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.