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.