III.—THE DEVOTED SON AND THE GENEROUS STRANGER.BROTHER PHILIPPE.Brother Philippe is the present (1871) Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He is the author of several very meritorious works. He resides in France, where during the late war he was remarkable, though a very old man, for his energy, courage and holy zeal in providing for the wants of the wounded and dying upon the battle fields.
BROTHER PHILIPPE.
Brother Philippe is the present (1871) Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He is the author of several very meritorious works. He resides in France, where during the late war he was remarkable, though a very old man, for his energy, courage and holy zeal in providing for the wants of the wounded and dying upon the battle fields.
1. A young man, named Robert, was waiting on the coast at Marseilles for some one to hire his boat. A stranger entered, and was on the point of stepping out again, notwithstanding the presence of Robert, whom he did not suppose to be the owner. “As the boat-man is not coming,” said he, “I shall pass into another boat.” “Sir,” said Robert, “this is my own boat, doyou wish to get out of port?” “No; I merely thought of enjoying a row on the river before night closed in, but you don’t look like a sailor.” “True, Sir, I am not a sailor; but the want of money forces me to seek employment during my leisure hours.”
2. “What! avaricious[23]at your age? This is a shame which mars your youth, and lessens the interest inspired by your pleasing appearance.” “Ah! Sir, if you knew why I wish to make money, you would not, indeed, add to my sorrow by believing me guilty of such a low vice.” “I may have wronged you; but you have not explained yourself. Let us have a row; meantime you can tell me all your troubles, for your looks have disposed me in your favor.”
3. “I have but one trouble,” said the young man; “it is that of having a dear father bound in chains; and this may last I know not how long! My father was a broker in this city, and had obtained, by means of his own and my mother’s earnings, an interest in a merchant vessel bound to Smyrna. He took charge of the buying and the selling of the stock. The vessel was seized by a pirate ship, and taken to Tetuan, where my father remains prisoner, with the greater part of the ship’s crew. They demand ten thousand francs for his ransom;[24]but, as he had made large outlays so as to increase the business, we are far from possessing that sum. However, my mother and my sisters work day and night, and I contrive to do my part as a clerk in a jeweler’s shop, and I seek besides, as you perceive, to fill up my leisure hours. We have retrenched our mode of living in every possible way, and one room forms our lodging. At first I thought of going to take my father’s place, and thus release him from his cruelchains. I was about putting this idea into execution, when my mother assured me that such an undertaking was as rash as it was impracticable;[25]and she forbade all the captains of the Levant to take me on board.”
4. “Do you ever hear from your father? Do you know the name of his master in Tetuan, and in what manner is he treated?” “His master is the intendant of the king’s gardens; they treat him with humanity, and the labor to which he is subjected is not above his strength. But he is our father; he is so good, and we are not there to comfort him; he is far from us, from his dear wife and his three children, whom he loves tenderly.”
5. “What name does he bear in Tetuan?” “It is not changed; they call him Robert.” “Robert? in Tetuan? with the intendant[26]of the gardens?” “Yes, Sir.”
6. “I am touched at your sorrow, my good friend; and, in consequence of your noble sentiments, I predict[27]for you the accomplishment of your wishes, which, indeed, you richly merit. Meanwhile, let me now enjoy a few moments’ solitude in this spot.”
7. When it was night, Robert had orders to put him ashore. Then the stranger, slipping a purse into the young man’s hands, disappeared without allowing him time to express his thanks. The purse contained four hundred francs, mostly in gold coins. Such generosity gave Robert the highest opinion of the stranger, who had listened with so much interest to his sad tale. In vain did Robert seek him, to assure him of his lasting gratitude.
8. Six weeks elapsed since this extraordinary occurrence, and those good people worked on indefatigably,[28]to complete the sum mentioned. One day they were partaking of a frugal meal of bread and dried almonds, in the narrow room which was their home, when a man entered, and surprised them in the midst of their trouble and their misery. He was cleanly clad. Heavens! ... it is Robert, their father. What astonishment! What exclamations of joy! What tears were shed, in their happiness. Robert embraced his wife and his children, and told them how thankful he felt for the twelve thousand francs which he received at the moment he embarked on the vessel, where his passage had been already paid; clothes also were furnished him, and he knew not, he said, how to acknowledge so much solicitude[29]and attention.
9. The surprise of the mother and the children increased at every word spoken; they could not comprehend this mysterious language, and they looked at each other in their bewilderment. At length, the mother broke silence: she supposed that her son had done all this without consulting her; she told her husband how zealously he had labored since the beginning of his captivity; how he had endeavored to go and replace him, and how she had prevented him from so doing. “Ten thousand francs,” added she, “were necessary for the ransom; we had but a little more than the half, most part of which was acquired[30]by his attention to business; for the rest, friends must have aided him.”
11. All at once the disheartened father grew thoughtful and gloomy, and thus addressed his son: “Unhappy boy, can I owe you my liberty without regret? How could it have remained a secret to your mother, and not be bought at the price of virtue? At your age, unhappy son of a slave, one cannot easily obtain so muchmoney. I shudder to think that filial piety may have made you culpable.[31]Confide in me, be sincere, do not conceal the truth; have you been guilty of dishonesty?”
12. “Banish your fears, dear father,” cried the virtuous son, as he embraced him tenderly; “your child is not unworthy of this title, nor lucky enough to have effected your freedom, which, in truth, you do not owe to me; I know your benefactor—oh, yes, I know him. Do you remember, dear mother, the stranger who gave me his purse—how he questioned me thus: ‘Where is your father? What is his name? Who is his master?’ Were I to spend my whole life, I shall find him again, and he shall admire the fruits of his generosity.”
Then his dutiful son related the incident which had taken place, restoring, meanwhile, the peace and the happiness which had, for a moment, given place to fear.
13. Restored to his family, the honest Robert found friends and means. Success surpassed his hopes. After ten years, he had acquired a little fortune; and his children, who were all settled in life, shared the happiness of their father and mother.
[23]Avˊ-a-riˊ-cious, greedy of wealth.[24]Ranˊ-som, the price paid to redeem a person or goods from an enemy.[25]Im-pracˊti-ca-ble, incapable of being done.[26]In-tendˊ-ant, an overseer.[27]Pre-dictˊ, to foretell.[28]Inˊ-de-fatˊ-i-ga-ble, untiring, not yielding to fatigue.[29]So-licˊ-i-tude, anxiety, care, concern.[30]Acˊ-quire, to gain, to obtain.[31]Culˊ-pa-ble, blameable.
[23]Avˊ-a-riˊ-cious, greedy of wealth.
[23]Avˊ-a-riˊ-cious, greedy of wealth.
[24]Ranˊ-som, the price paid to redeem a person or goods from an enemy.
[24]Ranˊ-som, the price paid to redeem a person or goods from an enemy.
[25]Im-pracˊti-ca-ble, incapable of being done.
[25]Im-pracˊti-ca-ble, incapable of being done.
[26]In-tendˊ-ant, an overseer.
[26]In-tendˊ-ant, an overseer.
[27]Pre-dictˊ, to foretell.
[27]Pre-dictˊ, to foretell.
[28]Inˊ-de-fatˊ-i-ga-ble, untiring, not yielding to fatigue.
[28]Inˊ-de-fatˊ-i-ga-ble, untiring, not yielding to fatigue.
[29]So-licˊ-i-tude, anxiety, care, concern.
[29]So-licˊ-i-tude, anxiety, care, concern.
[30]Acˊ-quire, to gain, to obtain.
[30]Acˊ-quire, to gain, to obtain.
[31]Culˊ-pa-ble, blameable.
[31]Culˊ-pa-ble, blameable.