CHAPTER X
OURCOUNTRY
October12th,SevenOclockA.M.
Thenightsarealreadybecomecoldandlong;thesun,shiningthroughmycurtains,nomorewakensmelongbeforethehourforwork;andevenwhenmyeyesareopen,thepleasantwarmthofthebedkeepsmefastundermycounterpane.Everymorningtherebeginsalongargumentbetweenmyactivityandmyindolence;and,snuglywrappeduptotheeyes,IwaitliketheGascon,untiltheyhavesucceededincomingtoanagreement.
Thismorning,however,alight,whichshonefrommydooruponmypillow,awokemeearlierthanusual.InvainIturnedonmyside;theperseveringlight,likeavictoriousenemy,pursuedmeintoeveryposition.Atlast,quiteoutofpatience,Isatupandhurledmynightcaptothefootofthebed!
(Iwillobserve,bywayofparenthesis,thatthevariousevolutionsofthispacificheadgearseemtohavebeen,fromtheremotesttime,symbolsofthevehementemotionsofthemind;forourlanguagehasborroweditsmostcommonimagesfromthem.)
Butbethisasitmay,Igotupinaverybadhumor,grumblingatmynewneighbor,whotookitintohisheadtobewakefulwhenIwishedtosleep.
Weareallmadethus;wedonotunderstandthatothersmayliveontheirownaccount.Eachoneofusisliketheearth,accordingtotheoldsystemofPtolemy,andthinkshecanhavethewholeuniverserevolvearoundhimself.Onthispoint,tomakeuseofthemetaphoralludedto:
Tousleshommesontlatetedanslememebonnet.
Ihadforthetimebeing,asIhavealreadysaid,thrownminetotheotherendofmybed;andIslowlydisengagedmylegsfromthewarmbedclothes,whilemakingahostofevilreflectionsupontheinconvenienceofhavingneighbors.
FormorethanamonthIhadnothadtocomplainofthosewhomchancehadgivenme;mostofthemonlycameintosleep,andwentawayagainonrising.Iwasalmostalwaysaloneonthistopstory——alonewiththecloudsandthesparrows!
ButatParisnothinglasts;thecurrentoflifecarriesusalong,liketheseaweedtornfromtherock;thehousesarevesselswhichtakemerepassengers.HowmanydifferentfaceshaveIalreadyseenpassalongthelanding-placebelongingtoourattics!Howmanycompanionsofafewdayshavedisappearedforever!Somearelostinthatmedleyofthelivingwhichwhirlscontinuallyunderthescourgeofnecessity,andothersinthatresting-placeofthedead,whosleepunderthehandofGod!
Peterthebookbinderisoneoftheselast.Wrappedupinselfishness,helivedaloneandfriendless,andhediedashehadlived.Hislosswasneithermournedbyanyone,nordisarrangedanythingintheworld;therewasmerelyaditchfilledupinthegraveyard,andanatticemptiedinourhouse.
Itisthesamewhichmynewneighborhasinhabitedforthelastfewdays.
Tosaytruly(nowthatIamquiteawake,andmyillhumorisgonewithmynightcap)——tosaytruly,thisnewneighbor,althoughrisingearlierthansuitsmyidleness,isnotthelessaverygoodman:hecarrieshismisfortunes,asfewknowhowtocarrytheirgoodfortunes,withcheerfulnessandmoderation.
Butfatehascruellytriedhim.FatherChaufourisbutthewreckofaman.Intheplaceofoneofhisarmshangsanemptysleeve;hisleftlegismadebytheturner,andhedragstherightalongwithdifficulty;butabovetheseruinsrisesacalmandhappyface.Whilelookinguponhiscountenance,radiantwithasereneenergy,whilelisteningtohisvoice,thetoneofwhichhas,sotospeak,theaccentofgoodness,weseethatthesoulhasremainedentireinthehalf-destroyedcovering.Thefortressisalittledamaged,asFatherChaufoursays,butthegarrisonisquitehearty.
Decidedly,themoreIthinkofthisexcellentman,themoreIreproachmyselfforthesortofmaledictionIbestowedonhimwhenIawoke.
Wearegenerallytooindulgentinoursecretwrongstowardourneighbor.
Allill-willwhichdoesnotpasstheregionofthoughtseemsinnocenttous,and,withourclumsyjustice,weexcusewithoutexaminationthesinwhichdoesnotbetrayitselfbyaction!
Butarewethenboundtoothersonlybytheenforcementoflaws?Besidestheseexternalrelations,istherenotarealrelationoffeelingbetweenmen?Dowenotowetoallthosewholiveunderthesameheavenasourselvestheaidnotonlyofouractsbutofourpurposes?Oughtnoteveryhumanlifetobetouslikeavesselthatweaccompanywithourprayersforahappyvoyage?Itisnotenoughthatmendonotharmoneanother;theymustalsohelpandloveoneanother!Thepapalbenediction,Urbietorbi!shouldbetheconstantcryfromallhearts.
Tocondemnhimwhodoesnotdeserveit,eveninthemind,evenbyapassingthought,istobreakthegreatlaw,thatwhichhasestablishedtheunionofsoulsherebelow,andtowhichChristhasgiventhesweetnameofcharity.
ThesethoughtscameintomymindasIfinisheddressing,andIsaidtomyselfthatFatherChaufourhadarighttoreparationfromme.Tomakeamendsforthefeelingofill-willIhadagainsthimjustnow,Iowedhimsomeexplicitproofofsympathy.Iheardhimhummingatuneinhisroom;hewasatwork,andIdeterminedthatIwouldmakethefirstneighborlycall.
EightoclockP.M——IfoundFatherChaufouratatablelightedbyalittlesmokylamp,withoutafire,althoughitisalreadycold,andmakinglargepasteboardboxes;hewashummingapopularsonginalowtone.Ihadhardlyenteredtheroomwhenheutteredanexclamationofsurpriseandpleasure.
"Eh!isityou,neighbor?Comein,then!Ididnotthinkyougotupsoearly,soIputadamperonmymusic;Iwasafraidofwakingyou."
Excellentman!whileIwassendinghimtothedevilhewasputtinghimselfoutofhiswayforme!
Thisthoughttouchedme,andIpaidmycomplimentsonhishavingbecomemyneighborwithawarmthwhichopenedhisheart.
"Faith!youseemtometohavethelookofagoodChristian,"saidheinavoiceofsoldierlikecordiality,andshakingmebythehand."Idonotlikethosepeoplewholookonalanding-placeasafrontierline,andtreattheirneighborsasiftheywereCossacks.Whenmensnuffthesameair,andspeakthesamelingo,theyarenotmeanttoturntheirbackstoeachother.Sitdownthere,neighbor;Idontmeantoorderyou;onlytakecareofthestool;ithasbutthreelegs,andwemustputgood-willinplaceofthefourth."
"Itseemsthatthatisatreasurewhichthereisnowantofhere,"Iobserved.
"Good-will!"repeatedChaufour;"thatisallmymotherleftme,andItakeitnosonhasreceivedabetterinheritance.ThereforetheyusedtocallmeMonsieurContentinthebatteries."
"Youareasoldier,then?"
"IservedintheThirdArtilleryundertheRepublic,andafterwardintheGuard,throughallthecommotions.IwasatJemappesandatWaterloo;soIwasatthechristeningandattheburialofourglory,asonemaysay!"
Ilookedathimwithastonishment.
"Andhowoldwereyouthen,atJemappes?"askedI.
"Somewhereaboutfifteen,"saidhe.
"Howcameyoutothinkofbeingasoldiersoearly?"
"Ididnotreallythinkaboutit.Ithenworkedattoy-making,andneverdreamedthatFrancewouldaskmeforanythingelsethantomakeherdraught-boards,shuttlecocks,andcupsandballs.ButIhadanolduncleatVincenneswhomIwenttoseefromtimetotime——aFontenoyveteraninthesamerankoflifeasmyself,butwithabilityenoughtohaverisentothatofamarshal.Unluckily,inthosedaystherewasnowayforcommonpeopletogeton.Myuncle,whoseserviceswouldhavegothimmadeaprinceundertheother,hadthenretiredwiththemererankofsub-lieutenant.Butyoushouldhaveseenhiminhisuniform,hiscrossofSt.Louis,hiswoodenleg,hiswhitemoustaches,andhisnoblecountenance.YouwouldhavesaidhewasaportraitofoneofthoseoldheroesinpowderedhairwhichareatVersailles!
"EverytimeIvisitedhim,hesaidsomethingwhichremainedfixedinmymemory.ButonedayIfoundhimquitegrave.
"Jerome,saidhe,doyouknowwhatisgoingononthefrontier?
"No,lieutenant,repliedI.
"Well,resumedhe,ourcountryisindanger!
"Ididnotwellunderstandhim,andyetitseemedsomethingtome.
"Perhapsyouhaveneverthoughtwhatyourcountrymeans,continuedhe,placinghishandonmyshoulder;`itisallthatsurroundsyou,allthathasbroughtyouupandfedyou,allthatyouhaveloved!Thisgroundthatyousee,thesehouses,thesetrees,thosegirlswhogoalongtherelaughing——thisisyourcountry!Thelawswhichprotectyou,thebreadwhichpaysforyourwork,thewordsyouinterchangewithothers,thejoyandgriefwhichcometoyoufromthemenandthingsamongwhichyoulive——thisisyourcountry!Thelittleroomwhereyouusedtoseeyourmother,theremembrancesshehasleftyou,theearthwheresherests——thisisyourcountry!Youseeit,youbreatheit,everywhere!Thinktoyourself,myson,ofyourrightsandyourduties,youraffectionsandyourwants,yourpastandyourpresentblessings;writethemallunderasinglename——andthatnamewillbeyourcountry!
"Iwastremblingwithemotion,andgreattearswereinmyeyes.
"Ah!Iunderstand,criedI;itisourhomeinlarge;itisthatpartoftheworldwhereGodhasplacedourbodyandoursoul.
"Youareright,Jerome,continuedtheoldsoldier;soyoucomprehendalsowhatweoweit.
"Truly,resumedI,weoweitallthatweare;itisaquestionoflove.
"Andofhonesty,myson,concludedhe.Thememberofafamilywhodoesnotcontributehisshareofworkandofhappinessfailsinhisduty,andisabadkinsman;thememberofapartnershipwhodoesnotenrichitwithallhismight,withallhiscourage,andwithallhisheart,defraudsitofwhatbelongstoit,andisadishonestman.Itisthesamewithhimwhoenjoystheadvantagesofhavingacountry,anddoesnotaccepttheburdensofit;heforfeitshishonor,andisabadcitizen!
"Andwhatmustonedo,lieutenant,tobeagoodcitizen?askedI.
"Doforyourcountrywhatyouwoulddoforyourfatherandmother,saidhe.
"Ididnotansweratthemoment;myheartwasswelling,andthebloodboilinginmyveins;butonreturningalongtheroad,myuncleswordswere,sotospeak,writtenupbeforemyeyes.Irepeated,Doforyourcountrywhatyouwoulddoforyourfatherandmother.Andmycountryisindanger;anenemyattacksit,whileI——Iturncupsandballs!
"ThisthoughttormentedmesomuchallnightthatthenextdayIreturnedtoVincennestoannouncetothelieutenantthatIhadjustenlisted,andwasgoingofftothefrontier.ThebravemanpresseduponmehiscrossofSt.Louis,andIwentawayasproudasanambassador.
"Thatishow,neighbor,IbecameavolunteerundertheRepublicbeforeIhadcutmywisdomteeth."
Allthiswastoldquietly,andinthecheerfulspiritofhimwholooksuponanaccomplisheddutyneitherasameritnoragrievance.
Whilehespoke,FatherChaufourgrewanimated,notonaccountofhimself,butofthegeneralsubject.Evidentlythatwhichoccupiedhiminthedramaoflifewasnothisownpart,butthedramaitself.
Thissortofdisinterestednesstouchedme.Iprolongedmyvisit,andshowedmyselfasfrankaspossible,inordertowinhisconfidenceinreturn.Inanhourstimeheknewmypositionandmyhabits;Iwasonthefootingofanoldacquaintance.
Ievenconfessedtheill-humorthelightofhislampputmeintoashorttimebefore.HetookwhatIsaidwiththetouchingcheerfulnesswhichcomesfromaheartintherightplace,andwhichlooksuponeverythingonthegoodside.HeneitherspoketomeofthenecessitywhichobligedhimtoworkwhileIcouldsleep,norofthedeprivationsoftheoldsoldiercomparedtotheluxuryoftheyoungclerk;heonlystruckhisforehead,accusedhimselfofthoughtlessness,andpromisedtoputlistroundhisdoor!
Ogreatandbeautifulsoul!withwhomnothingturnstobitterness,andwhoartperemptoryonlyindutyandbenevolence!
October15th——ThismorningIwaslookingatalittleengravingIhadframedmyself,andhungovermywriting-table;itisadesignofGavarnis;inwhich,inagravemood,hehasrepresentedaveteranandaconscript.
Byoftencontemplatingthesetwofigures,sodifferentinexpression,andsotruetolife,bothhavebecomelivinginmyeyes;Ihaveseenthemmove,Ihaveheardthemspeak;thepicturehasbecomearealscene,atwhichIampresentasspectator.
Theveteranadvancesslowly,hishandleaningontheshoulderoftheyoungsoldier.Hiseyes,closedforever,nolongerperceivethesunshiningthroughthefloweringchestnut-trees.Intheplaceofhisrightarmhangsanemptysleeve,andhewalkswithawoodenleg,thesoundofwhichonthepavementmakesthosewhopassturntolook.
Atthesightofthisancientwreckfromourpatrioticwars,thegreaternumbershaketheirheadsinpity,andIseemtohearasighoranimprecation.
"Seetheworthofglory!"saysaportlymerchant,turningawayhiseyesinhorror.
"Whatadeplorableuseofhumanlife!"rejoinsayoungmanwhocarriesavolumeofphilosophyunderhisarm.
"Thetrooperwouldbetternothavelefthisplow,"addsacountryman,withacunningair.
"Pooroldman!"murmursawoman,almostcrying.
Theveteranhasheard,andheknitshisbrow;foritseemstohimthathisguidehasgrownthoughtful.Thelatter,attractedbywhathehearsaroundhim,hardlyanswerstheoldmansquestions,andhiseyes,vaguelylostinspace,seemtobeseekingthereforthesolutionofsomeproblem.
Iseemtoseeatwitchinginthegraymoustachesoftheveteran;hestopsabruptly,and,holdingbackhisguidewithhisremainingarm:
"Theyallpityme,"sayshe,"becausetheydonotunderstandit;butifIweretoanswerthem——"
"Whatwouldyousaytothem,father?"askstheyoungman,withcuriosity.
"Ishouldsayfirsttothewomanwhoweepswhenshelooksatme,tokeephertearsforothermisfortunes;foreachofmywoundscallstomindsomestruggleformycolors.Thereisroomfordoubtinghowsomemenhavedonetheirduty;withmeitisvisible.Icarrytheaccountofmyservices,writtenwiththeenemyssteelandlead,onmyself;topitymeforhavingdonemydutyistosupposeIwouldbetterhavebeenfalsetoit."
"Andwhatwouldyousaytothecountryman,father?"
"Ishouldtellhimthat,todrivetheplowinpeace,wemustfirstsecurethecountryitself;andthat,aslongasthereareforeignersreadytoeatourharvest,theremustbearmstodefendit."
"Buttheyoungstudent,too,shookhisheadwhenhelamentedsuchauseoflife."
"Becausehedoesnotknowwhatself-sacrificeandsufferingcanteach.
Thebooksthathestudieswehaveputinpractice,thoughweneverreadthem:theprinciplesheapplaudswehavedefendedwithpowderandbayonet."
"Andatthepriceofyourlimbsandyourblood.Themerchantsaid,whenhesawyourmaimedbody,Seetheworthofglory!"
"Donotbelievehim,myson:thetruegloryisthebreadofthesoul;itisthiswhichnourishesself-sacrifice,patience,andcourage.TheMasterofallhasbestoweditasatiethemorebetweenmen.Whenwedesiretobedistinguishedbyourbrethren,dowenotthusproveouresteemandoursympathyforthem?Thelongingforadmirationisbutonesideoflove.No,no;thetrueglorycanneverbetoodearlypaidfor!
Thatwhichweshoulddeplore,child,isnottheinfirmitieswhichproveagenerousself-sacrifice,butthosewhichourvicesorourimprudencehavecalledforth.Ah!ifIcouldspeakaloudtothosewho,whenpassing,castlooksofpityuponme,Ishouldsaytotheyoungmanwhoseexcesseshavedimmedhissightbeforeheisold,Whathaveyoudonewithyoureyes?Totheslothfulman,whowithdifficultydragsalonghisenervatedmassofflesh,Whathaveyoudonewithyourfeet?Totheoldman,whoispunishedforhisintemperancebythegout,Whathaveyoudonewithyourhands?Toall,WhathaveyoudonewiththedaysGodgrantedyou,withthefacultiesyoushouldhaveemployedforthegoodofyourbrethren?Ifyoucannotanswer,bestownomoreofyourpityupontheoldsoldiermaimedinhiscountryscause;forhe——heatleast——canshowhisscarswithoutshame."
October16th——ThelittleengravinghasmademecomprehendbetterthemeritsofFatherChaufour,andIthereforeesteemhimallthemore.
Hehasjustnowleftmyattic.Therenolongerpassesasingledaywithouthiscomingtoworkbymyfire,ormygoingtositandtalkbyhisboard.
Theoldartillerymanhasseenmuch,andlikestotellofit.FortwentyyearshewasanarmedtravellerthroughoutEurope,andhefoughtwithouthatred,forhewaspossessedbyasinglethought——thehonorofthenationalflag!Itmighthavebeenhissuperstition,ifyouwill;butitwas,atthesametime,hissafeguard.
ThewordFRANCE,whichwasthenresoundingsogloriouslythroughtheworld,servedasatalismantohimagainstallsortsoftemptation.Tohavetosupportagreatnamemayseemaburdentovulgarminds,butitisanencouragementtovigorousones.
"I,too,havehadmanymoments,"saidhetometheotherday,"whenIhavebeentemptedtomakefriendswiththedevil.Warisnotpreciselytheschoolforruralvirtues.Bydintofburning,destroying,andkilling,yougrowalittletoughasregardsyourfeelings;and,whenthebayonethasmadeyouking,thenotionsofanautocratcomeintoyourheadalittlestrongly.ButatthesemomentsIcalledtomindthatcountrywhichthelieutenantspokeoftome,andIwhisperedtomyselfthewell-knownphrase,ToujoursFrancais!Ithasbeenlaughedatsince.Peoplewhowouldmakeajokeofthedeathoftheirmotherhaveturneditintoridicule,asifthenameofourcountrywasnotalsoanobleandabindingthing.Formypart,IshallneverforgetfromhowmanyfolliesthetitleofFrenchmanhaskeptme.When,overcomewithfatigue,Ihavefoundmyselfintherearofthecolors,andwhenthemusketrywasrattlinginthefrontranks,manyatimeIheardavoice,whichwhisperedinmyear,Leavetheotherstofight,andfortodaytakecareofyourownhide!Butthen,thatwordFrancais!murmuredwithinme,andIpressedforwardtohelpmycomrades.Atothertimes,when,irritatedbyhunger,cold,andwounds,IhavearrivedatthehovelofsomeMeinherr,Ihavebeenseizedbyanitchingtobreakthemastersback,andtoburnhishut;butIwhisperedtomyself,Francais!andthisnamewouldnotrhymewitheitherincendiaryormurderer.Ihave,inthisway,passedthroughkingdomsfromeasttowest,andfromnorthtosouth,alwaysdeterminednottobringdisgraceuponmycountrysflag.Thelieutenant,yousee,hadtaughtmeamagicword——Mycountry!Notonlymustwedefendit,butwemustalsomakeitgreatandloved."
October17th——To-dayIhavepaidmyneighboralongvisit.Achanceexpressionledthewaytohistellingmemoreofhimselfthanhehadyetdone.
Iaskedhimwhetherbothhislimbshadbeenlostinthesamebattle.
"No,no!"repliedhe;"thecannononlytookmyleg;itwastheClamartquarriesthatmyarmwenttofeed."
AndwhenIaskedhimfortheparticulars——
"Thatsaseasyastosaygood-morning,"continuedhe."Afterthegreatbreak-upatWaterloo,Istayedthreemonthsinthecamphospitaltogivemywoodenlegtimetogrow.AssoonasIwasabletohobblealittle,Itookleaveofheadquarters,andtooktheroadtoParis,whereIhopedtofindsomerelativeorfriend;butno——allweregone,orunderground.
IshouldhavefoundmyselflessstrangeatVienna,Madrid,orBerlin.
AndalthoughIhadalegthelesstoprovidefor,Iwasnonethebetteroff;myappetitehadcomeback,andmylastsousweretakingflight.
"Ihadindeedmetmyoldcolonel,whorecollectedthatIhadhelpedhimoutoftheskirmishatMontereaubygivinghimmyhorse,andhehadofferedmebedandboardathishouse.Iknewthattheyearbeforehehadmarriedacastleandnofewfarms,sothatImightbecomepermanentcoat-brushertoamillionaire,whichwasnotwithoutitstemptations.
ItremainedtoseeifIhadnotanythingbettertodo.OneeveningIsetmyselftoreflectuponit.
"Letussee,Chaufour,saidItomyself;thequestionistoactlikeaman.Thecolonelsplacesuitsyou,butcannotyoudoanythingbetter?
Yourbodyisstillingoodcondition,andyourarmsstrong;doyounotoweallyourstrengthtoyourcountry,asyourVincennesunclesaid?Whynotleavesomeoldsoldier,morecutupthanyouare,togethishospitalatthecolonels?Come,trooper,youarestillfitforanotherstoutchargeortwo!Youmustnotlayupbeforeyourtime.
"WhereuponIwenttothankthecolonel,andtooffermyservicestoanoldartilleryman,whohadgonebacktohishomeatClamart,andwhohadtakenupthequarrymanspickagain.
"ForthefirstfewmonthsIplayedtheconscriptspart——thatistosay,therewasmorestirthanwork;butwithagoodwillonegetsthebetterofstones,asofeverythingelse.Ididnotbecome,sotospeak,theleaderofacolumn,butIbroughtuptherankamongthegoodworkmen,andIatemybreadwithagoodappetite,seeingIhadearneditwithagoodwill.Forevenunderground,yousee,Istillkeptmypride.ThethoughtthatIwasworkingtodomypartinchangingrocksintohousespleasedmyheart.Isaidtomyself,Courage,Chaufour,myoldboy;youarehelpingtobeautifyyourcountry.Andthatkeptupmyspirit.
"Unfortunately,someofmycompanionswererathertoosensibletothecharmsofthebrandy-bottle;somuchso,thatonedayoneofthem,whocouldhardlydistinguishhisrighthandfromhisleft,thoughtpropertostrikealightclosetoachargedmine.Themineexplodedsuddenly,andsentashowerofstonegrapeamongus,whichkilledthreemen,andcarriedawaythearmofwhichIhavenowonlythesleeve."
"Soyouwereagainwithoutmeansofliving?"saidItotheoldsoldier.
"Thatistosay,Ihadtochangethem,"repliedhe,quietly."Thedifficultywastofindonewhichwoulddowithfivefingersinsteadoften;Ifoundit,however."
"Howwasthat?"
"AmongtheParisstreet-sweepers."
"What!youhavebeenone——"
"Ofthepioneersofthehealthforceforawhile,neighbor,andthatwasnotmyworsttimeeither.Thecorpsofsweepersisnotsolowasitisdirty,Icantellyou!Thereareoldactressesinitwhocouldneverlearntosavetheirmoney,andruinedmerchantsfromtheexchange;weevenhadaprofessorofclassics,whoforalittledrinkwouldreciteLatintoyou,orGreektragedies,asyouchose.TheycouldnothavecompetedfortheMonthyonprize;butweexcusedfaultsonaccountofpoverty,andcheeredourpovertybyourgood-humorandjokes.Iwasasraggedandascheerfulastherest,whiletryingtobesomethingbetter.
EveninthemireofthegutterIpreservedmyfaiththatnothingisdishonorablewhichisusefultoourcountry.
"Chaufour,saidItomyselfwithasmile,afterthesword,thehammer;afterthehammer,thebroom;youaregoingdownstairs,myoldboy,butyouarestillservingyourcountry."
"However,youendedbyleavingyournewprofession?saidI."
"Areformwasrequired,neighbor.Thestreet-sweepersseldomhavetheirfeetdry,andthedampatlastmadethewoundsinmygoodlegopenagain.
Icouldnolongerfollowtheregiment,anditwasnecessarytolaydownmyarms.ItisnowtwomonthssinceIleftoffworkinginthesanitarydepartmentofParis.
"AtthefirstmomentIwasdaunted.Ofmyfourlimbs,Ihadnowonlymyrighthand,andeventhathadlostitsstrength;soitwasnecessarytofindsomegentlemanlyoccupationforit.Aftertryingalittleofeverything,Ifelluponcard-boxmaking,andhereIamatcasesforthelaceandbuttonsofthenationalguard;itisworkoflittleprofit,butitiswithinthecapacityofall.Bygettingupatfourandworkingtilleight,Iearnsixty-fivecentimes;mylodgingandbowlofsouptakefiftyofthem,andtherearethreesousoverforluxuries.SoIamricherthanFranceherself,forIhavenodeficitinmybudget;andIcontinuetoserveher,asIsaveherlaceandbuttons."
AtthesewordsFatherChaufourlookedatmewithasmile,andwithhisgreatscissorsbegancuttingthegreenpaperagainforhiscardboardcases.Myheartwastouched,andIremainedlostinthought.
Hereisstillanothermemberofthatsacredphalanxwho,inthebattleoflife,alwaysmarchinfrontfortheexampleandthesalvationoftheworld!Eachofthesebravesoldiershashiswar-cry;forthisoneitis"Country,"forthat"Home,"forathird"Mankind;"buttheyallfollowthesamestandard——thatofduty;forallthesamedivinelawreigns——thatofself-sacrifice.Tolovesomethingmorethanonesself——thatisthesecretofallthatisgreat;toknowhowtoliveforothers——thatistheaimofallnoblesouls.