against the wear and tear of time; his trousers were become too short, and showed his stockings darned over and over again; and it was evident that his shoes were not made for him.

The countenances of the children were not less differ- 5 ent than their dresses. That of the first was delicate and refined; his clear blue eyes, his fair skin, and his smiling mouth gave him a charming look of innocence and happiness.

The features of the other, on the contrary, had some- 10 thing rough in them; his eye was quick and lively, his complexion dark, his smile less merry than shrewd; all showed a mind sharpened by early experience: he boldly walked through the middle of the streets thronged by carriages, and followed their countless turnings without 15 hesitation.

I found, on asking him, that every day he carried dinner to his father, who was then working on the left bank of the Seine; and this responsible duty had made him careful and prudent. Unfortunately, the wants of his poor 20 family had kept him from school, and he seemed to feel the loss; for he often stopped before the printshops and asked his companion to read him the names of the engravings.

In this way we reached the Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, which the little wanderer seemed to know again; 25

10

notwithstanding his fatigue, he hurried on; he was agitated by mixed feelings; at the sight of his house he uttered a cry, and ran toward the iron gate with the gilt points; a lady who was standing at the entrance received 5 him in her arms, and from the exclamations of joy and the sound of kisses I soon perceived that she was his mother.

Not seeing either the servant or the child return, she had sent in search of them in every direction, and was waiting for them in intense anxiety.

I explained to her in a few words what had happened. She thanked me warmly, and looked round for the little boy who had recognized and brought back her son; but while we were talking he had disappeared.

It was for the first time since then that I had come 15 into this part of Paris. Did the mother continue grate

ful? Had the children met again, and had the happy chance of their first meeting lowered between them that barrier which may mark the different ranks of men, but should not divide them?

While putting these questions to myself, I slackened my pace, and fixed my eyes on the great gate which I just perceived. All at once I saw it open, and two children appeared at the entrance.

Although they were much grown, I recognized them at

first sight; they were the child who was found near the parapet of the Louvre and his young guide. But the dress of the latter was greatly changed: his blouse of gray cloth was neat, and even spruce, and was fastened round the waist by a polished leather belt; he wore strong shoes, and had on a new cloth cap.

Just at the moment I saw him, he held in his two hands an enormous bunch of lilacs, to which his companion was trying to add narcissuses and primroses; the two children laughed, and parted with a friendly good-by. 10 Mr. Duval's son did not go in until he had seen the other turn the corner of the street.

Then I accosted the latter, and reminded him of our former meeting; he looked at me for a moment, and then seemed to recollect me.

"Forgive me if I do not take off my cap," said he merrily, "but I want both my hands for the nosegay Master Charles has given me."

"You are, then, become great friends?" said I.

15

"Oh! I should think so," said the child; "and now 20 my father is rich too!"

"How's that?"

"Mr. Duval lent him a little money; he has taken a shop, where he works on his own account; and, as for

me,

I

go to school."

25

10

"Yes," replied I, remarking for the first time the cross which decorated his little coat; "and I see that you are head boy!"

"Master Charles helps me to learn, and so I am come 5 to be the first in the class."

"And you are now going to your lessons?"

"Yes, and he has given me some lilacs; for he has a garden where we play together, and where my mother can always have flowers."

"Then it is the same as if it were partly your own." "So it is! Ah! they are good neighbors, indeed! But here I am; good-by, sir."

He nodded to me with a smile and disappeared.

I went on with my walk with a feeling of relief. If 15 I had elsewhere witnessed the painful contrast between affluence and want, here I had found the true union of riches and poverty.

Abridged.

Emile Souvestre (ȧ-mel' soo-vestr').—the Louvre: a famous palace in Paris, hundreds of years old, now used as an art gallery. the Tuileries (twēl'rēz): beautiful gardens near the Louvre. The Palace of the Tuileries was practically destroyed by fire in 1871.- parapet: a low wall; literally, a guard for the breast.. - boulevards: broad avenues.. - blouse (blouz): a loose jacket. — printshop: a shop where books and prints are sold.— Bonne Nouvelle'. cross: a badge of honor.

THE PILGRIMS

JOHN FISKE

JOHN FISKE (1842–1901) was an American historian and philosopher, who was famous not only for his learning, but for the courage and vigor of his thought.

66

NOTE. This selection is from "The Beginnings of New England."

After a brief stop at Southampton, where they met the Mayflower" with friends from London, the Pilgrims again set sail in the two ships. The "Speedwell" sprang a leak, and they stopped at Dartmouth for repairs.

Again they started, and had put three hundred miles. of salt water between themselves and Land's End when 10 the "Speedwell" leaked so badly that they were forced to return. When they dropped anchor at Plymouth in Devonshire, about twenty were left on shore, and the remainder, exactly one hundred in number, crowded into the "Mayflower" and on the 6th of September started 15 once more to cross the Atlantic.

The capacity of the little ship was one hundred and eighty tons, and her strength was but slight. In a fierce storm in mid-ocean a main beam amidships was wrenched and cracked, and but for a huge iron screw which one of 20 the passengers had brought from Delft, they might have gone to the bottom.