CHAPTER IV

     
     
     
      LETUSLOVEONEANOTHER
     
      April9th
     
      Thefineeveningsarecomeback;thetreesbegintoputforththeirshoots;hyacinths,jonquils,violets,andlilacsperfumethebasketsoftheflower-girls——alltheworldhavebeguntheirwalksagainonthequaysandboulevards.Afterdinner,I,too,descendfrommyattictobreathetheeveningair.
     
      ItisthehourwhenParisisseeninallitsbeauty.Duringthedaytheplasterfrontsofthehouseswearytheeyebytheirmonotonouswhiteness;heavilyladencartsmakethestreetsshakeundertheirhugewheels;theeagercrowd,takenupbytheonefearoflosingamomentfrombusiness,crossandjostleoneanother;theaspectofthecityaltogetherhassomethingharsh,restless,andflurriedaboutit.But,assoonasthestarsappear,everythingischanged;theglareofthewhitehousesisquenchedinthegatheringshades;youhearnomoreanyrollingbutthatofthecarriagesontheirwaytosomepartyofpleasure;youseeonlytheloungerorthelight-heartedpassingby;workhasgivenplacetoleisure.
     
      Noweachonemaybreatheafterthefierceracethroughthebusinessoftheday,andwhateverstrengthremainstohimhegivestopleasure!Seetheballroomslightedup,thetheatresopen,theeating-shopsalongthewalkssetoutwithdainties,andthetwinklinglanternsofthenewspapercriers.DecidedlyParishaslaidasidethepen,theruler,andtheapron;afterthedayspentinwork,itmusthavetheeveningforenjoyment;likethemastersofThebes,ithasputoffallseriousmattertilltomorrow.
     
      Ilovetotakepartinthishappyhour;nottomixinthegeneralgayety,buttocontemplateit.Iftheenjoymentsofothersembitterjealousminds,theystrengthenthehumblespirit;theyarethebeamsofsunshine,whichopenthetwobeautifulflowerscalledtrustandhope.
     
      Althoughaloneinthemidstofthesmilingmultitude,Idonotfeelmyselfisolatedfromit,foritsgayetyisreflecteduponme:itismyownkind,myownfamily,whoareenjoyinglife,andItakeabrothersshareintheirhappiness.Weareallfellow-soldiersinthisearthlybattle,andwhatdoesitmatteronwhomthehonorsofthevictoryfall?
     
      IfFortunepassesbywithoutseeingus,andpoursherfavorsonothers,letusconsoleourselves,likethefriendofParmenio,bysaying,"Those,too,areAlexanders."
     
      Whilemakingthesereflections,Iwasgoingonaschancetookme.Icrossedfromonepavementtoanother,Iretracedmysteps,Istoppedbeforetheshopsortoreadthehandbills.HowmanythingstherearetolearninthestreetsofParis!Whatamuseumitis!Unknownfruits,foreignarms,furnitureofoldtimesorotherlands,animalsofallclimates,statuesofgreatmen,costumesofdistantnations!Itistheworldseeninsamples!
     
      Letusthenlookatthispeople,whoseknowledgeisgainedfromtheshop-windowsandthetradesmansdisplayofgoods.Nothinghasbeentaughtthem,buttheyhavearudenotionofeverything.TheyhaveseenpineapplesatChevets,apalm-treeintheJardindesPlantes,sugar-canessellingonthePont-Neuf.TheRedskins,exhibitedintheValentineHall,havetaughtthemtomimicthedanceofthebison,andtosmokethecalumetofpeace;theyhaveseenCarterslionsfed;theyknowtheprincipalnationalcostumescontainedinBabinscollection;Goupilsdisplayofprintshasplacedthetiger-huntsofAfricaandthesittingsoftheEnglishParliamentbeforetheireyes;theyhavebecomeacquaintedwithQueenVictoria,theEmperorofAustria,andKossuth,attheoffice-dooroftheIllustratedNews.Wecancertainlyinstructthem,butnotastonishthem;fornothingiscompletelynewtothem.YoumaytaketheParisragamuffinthroughthefivequartersoftheworld,andateverywonderwithwhichyouthinktosurprisehim,hewillsettlethematterwiththatfavoriteandconclusiveanswerofhisclass——"Iknow."
     
      Butthisvarietyofexhibitions,whichmakesParisthefairoftheworld,doesnotoffermerelyameansofinstructiontohimwhowalksthroughit;itisacontinualspurforrousingtheimagination,afirststepoftheladderalwayssetupbeforeusinavision.Whenweseethem,howmanyvoyagesdowetakeinimagination,whatadventuresdowedreamof,whatpicturesdowesketch!IneverlookatthatshopneartheChinesebaths,withitstapestryhangingsofFloridajessamine,andfilledwithmagnolias,withoutseeingtheforestgladesoftheNewWorld,describedbytheauthorofAtala,openingthemselvesoutbeforeme.
     
      Then,whenthisstudyofthingsandthisdiscourseofreasonbegintotireyou,lookaroundyou!Whatcontrastsoffiguresandfacesyouseeinthecrowd!Whatavastfieldfortheexerciseofmeditation!Ahalf-seenglance,orafewwordscaughtasthespeakerpassesby,openathousandvistastoyourimagination.Youwishtocomprehendwhattheseimperfectdisclosuresmean,and,astheantiquaryendeavorstodecipherthemutilatedinscriptiononsomeoldmonument,youbuildupahistoryonagestureoronaword!Thesearethestirringsportsofthemind,whichfindsinfictionarelieffromthewearisomedullnessoftheactual.
     
      Alas!asIwasjustnowpassingbythecarriage-entranceofagreathouse,Inoticedasadsubjectforoneofthesehistories.Amanwassittinginthedarkestcorner,withhisheadbare,andholdingouthishatforthecharityofthosewhopassed.Histhreadbarecoathadthatlookofneatnesswhichmarksthatdestitutionhasbeenmetbyalongstruggle.Hehadcarefullybuttonedituptohidethewantofashirt.
     
      Hisfacewashalfhidunderhisgrayhair,andhiseyeswereclosed,asifhewishedtoescapethesightofhisownhumiliation,andheremainedmuteandmotionless.Thosewhopassedhimtooknonoticeofthebeggar,whosatinsilenceanddarkness!Theyhadbeensoluckyastoescapecomplaintsandimportunities,andweregladtoturnawaytheireyestoo.
     
      Suddenlythegreatgateturnedonitshinges;andaverylowcarriage,lightedwithsilverlampsanddrawnbytwoblackhorses,cameslowlyout,andtooktheroadtowardtheFaubourgSt.Germain.Icouldjustdistinguish,within,thesparklingdiamondsandtheflowersofaball-dress;theglareofthelampspassedlikeabloodystreakoverthepalefaceofthebeggar,andshowedhislookashiseyesopenedandfollowedtherichmansequipageuntilitdisappearedinthenight.
     
      Idroppedasmallpieceofmoneyintothehathewasholdingout,andpassedonquickly.
     
      Ihadjustfallenunexpectedlyuponthetwosaddestsecretsofthediseasewhichtroublestheagewelivein:theenvioushatredofhimwhosufferswant,andtheselfishforgetfulnessofhimwholivesinaffluence.
     
      Alltheenjoymentofmywalkwasgone;Ileftofflookingaboutme,andretiredintomyownheart.Theanimatedandmovingsightinthestreetsgaveplacetoinwardmeditationuponallthepainfulproblemswhichhavebeenwrittenforthelastfourthousandyearsatthebottomofeachhumanstruggle,butwhicharepropoundedmoreclearlythaneverinourdays.
     
      Iponderedontheuselessnessofsomanycontests,inwhichdefeatandvictoryonlydisplaceeachotherbyturns,andonthemistakenzealotswhohaverepeatedfromgenerationtogenerationthebloodyhistoryofCainandAbel;and,saddenedwiththesemournfulreflections,Iwalkedonaschancetookme,untilthesilenceallaroundinsensiblydrewmeoutfrommyownthoughts.
     
      Ihadreachedoneoftheremotestreets,inwhichthosewhowouldliveincomfortandwithoutostentation,andwholoveseriousreflection,delighttofindahome.Therewerenoshopsalongthedimlylightedstreet;oneheardnosoundsbutofdistantcarriages,andofthestepsofsomeoftheinhabitantsreturningquietlyhome.
     
      Iinstantlyrecognizedthestreet,thoughIhadbeenthereonlyoncebefore.
     
      Thatwastwoyearsago.IwaswalkingatthetimebythesideoftheSeine,towhichthelightsonthequaysandbridgesgavetheaspectofalakesurroundedbyagarlandofstars;andIhadreachedtheLouvre,whenIwasstoppedbyacrowdcollectedneartheparapettheyhadgatheredroundachildofaboutsix,whowascrying,andIaskedthecauseofhistears.
     
      "ItseemsthathewassenttowalkintheTuileries,"saidamason,whowasreturningfromhisworkwithhistrowelinhishand;"theservantwhotookcareofhimmetwithsomefriendsthere,andtoldthechildtowaitforhimwhilehewenttogetadrink;butIsupposethedrinkmadehimmorethirsty,forhehasnotcomeback,andthechildcannotfindhiswayhome."
     
      "Whydotheynotaskhimhisname,andwherehelives?"
     
      "Theyhavebeendoingitforthelasthour;butallhecansayis,thatheiscalledCharles,andthathisfatherisMonsieurDuval——therearetwelvehundredDuvalsinParis."
     
      "Thenhedoesnotknowinwhatpartofthetownhelives?"
     
      "Ishouldnotthink,indeed!Dontyouseethatheisagentlemanschild?Hehasnevergoneoutexceptinacarriageorwithaservant;hedoesnotknowwhattodobyhimself."
     
      Herethemasonwasinterruptedbysomeofthevoicesrisingabovetheothers.
     
      "Wecannotleavehiminthestreet,"saidsome.
     
      "Thechild-stealerswouldcarryhimoff,"continuedothers.
     
      "Wemusttakehimtotheoverseer."
     
      "Ortothepolice-office."
     
      "Thatsthething.Come,littleone!"
     
      Butthechild,frightenedbythesesuggestionsofdanger,andatthenamesofpoliceandoverseer,criedlouder,anddrewbacktowardtheparapet.Invaintheytriedtopersuadehim;hisfearsmadehimresistthemore,andthemosteagerbegantogetweary,whenthevoiceofalittleboywasheardthroughtheconfusion.
     
      "Iknowhimwell——Ido,"saidhe,lookingatthelostchild;"hebelongsinourpartofthetown."
     
      "Whatpartisit?"
     
      "Yonder,ontheothersideoftheBoulevards——RuedesMagasins."
     
      "Andyouhaveseenhimbefore?"
     
      "Yes,yes!hebelongstothegreathouseattheendofthestreet,wherethereisanirongatewithgiltpoints."
     
      Thechildquicklyraisedhishead,andstoppedcrying.Thelittleboyansweredallthequestionsthatwereputtohim,andgavesuchdetailsasleftnoroomfordoubt.Theotherchildunderstoodhim,forhewentuptohimasiftoputhimselfunderhisprotection.
     
      "Thenyoucantakehimtohisparents?"askedthemason,whohadlistenedwithrealinteresttothelittleboysaccount.
     
      "IdontcareifIdo,"repliedhe;"itsthewayImgoing."
     
      "Thenyouwilltakechargeofhim?"
     
      "Hehasonlytocomewithme."
     
      And,takingupthebaskethehadputdownonthepavement,hesetofftowardthepostern-gateoftheLouvre.
     
      Thelostchildfollowedhim.
     
      "Ihopehewilltakehimright,"saidI,whenIsawthemgoaway.
     
      "Neverfear,"repliedthemason;"thelittleoneintheblouseisthesameageastheother;but,asthesayingis,heknowsblackfromwhite;poverty,yousee,isafamousschoolmistress!"
     
      Thecrowddispersed.Formypart,IwenttowardtheLouvre;thethoughtcameintomyheadtofollowthetwochildren,soastoguardagainstanymistake.
     
      Iwasnotlonginovertakingthem;theywerewalkingsidebyside,talking,andalreadyquitefamiliarwitheachother.Thecontrastintheirdressthenstruckme.LittleDuvalworeoneofthosefancifulchildrensdresseswhichareexpensiveaswellasingoodtaste;hiscoatwasskilfullyfittedtohisfigure,histrouserscamedowninplaitsfromhiswaisttohisbootsofpolishedleatherwithmother-of-pearlbuttons,andhisringletswerehalfhidbyavelvetcap.Theappearanceofhisguide,onthecontrary,wasthatoftheclasswhodwellontheextremebordersofpoverty,butwhotheremaintaintheirgroundwithnosurrender.Hisoldblouse,patchedwithpiecesofdifferentshades,indicatedtheperseveranceofanindustriousmotherstrugglingagainstthewearandtearoftime;histrouserswerebecometooshort,andshowedhisstockingsdarnedoverandoveragain;anditwasevidentthathisshoeswerenotmadeforhim.
     
      Thecountenancesofthetwochildrenwerenotlessdifferentthantheirdress.Thatofthefirstwasdelicateandrefined;hisclearblueeye,hisfairskin,andhissmilingmouthgavehimacharminglookofinnocenceandhappiness.Thefeaturesoftheother,onthecontrary,hadsomethingroughinthem;hiseyewasquickandlively,hiscomplexiondark,hissmilelessmerrythanshrewd;allshowedamindsharpenedbytooearlyexperience;hewalkedboldlythroughthemiddleofthestreetsthrongedbycarriages,andfollowedtheircountlessturningswithouthesitation.
     
      Ifound,onaskinghim,thateverydayhecarrieddinnertohisfather,whowasthenworkingontheleftbankoftheSeine;andthisresponsibledutyhadmadehimcarefulandprudent.Hehadlearnedthosehardbutforciblelessonsofnecessitywhichnothingcanequalorsupplytheplaceof.Unfortunately,thewantsofhispoorfamilyhadkepthimfromschool,andheseemedtofeeltheloss;forheoftenstoppedbeforetheprintshops,andaskedhiscompaniontoreadhimthenamesoftheengravings.InthiswaywereachedtheBoulevardBonneNouvelle,whichthelittlewandererseemedtoknowagain.Notwithstandinghisfatigue,hehurriedon;hewasagitatedbymixedfeelings;atthesightofhishouseheutteredacry,andrantowardtheirongatewiththegiltpoints;aladywhowasstandingattheentrancereceivedhiminherarms,andfromtheexclamationsofjoy,andthesoundofkisses,Isoonperceivedshewashismother.
     
      Notseeingeithertheservantorchildreturn,shehadsentinsearchofthemineverydirection,andwaswaitingfortheminintenseanxiety.
     
      Iexplainedtoherinafewwordswhathadhappened.Shethankedmewarmly,andlookedroundforthelittleboywhohadrecognizedandbroughtbackherson;butwhileweweretalking,hehaddisappeared.
     
      ItwasforthefirsttimesincethenthatIhadcomeintothispartofParis.Didthemothercontinuegrateful?Hadthechildrenmetagain,andhadthehappychanceoftheirfirstmeetingloweredbetweenthemthatbarrierwhichmaymarkthedifferentranksofmen,butshouldnotdividethem?
     
      Whileputtingthesequestionstomyself,Islackenedmypace,andfixedmyeyesonthegreatgate,whichIjustperceived.SuddenlyIsawitopen,andtwochildrenappearedattheentrance.Althoughmuchgrown,Irecognizedthematfirstsight;theywerethechildwhowasfoundneartheparapetoftheLouvre,andhisyoungguide.Butthedressofthelatterwasgreatlychanged:hisblouseofgrayclothwasneat,andevenspruce,andwasfastenedroundthewaistbyapolishedleatherbelt;heworestrongshoes,butmadeforhisfeet,andhadonanewclothcap.
     
      JustatthemomentIsawhim,heheldinhistwohandsanenormousbunchoflilacs,towhichhiscompanionwastryingtoaddnarcissusesandprimroses;thetwochildrenlaughed,andpartedwithafriendlygood-by.
     
      M.Duvalssondidnotgointillhehadseentheotherturnthecornerofthestreet.
     
      ThenIaccostedthelatter,andremindedhimofourformermeeting;helookedatmeforamoment,andthenseemedtorecollectme.
     
      "ForgivemeifIdonotmakeyouabow,"saidhe,merrily,"butIwantbothmyhandsforthenosegayMonsieurCharleshasgivenme."
     
      "Youare,then,becomegreatfriends?"saidI.
     
      "Oh!Ishouldthinkso,"saidthechild;"andnowmyfatherisrichtoo!"
     
      "Howsthat?"
     
      "MonsieurDuvallenthimsomemoney;hehastakenashop,whereheworksonhisownaccount;and,asforme,Igotoschool."
     
      "Yes,"repliedI,remarkingforthefirsttimethecrossthatdecoratedhislittlecoat;"andIseethatyouarehead-boy!"
     
      "MonsieurCharleshelpsmetolearn,andsoIamcometobethefirstintheclass."
     
      "Areyounowgoingtoyourlessons?"
     
      "Yes,andhehasgivenmesomelilacs;forhehasagardenwhereweplaytogether,andwheremymothercanalwayshaveflowers."
     
      "Thenitisthesameasifitwerepartlyyourown."
     
      "Soitis!Ah!theyaregoodneighborsindeed.ButhereIam;good-by,sir."
     
      Henoddedtomewithasmile,anddisappeared.
     
      Iwentonwithmywalk,stillpensive,butwithafeelingofrelief.
     
      IfIhadelsewherewitnessedthepainfulcontrastbetweenaffluenceandwant,hereIhadfoundthetrueunionofrichesandpoverty.Heartygood-willhadsmootheddownthemoreruggedinequalitiesonbothsides,andhadopenedaroadoftrueneighborhoodandfellowshipbetweenthehumbleworkshopandthestatelymansion.Insteadofhearkeningtothevoiceofinterest,theyhadbothlistenedtothatofself-sacrifice,andtherewasnoplaceleftforcontemptorenvy.Thus,insteadofthebeggarinrags,thatIhadseenattheotherdoorcursingtherichman,Ihadfoundherethehappychildofthelaborerloadedwithflowersandblessinghim!Theproblem,sodifficultandsodangeroustoexamineintowithnoregardbutfortherightsofit,Ihadjustseensolvedbylove.