square within. Seeing, however, no one to whom he might apply for further direction, he continued his way across the square, until he came to the steps leading to the house. Here he suddenly heard a shrill voice calling out to him: "Hallo! little fellow, what do you want? Is this the way to enter houses without first announcing yourself to the gate-keeper?"

Edmè turned, and saw a woman at the window of a small room, which had been hidden from view by the open gate. She was very plainly clad; but Edmè recognized her immediately.

"It is I," said he, entering, at the same time, the room, and going towards the woman with great simplicity.

"And who are you?" asked she, indignant at his unceremonious intrusion. Of course, she had before only seen him by night, by the dim rays of a rushlight, and the feeble light of the crescent moon, and had not taken such particular notice of him, as he had of her.

"Do you then not know me any more?" replied the boy; "I remember you perfectly well. You are the lady whom I ferried across the river, with my boat, and took to be a princess. Where is the little boy? I have brought his clothes with me." With these words Edmè opened a small bundle, and exhibited to the astonished portress the hat and garments of her little charge.

Suddenly the countenance of the woman changed. "What! is it then you, my dear boy?" she now exclaimed, and pressed him to her heart. "Is it you? I am, indeed, very, very glad to see you; and if you will stay with me, I will take care of you, till the Duke returns. He was unexpectedly ordered back to the army; and his mother, who came here on a visit to him and her grandchild, has again returned to her castle in Vendee, taking the child with her. But that does not matter; you shall be my boy, and lack nothing. My errand-boy is about to leave me, and you shall at once have his place. Your work will not be much. All you will have to do, is to open and close the gate, keep the steps clean, and run errands. Be, therefore, of good cheer; you shall be well taken care of."

At these words the countenance of the boy assumed a very sorrowful and wobegone appearance. This then was to be the end of all his bright dreams of riches and honor. His noble princess had suddenly been transformed into a door-keeper, and his great good fortune was to consist in opening and shutting the door, sweeping the steps, running errands; in short, becoming the portress's servant-boy. His eyes began to fill with tears; yet he made an effort to bear his disappointment, painful as it was, like a man, and only replied to her offer by say ing, "You are very kind, madam!"

The portress now ran out for the purpose of calling in some of her neighbors, to whom she had, on a former occasion, related her adventure in Chatel-Censoir. She wished them to see the little ferryman who, by his presence of mind, had saved her precious charge. During her absence, our little wanderer, who had expected to be received by a princess, at least, learned from the errand-boy whose place he was to take, that the Duchess of Lauzun was dead, that the Duke's return to Paris was not expected for a long time, and that it was intended to rent the Hotel to strangers.

But, however great Edmè's disappointment had been, he nevertheless exerted himself to perform the duties of his station with cheerfulness. The portress treated him very kindly, and their evenings were usually spent by his reading to her and a few of her friends. Yet with all his efforts to become reconciled, he could not prevent tears from stealing down his cheeks, when he thought of his brother at home, and of how the beautiful castles which his childish imagination had built in the air, had been demolished.

Thus it happened that a certain lady, who had witnessed his habitual cheerfulness and attentiveness, surprised him one day in one of his melancholy moods. Feeling deeply interested in so artless a peasant boy, she inquired of him the cause of his melancholy, when Edmè related to her his whole history, the adventure in the boat, his journey to Paris, his expectations, and how they had been disappointed.

"And what would you wish now?" inquired the lady.

"I would like to learn a trade, madam." "What trade do you like best?"

I

"It makes no difference, madam. would be pleased to learn any one, by which I might earn enough to enable me to bring my brother to Paris, that he might live with me."

The lady indulged, for a few moments, in earnest reflection, and then said, "I do not reside in Paris, but am only staying here a short time; yet I should be pleased to leave some token of my visit behind me: would you like to be apprenticed to a jeweller?"

and if he at times did succeed, by stealth, to gain entrance, with the view of learning something by looking at others, he was immediately ejected, and sometimes even punished with stripes. Thus situated, the poor boy was at a loss what to do. He had no acquaintances in Paris, save the portress, and she advised him to stay where he was, till she would acquaint the Duke with his situation, who, she declared, would not suffer him to be abused. Edme was resolved to follow this advice; but one day, being threatened with a very severe punishment, in case he should fail to acquit

The lady now gave him her address, and bade him call on the following morning at her residence.

Edme was punctual to the appointment, and the good lady, who had interested herself for him, at once went with him to the house of a celebrated jeweller, to whom she presented her protégé, inquiring at the same time into the conditions on which he would receive him. He asked the sum of 500 francs for the term of three years; whereupon the indentures were immediately drawn up, signed by the lady under the signature of "De Tessier," and the money paid. This was the last Edme ever saw or heard of his benefactress.

CHAPTER V.

years

THE trials of our little hero were, however, far from being ended. Artificers unfortunately and very unjustly often employ their apprentices, during the first few of their apprenticeship, only as errand-boys. And when Edme's employer found that he had neither parents nor friends to interest themselves for him, instead of instructing him in his trade, as he was in duty bound to do, he assigned to him the drudgery of a mere servant. At first, Edme submitted quietly to this kind of treatment, in the hope, that, after having finished his work, he might enjoy a few hours leisure in the afternoon, to apply himself to the task of acquiring a knowledge of the trade. But he soon found that this hope was vain; he was not even permitted to enter the shop;

in waiting on a large company of guests, who were expected to dine with him, his indignation got the better of his discretion. He was of a sprightly, independent disposition. He felt keenly the injustice he suf fered at the hands of his employer, who had so grossly disregarded his part of the contract. He, therefore, took the opportunity, whilst his master was engaged with his guests, to abscond from the house. It is true, he knew not where to go; but that did not trouble him; all he cared for, was to get away from his unjust and unfeeling employer. He therefore fled, without knowing whither.

We do, indeed, sympathize with poor Edme Champion; but yet in this we cannot justify his conduct. When we are oppressed, it is our duty to wait patiently till God is pleased to deliver us, and not employ improper means for that purpose.

Edme left the city, and travelled a considerable distance into the open country. Finally, however, becoming fatigued with walking, he laid himself down under a tree, to rest. Having eaten nothing since morning, he began to feel, in addition to his other sufferings, the cravings of hunger. He saw no dwelling near, and had consequently no prospect of finding lodging for the night. He had read of people, who, on certain occasions, had been obliged to subsist on roots and berries, and therefore crept forth from his hiding-place, with the intention of seeking something of the kind. He at length found a field of turnips, and without thinking it any harm, or even suspect

CHAPTER VI.

EDME had continued in the enjoyment of his prosperous condition for some time, when one day it happened, that he was sent on an errand to the opposite side of the river Seine. On his return, as he was hurriedly crossing the Pont Neuf, he spied a distressed-looking little boy, lying beside the pavement, unnoticed by any of the passers-by. Edme had hurriedly passed by like the rest, for it was a very cold winter morning, when suddenly it occurred to him that the poor boy might be suffering with hunger. He remembered his flight from his first master, and all he had endured at that time, and turned back to where the boy lay. At first he appeared to be sleeping, but on a closer inspection he discovered that his countenance was overcast with an unnatural paleness, and that the child had evidently fainted.

Edme stooped down and took hold of his hand, which was icy cold.

"Poor little boy," exclaimed he, "you are suffering with cold and hunger."

The boy opened his eyes and looked at him; but was unable to rise. Edme remembered that there was a restaurant at the other side of the bridge. He, therefore, took the boy in his arms, carried him there, and called for a draught of warm wine.

No sooner had the boy swallowed the wine, than he began to revive. When, however, food was offered him, he refused to partake of it, turned away his head, and burst into tears.

Tender-hearted individuals instinctively discover the feelings of others, and Edme was not long in discovering what was passing in the mind of the boy, and softly whispered to him, "Perhaps you would rather take these victuals home with you!"

The boy made no answer; but a gleam of joy illumined his pale features.

"Of how many members does your ly consist ?" inquired Edme.

fami

"Three, beside myself, my mother and two little brothers."

"Have you no father?"

"He is lying sick at the hospital," replied the poor boy.

"You must show me where your mother lives," said Edme; and after having provided himself with a small basket of eatables, he accompanied the boy to his home. In the garret of an old and dilapidated house, in one of the meanest streets of the metropolis, which abounds in poverty and filth, lay the poor sickly woman, with two small children, as pale and sickly-looking as herself, upon a bed of straw, on the floor. The first words that fell from the woman's lips, on seeing her son accompanied by a well-dressed lad, and a servant carrying a basket with provisions, were, "O Antoine, I fear you have been begging."

"No, indeed, he has not," said Edme, at the same time taking the contents of the basket and laying them by her side; "I saw that he stood in need of something, and then inquired of him about you."

The woman now related her history and the cause of her present poverty. Her husband, who was a stone-cutter by trade, had some weeks ago fallen from a scaffold and fractured one of his limbs. He had, in consequence, been carried to the hospital, and she thought a considerable time might yet intervene till he would be able to return to his work. She herself being sickly, and unable to earn anything for the support of her small children, had been obliged to sell one piece of furniture after another. Antoine did for her what he could, by going out every day, for the purpose of earning a sous, by running errands for others, holding horses for gentlemen, and the like; but he too had met with ill success, and like the rest often suffered from hunger.

Edme promised her a small amount for her weekly support, till her husband should again be able to return to his labor; but the little boy exclaimed, "O, sir, let me earn it, otherwise my mother will not like to receive it."

to be a gentleman, having his own servant. And this was altogether as it should be; for he only is a true gentleman who serves others, by showing them acts of kindness. Moreover, this arrangement was fully in accordance with Edme's future remarkable career. However, we must not anticipate our story. As Edme was making his way down the neck-breaking stairs of the miserable dwelling, he could not refrain from giving vent to the exclamation: "O, how happy are the rich, who are able to give to the poor, as often and as much as they please!" The internal satisfaction he felt at having been able to render assistance to the poor family, was, however, mingled with some misgivings, as he reflected on what his principal might probably say, when the boy would make his appearance at his house, and he should learn, that he had employed a servant. Whilst, therefore, on the following morning he was revolving in his mind how he would broach the subject to Mr. Poilly, and what excuse he would offer in reference to his rash conduct, his master suddenly entered the workshop, accompanied by the innocent cause of his embarrassment.

"Edme," said he, "here is a boy, who tells me that you have employed him as your servant."

"You acted perfectly right, Edme; and in future let me be a partner in your works of charity, as you shall from this day forward be a partner in my business.”

CHAPTER VII.

A FEW years after this occurrence, Mr. Poilly retired from business, and removed to England. In consequence, Edme now became the principal of one of the most extensive jewelry establishments in Paris. He also, about this time, married a Miss Jobbe, the daughter of a jeweller of Versailles, who though she did not bring him a rich dowry, possessed many estimable qualities of heart and mind. Through a series of those reverses, to which all kinds of business are at times subject, and which especially during the revolution of 1793, caused such general ruin, Edme Champion lost all he had accumulated by years of industry. He, however, did not lose his courage, but commenced anew, without asking assistance from any one. One morning he was surprised by a visit from a Mr. Belloncourt, an engraver on copper, with whom he had been slightly acquainted. "Mr. Champion,” said he, “I was told that you have been involved in those misfortunes which have recently befallen our business community, to such an ex

tent, that have lost your entire property.

you

"And since when do you stand in need of a servant, my boy?" asked the astonished principal.

"It is not I who stand in need of his aid, sir," replied Edme," but he has need of mine."

"Ah, that is quite a different thing," continued Mr. Poilly, in so kindly a tone of voice that Edme, who had hitherto stood before him with downcast eyes, now ventured to look his master full in the face.

"And now tell me, Edme, what amount of wages you have promised him."

66 Why do you ask me that, sir ?"

you a fresh start. I have 80,000 francs, which are at your service."

"My dear sir," replied Champion, in great astonishment at such an unexpected offer, "I am utterly unable to give you security

for such an amount."

"Pardon me, sir, I already have the very best security a man can ask, your character, and in place of interest, I ask your friendship."

It would be gratifying, indeed, if we were able to record many more such instances of men who hold one another in such high esteem, that one manifests such implicit con

Edme at this threw himself into his arms, แ "O sir," said he, "the mother of this boy was, with two small children like himself, in danger of dying of hunger in a garret."

ing to intrust him with his entire property, and that the other regards his simple word as sacredly binding as a written contract.

The brilliant court of the Emperor Napoleon caused such a demand for diamonds