92

THE YOUTH’S CABINET.

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for me to thank you, still less to inquire
your name and place of residence. The
merchant did not know you. So Ihave
come here every Sunday since that day,
to see if you would not cross the bridge.
Happily, I have. found you to-day, I
should never have had any peace until
I'had met you. May God bless you—
you and your children—for the good
you have done me!”

“T rejoice,” replied the count, “in
being able to oblige so honest a man;
but I assure you, that I did not intend
to have you return this money. I meant
to have you receive it as a small
present.”

_ “T knew nothing of that, sir; and I

have never received money before, except
when I earned it. I had done nothing
for you, and you had done enough for
me, in lending the money. I beg you to
receive it.”

“No, my friend ; it belongs no more
to you nor to me. Do me the favor to
buy something with it for your children,
and present this little keepsake to them
in my name,”

“Very well; on these conditions, it

_ ‘would ill become me to refuse you.”
_ “Well, say no more about the mat-
ter. But answer me one question. How
came you to ask so confidently for six
francs, on the pledge of your hat, which
is hardly worth six sous? I have had
my curiosity a good deal excited respect-
ing that matter, ever since the other day
when we met,”

“ That hat is worth everything to me,
sir.”

“ How is that, my friend ?”

“T will give you the history of it:
Some years ago, the son of the lord of
our village, as he was sliding on a small

pond near the castle, fell through the ice,
I was at work near the place, and hear-
ing the cries of the lad, I ran to the
spot, leaped into the hole, and had the
happiness of rescuing the boy, and of
presenting him alive to his father. The
youth was not ungrateful for the service
I rendered him. He gave me several
acres of land, with a little sum of money,
sufficient to enable me to build a cottage,
and to set me up in housekeeping. And
this was not all. As I had lost my hat
in the water, he placed his own on my

‘head, saying, as he did it, that he wished

he was able to put a crown in its place.
Tell me, now, if you do not think I
ought to prize this hat? I do not wear
it in the field, when I am at work.
Everything there recalls sufficiently the
memory of my benefactor, although he
is now dead. My children, my wife, my
cottage, my land—they all speak of him
tome. But when I go to the city, I al-
ways wear this hat, so as to have some-
thing about me to remind me of him.
I am sorry it begins to wear out. Do
you see? It shows for itself. But as
long as there is a single morsel of it re-
maining, it will be invaluable to me.”

The count had been an attentive lis-
tener to this story ; and when it was com-
pleted, he took from his portfolio a
card, and giving it to the peasant, said,
“Here is my address, my friend. I
must leave you now. But do me the
favor to call upon me to-morrow morn-
ing.”

The peasant was punctual at the ap-
pointed hour. As soon as he was an-
nounced, the count ran to meet him, and
taking him by the hand, he said to him,
“My dear friend, you have not saved an
only son for me; but you have rendered