, first be- came so universally and deservedly cele- brated, he was engaged for a few nights in a principal city in the north of England. It was in the coaching days, and it happened that the stage in which he went down (and in which there were only an old gentleman and himself) was stopped by a single high- wayman. The old gentleman pretended to be asleep, but Shuter resolved to be even with him. Accordingly, when the highwayman pre- sented his pistol and commanded Shuter to deliver his money instantly or he was a dead man: ‘Meney!” returned he, with an idiotic shrug :and a countenance tnexpressibly va- cant; “‘oh, lor, sir! they never trust me with any; for nuncle here always pays for me, turnpikes and all, your honor!" Upon which the highwayman gave him a few curses for his stupidity, complimented the old gentlemamwith a smart slap on the face to awaken him, and robbed him of every shilling he had in his pocket, while Shuter, who did not lose a single farthing, with great satisfaction and merriment, pur- sued his journey, laughing heartily at his fellow traveler. 5 tion kills more people foen Tifleballs. It is more deadly than any of the much dreaded epi= demics. Fully Yone-sixth of ‘all the deaths in America are caus- ed by consump f tion. It isa steal- SX. thy, gradual, slow "disease. It pene- trates the whole body. It is in bY every drop of hy blood. It seems to =) work only at the , lungs, but the téfrible drain and waste goon all over the body. The only way to get rid of consumption is to work on the blood, make it pure, rich and whole- some, build up the wasting tissues, put the body into condition for a fight with Consur the dread disease.. The cure of consump- tion is a fight—a fight between sound tissues and the ‘enctoaching germs of disease. se i Dr. Pierce’s Golden Medical Discove: fights on the right side. it drives the erms back, forces them out of the body. t will cure 98 per cent. of all cases of con- sumption if it is takdn during the early stages of the disease. Its first is to put the stomach, bowels. live kidneys into good working oruer. Th makes digestion good and assimilation quick and thorough. It makes sound healthy flesh. That is half the battle. When Dr. Pierce, of Ruffalo, N. ¥., published the first edition of his work, The People’s Com- mion Sense Medical Adviser, he announced that after 680,000 copies had been sold at the regular price, $1.50 per copy, the profit on which would repay himn for the great labor expended in pro- ducing it, he would distribute the next nale $s al- nen sold, he is now distributing, ahso- Fite, 500,009 copies of this great work, but tweaty-one cents in one-cent stamps to pay for postage and packing only being requit It is a veritable medical library, complete in one vol- ume. It contains over 1000 pages and more than 300 illustrations. The Free Edition is precisel Same as those sold at $1.50 except only that t books are bound in strong paper covers instead of cloth. Send stataps now before all are g: away. They are going off rapi: million free. As this number of copies hi re: SEIDLITZ POWDER SAVED IT. A Remarkable Device Used to Float a Stranded Vessel. From Judy. “If there be one thing upon which I pride myself next to my hobby of the strictest accuracy,”” remarked Col. Monkhouse, “‘it is upon my presence of mind. It has often proved of the utmost value to myself, and also to others. “On cne occasion I saved thousands upen thousands of pounds to a steamship com- pany, simply by my habit of rapid thought, followed by equally rapid practice. “It was on the Mediterranean, when I was on my passage out to India. By some blun- der of the first mate, we ran on to a sand bank, and there we stuck. The sea was calm’and there was no panic; but the ques- tion arose as to what was to be done. “Wait till the tide rose? There was no use in doing that, for in the Mediterranean there is only a rise and fall of an inch or two. “The captain proposed to signal the first vessel that passed to take oif the passenzers and crew, and leave the vess21 to her fate, as she was s9 fast that to attempt to get her off by towing would have been of no use. “A storm might have proved useful, the captain sald, by giving us a little more water, owing to high waves, but there was not even the most remote chance of one, but the observation gave me a sugges “I knew that the cargo which we taking out consisted largely’ of chemicals. I asked the captain if he knew what these chemicals were, but he did not. We there- fore examined the ship's manifest, and I at cence knew that the steamer was sav Among the contents of the hold were large consignments of tartarated soda, of carbonate of soda, and of tartaric acid. I caused the casks to be brought up on ceck, and had the heads knocked out, the two former chemicals being piled up on one side of the deck and the third on the other. Ata given signal the whole of the crew started to shovel the material overboard--there was altogether several tons of it. “Immediately the sea in our immediate neighborhood rose and got into the utmost commotion, though quite close at hand the water was as calm as a duck pond. There was a heavy lurch, and the vessel slipped off into deep water. How was it that throwing chemicals overioard raised a storm? The matter was simple enough. I selected the ingredients that constitute a seldlitz powder, but I did it on a large scale. “No, I was not awarded salvage, but th passengers and the owners presented me with testimonials ——__+0+_____ New Uses of Aluminum. From the Philadelphia Record. Although aluminium has disappointed scme of the brilliant expectations aroused by the discovery of cheaper methods of pro- ducing the metal, yet many new and im- portant uses are being found for it. One of the most recent is the employment of this exceedingly light metal for the powder chamber of cartridges, thus enabling a sol- dier to carry 25 per cent more ammunition without increase of weight. Another com- paratively new use for aluminium is in the making of oil cups for the crank-pins of high speed locomotives. Formerly these oil cups, made of copper, were frequently broken by the tremendous centrifugal force developed as they were whirled a The alumin- jum cups weigh two-thir than those of copper, and consequen having less ntum, can stand the strain. Baggage shoe pegs, cooking utensils and ticles in which lightness is desirable are now made in large numbers of alumin- ium. Since aluminium gives off no sparks when struck, its employment for the metal work in powder mills ha proved a source of greater safety. a A Boy's Cause for Fight From Harper's Bazar. Mamma—' Billy, what do you and Tommy Jones mean by fighting so? What would you think if you saw Mr. Jones and your papa acting in that way Billy—"That's what we were fighting about. I bet that my papa could lek Tommy Jcnes’ papa, and then Tommy got mad, and that’s the way the quarrel be- gan.” a EVERY FAMILY SHOULD KNOW THAT Is a very remarkable r: TERNAL aad EXTERNAL aoe pees derful in its quick action t» relieve distress. Pain-Killer paseo (or Sere Chills, Di: hea, Dys c Choleta, and all Bowel Complaint. -T Sm Pe Pain-Killer‘s THE BEST reme edy known for Sea. Sickness, Sick Headache, Pain in he Buck or Side, Rheumati+m and Neuralgia. Pain-Killer joe sixties It brings sperdy; and permanent relief in all cases of Rruises, Cuts, Sprains, Severe Burns, &0. 1s the well tried ai Pain-Killer "=, Trlend of the Mechanic, Farmer, Planter, Sailor, and fn fact ail classes wanting a medicine always at hand, and safe to use internally or externally with certainty of relief. pee 1S RECOMMENDED ysicians, by Missionaries, by 3 + 7 PN Mechantey, by Nerser tn Boepieadee te BY EVERYBODY. Pain-Killer 1s a Medicine Chest tm itself, and few vessels Jeavo port without a supply of It Ba No family can afford to be without this invaluable remedy in the house. Its price brin, it within the reach of all. and {t will annu: save many times {ts cost In doctors’ bills. Peware of imitations. Take noue but the Genuine “Peaay Davis.” YAROAQees4 FACTS, ‘Not FANCIES, “OUR NATIVE SOARES, ‘ ‘Prove HERBS” To be the “MASTER of all Rhoumatie affections arising from an impure com dition of the BLOOD. ‘This medicine drive: IT NEVER FAILS containing 200 doses out all impurities, ) CURB. §1 a box, CHRISTMAS GIVING. Some Depariures From the Beaten Tracks Advised. From Scribner's. There was once a person who confessed to a corstitutional disposition to save in his Christmas expenditures at the expense of those who were the nearest to him, and for whom his regard was the most natural and obvious. The ordinary way for people who can contrive a reasonably bountiful Christmas disbursement seems to be to give the most expensive gifts to their near- est relations or their dearest friends, and to express sentiments of less intensity with gifts of less importance. But this person of peculiar views declared that as he never had anything like enough money to spare at Christmas time, it seemed to him a waste of funds tu make expensive presents to people toward whom his good will was 80 notorious that they could not need to be reminded of it. He spent his money without compunc- tion on servants and children and people poorer than himself, who had a claim on him, feeling that gifts to them were neces- saries which it would be painful to him to go without. It is recommended not to suffer Christmas to degenerate too far into a mere swapping of merchandise among relatives. It is well to get some new life into it every year; to avoid too cut-and- dried ar exchange of expected presents and to rejoite the hearts, or at least the self- esteem of some persons who did not know until your gifts came to them that you had it in your heart to send them. Such unlooked-for Christmas presents are apt to be the ones that produce the liveliest emotions. They muy be the merest trifles but the news of a continuing affection which they bring is all the more gratify- ing and all the more proper for Christmas because it is news. ONE ENJOYS Both the method and results when Syrup of Figs is taken; it is pleasant and refreshing to the taste, and acts gently yet promptly on the Kidneys, Liver and Bowels, cleanses the sys- tem effectually, dispels colds, head- aches and fevers and cures habitual constipation. Syrup of Figs is the only remedy of its kind ever pro- duced, pleasing to the taste and ac- ceptable to the stomach, prompt in its action and truly beneficial in its effects, prepared only from the most healthy and agreeable substances, its many excellent qualities commend it to all and have made it the most popular remedy known. Syrup of Figs is for sale in 50 cent bottles by all leading drug- gists. Any reliable druggist who may not have it on hand will pro- cure it promptly for any one who wishes to try it. Donot accept any substitute. CALIFORNIA FIG SYRUP CO, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. AQUIBVILLE, KY. AEW YORK, &.¥. Beef Malt. BEEF, MALT, CELERY. ‘Three natural foods, aimply combined tm Proportions best adapted to present the full strength of cach, ‘ncreased by the com- Dined strength of all. For Body, Blood & Brain. It makes new BLOOD and TISSUB, sturdy stuff for the sick and corvalescent, vigorous thinking easy to the well nourished. The thin and pale win color and strength; AN EASY CURE FOR NERVOUS PROSTRA- TION, GENERAL DEBILITY, MENTAL DB- PRESSION, DYSPEPSIA, WEAKNESS AND LOSS OF APPETITH. It te especially eéapted for ail rursing mothers and in cases of ccnvalescence where a nutritive is re- quired. It is just what the tired and sick system craves. For sale by all leading DRUG- GISTS and grocers. 3§c. per bottle. BEEF MALT CO., 938 F N.W. B-e01m,70 The first in town! LADY APPLES, isc. A DOZEN! We've just received an invoice of 25 barrels of the very finest selected Lady Apples! The usual retail price of this quality 1s P0c. dozen. is {> We want you to test the goodness of this store by an order ns little or as large as you like. In every instance you are assured of the very finest qualities procurable, and at sur- prisingly. reasonable prices. Oheapness in the Sense of, poor quality bas mo abiding place here. "Phone 1101. C. W. BARKER, 1210 F St. 420-284 “Boys’ gifts.” —Striking Bags, $2 uy —Dumb Bells or 25c. pair up. Tndian Clubs, Neckwear, For Gentlemen. Hats, Gloves, Umbrellas, Dress Shirts, Hosiery, Collars& Cuffs, Handkerchiefs., é&c. R. C. LEWIS & SON, 1421 New York Ave. Fine goods at low prices. _a16-6t as Bargains in Long Hair Switches $250. Formerly $5.00. 4.00. Formerly $6.50. $6.50. Former!y $10.50. C7Firt-class ‘ttendance in Hair Dressing, Shampooing, ete. ‘Try our “‘Curlette,"” for keeping the halr in curl, S. HELLER’S, 720 7 7th Street N. W. American Club Ice Skates, Soc. pair up. Sleds, 75¢. up. ate alt BURY Ram nes Anse Yale and Princeton Football Game, &e. Tappan’s, 1013 Pa. Ave. 420-244 FRENCH GLACE FRUITS— Imported in dainty, fancy boxes, all sizes—25c. box up. Fry’s famous English Chocolates— 1oc. box up. N. W. Burchell, 1325 F St. 420-140 We believe in making a photo. look as natural and life-like as possi- ble, hence use no head rests. We make no extra charge for a resitting if yon sbould not be satisfied with your first A “srecial"—'Mezzo Tint Oval Photos only $4 W. H. Stalee, 107 F St. Buccessor to M. B. Brady. 19-164 MUNYON Cured Mrs. Julia B, Fuss of Sciatio Rheumatism After Six Doctors Failed. Two Bottles of Munyon’s Rheum tism Cure Made a Complete Cure After Twenty Years of Suffering—All of Munyon’s Remedies Act Promptly and Cure Permanently. Mrs. Julia B. Fuss, Tampa, Ga., says: “I have had a complication of ailments for the past twenty years. and during that time had six doctors and tried innumerable remedies without obtaining « cure. I suffered from sciatica, rheumatism, pains in all p&ts of the body, stiffness of the joints, pain in the back and nervous prostration. ‘Two bottles of MUNYON’S RHEUMATISM CURE have cured me completely. Iam Ike a new woman, and I shall always recommend MUNYON’S REM- EDIES above all other medicines. Muuson’s Rheumatism Cure seldom fails to relieve in one to three hours, and cures in @ few days. Price, 250. Munyon’s Dyspepsia Cure is guaranteed to cure all forms of indigestion and stomach troubles. Price, 2c. Munyon’s Kidney Cure speedily cures pains in the back, loins or groin and all forms of kidney dis- ease. Price, 25¢. Munyon’s Vitalizer restores lost powers to weak men. Price, $1. A separate specific for each disease. At all Gruggists, mostly 25 cents a bottle. Persenal letters to Prof. Munyon, 1505 Arch street, Philadelphia, Pa., answered with free medi- cal advice for any di BRIAR PIPE eH AWAY MIXTURE fo r => ro ce nts Every pipe stamped DUKES MIXTURE or <a> 2oz. Packases 5¢ - QR.CHASES BloodNerve Food Yourse: , eee rcrene TAKING Si For Weak and Run-Down People from Childhood to Old Age. WHAT IT IS! The richest of all restorative because it replaces the same substance gra blood and nerves that are exhausted is these two life-giving fluids by disease, Indigestion, high living, over worry, excesses, abuse, etc, Waar ir’ bor By waking the blood’ pure and ri and the digestion perfect, it creates solid flesh, muscle and strength. The nerves be fug made’ strong, the brain becomes aetive ai clear, For restoring lost vitality and stopping wasting drains and weakness in elther sex it had no equal, and as a female regulator it 1s worth ite weight in gold. One box lasts a week. Price, 50c., or 5 boxes $2.00. Druggists or by mail. IK FREE. ais THE DR. CHASE COMPANY, nol2-tu&sat6St 1612 Chestnut st., Philadelphia, f — == ] RAMBLER $100—BICYCLES—$100 (GORMULLY & JEFFERY MPO. C0. "Est youn N Wy x2 gare unexcelied for Purity of Deliciousness of Flavor. Their Pink Wrapper Vanilla Chocolate is @ favorite for Eating and Drinking. Grocers everywhere. von Grateful— Comforting. Epps’s Cocoa. BREAKFAST-— SUPPER. “By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws wich gcvera tke operations of digestion and nutri- tion, and by a careful application of the fine erties of well-relected Cocoa Mi has provi for our breakfust atl supper @ delicately favo Deverage which may save us eavy doc Dis. Jt is by the Jodicicus use of such articles of aie bat a constitution may be gradually built ap ertil st encugh to resist every tendency of dis- euse. reds of sustle maladies are Soat! around us ready to attack wherever there is a wi int. We may escape many a fatal shaft eeping curselves well fortified, with blood &@ preperly nourished frame.”"—Olvif Service Zette, “Made simply with boiling water or Bold ‘only in hal pound tins, by grocers, label us. JAMES EPPS & CO.. Ltd., Homoeopathic Chemista, 7 London, England. oc5-s,m,tu,9m Useful Mementos. Stinemetz & Son. G-i-f-t F-u-r-s-. Furs are the richest of all gifts. Superb Sealskin and Persian irae ets, Magnificent Seal, Mink, Black Marten, Persian, Electric Seal and Wool Seal Capes, Collarettes and Short Capes, Fur Cravats, Fur Scarfs and Lovely Fur-lined Care riage and Opera Cloaks. G-i-f-t U-m-b=r-e-l=l=-a-s-. Close rollers, all the latest designs in handles—$2.50 to $ro. K-n-e-x H-a-t-s-. The Knox is the only Hat good enough to give. We are sole D C. agents. B. H. Stinemetz & Son, Hatters and Furriers, 1237 Pa. ave. 420-208 a a TT ixmas Gifts For Small Boys. mensel BOOTS—if you get them here. thick-soled—and snugly ‘way down until Xmas. TY RUBBERS broad oe pointed toes— 2 © © the best—i0e. pair. Robt. Cohen & Son, 630 Pa. Ave., ceed TOWN AMERICAN SHOE MEN. ‘Twill “tickle” the youngsters in to give « PAIR OF BUB =} ied