Читать книгу Tales and Novels for Youth of Both Sexes - Anonymous - Страница 5
ОглавлениеAN HISTORICAL ANECDOTE.
Of all the young French princes, who have signalized their childhood by traits of good-nature, there is none more worthy of being offered as a model than Charles-Ferdinand D'Artois, whose name will remain for ever imprinted on all hearts. The charming trait that I am about to relate, of what a firm and constant will is capable, and what we owe to persons who, by dint of patience and assiduity, succeed in subduing our caprices, and in alleviating the vexations and difficulties of an education necessary to all men, and particularly to those whom Heaven has ordained to govern their fellow-creatures.
Charles, at the tenderest age, had signalized himself by those roguish pranks, and that charming vivacity, which usually denote in a child a good heart and amiable disposition; he could already read fluently the pretty stories of Perrault, the interesting dramas of Berquin, which were just come into vogue at this period, and had procured him many delicious moments. One who is fond of reading is never alone, and never finds time lie heavy on his hands; an amusing and instructive book is a faithful friend, that we quit, and to whom we return when we please, that can follow us every where, and occupies very little room. Charles very soon felt a wish to know how to write; it is certainly very agreeable to read what has been thought and said by others, but to be able one's-self to trace on paper whatever presents itself to one's mind, to address it to a beloved mother, sister, brother, or friend, is an advantage still more delightful, a pleasure still more exquisite.
The young prince then gave himself up with ardour to his first lessons in writing, which were given him by a respectable man named Rochon; this person, who was of an advanced age, joined to great dexterity in the art which he professed, great good-nature, and a patience proof against every thing. He had much occasion for it: Charles, often hurried away by his natural vivacity, did not always pay sufficient attention to the precepts of his master. Sometimes he pretended that he kept him too long on the same letter, which annoyed him excessively: sometimes he complained that he had, for copies, words of an interminable length, which fatigued his hand, and created in him an invincible disgust. In short, there was no pretence which the young prince did not employ to excuse the antipathy which he had against writing. The venerable Rochon despaired of ever being able to perfect his pupil in the art which he taught; and his patience was exhausted when he saw him purposely go above the line which guided him, and write all awry. «My lord, you are writing too high.» «Do you think so, Mr Rochon?», and immediately the rogue went from the top of the paper to the bottom.
«My lord, you are now going too low;» «Yes, you are right;» and he once more wrote in a contrary direction. Sometimes he had his pens mended twenty times, saying they were detestable. Then he said the ink was too thick, gaped every moment, moved about on his stool, and stamped with his feet, and, if it had not been for the presence of his governor, whom he feared to displease, he would have left his place to go and play at balls, flourish his whale-bone sabre, or ride on his great black paste-board horse.
One day he perceived that Rochon was sorrowful and abstracted; his natural good-nature soon made him suppose that his roguishness and want of application afflicted this good old man, and that day he did every thing in his power to please him; but in vain did he observe exactly his counsels, in vain did he speak to him in the most gracious manner, and pay him the greatest attention, nothing could draw him from the gloomy melancholy into which he was plunged.
As soon as he was gone, the young prince enquired, of the persons who were present, what could be the dejection of his master. He was told by a valet-de-chambre, that this honest man, confiding too much in the probity of a false friend, had the imprudence to back a bill of exchange for twelve hundred livres, which had but one month to run, and, that, in spite of all his efforts, he still wanted six hundred livres, to complete which, he would be obliged to sell, at a loss, the greater part of his furniture.
Charles pretended not to pay any attention to this important discovery, and thought of nothing but relieving his writing-master from the cruel position, to which his blind confidence and goodness of heart had re him.
He might no doubt have easily extricated him from his dilemma, by revealing the secret to his august father, who was always rejoiced at having an opportunity of doing good: but he secretly resolved to avail himself of this circumstance, in order to correct himself, and procure Mr Rochon the honourable reward of the progress he should make.
The next day Charles, while talking with his excellent father, adroitly turned the conversation to his writing lessons.
«If you knew, papa, how tiresome it is!» «I allow, my dear child, that the rudiments of this art are not very interesting; but, as it is absolutely necessary for a prince to know how to write, I think you had better resign yourself to it with a good grace.» «Yes, certainly, papa, and I will promise you to arm myself with courage, if you will condescend, in your turn, to promise me one thing.»—«What is it?» «I should wish to have, at every mark of approbation I receive from my master, a Louis-d'or, with permission to do with it what I please.» «Oh, I risque nothing by making such an engagement with you, my dear boy. I agree to it, Charles, and should be glad to see you exhaust my purse in this manner, I should become the richest of all princes.»
This treaty was sealed by tender embraces on both sides. The countenance of the child was radiant with delight and joy at the promise he had received; and the prince, seeking in vain to penetrate the mystery in which his son enveloped himself, would not press him with questions, and thought it right to respect his secret.
At his next lesson of writing, Charles displayed such docility, application, and, in particular, so much patience, that it created the greatest surprise in his master. This child, until then, so volatile, so turbulent, did not stir from his stool, kept his position at the desk with a most ravishing grace, and formed every letter exactly like the copy he had before him: he did not once go beyond the ruled lines; and, what was still more astonishing, did not change his pen. This last trait made a sensible impression on Mr Rochon, who did not cease saying to him, «very well, my lord! very well, indeed! if you go on in that manner, I will put you in round hand in less than a fortnight. At the next lesson, there was the same application on the part of the pupil, and the same astonishment on the master's side. Indeed, my lord, a miracle, which I cannot comprehend, has been wrought in you;» «You are satisfied with me then, father Rochon?» «Satisfied is not the word, say rather, surprised, delighted; I feel the greatest pleasure in being at last able to do you justice.» «Well, then, what I demand of you is a ticket of good behaviour to give my papa, who always fancies I will do nothing.»—«Most willingly, my lord; and you shall be sure of having one every time you take your lesson as well as you have done to-day.» Charles lost no time in transmitting it to his excellent father, from whom he obtained the promised reward. O how dear to him was the first louis that he received! it was the fruit of his labour; it was a property lawfully acquired. He put the piece of gold into a pretty little purse, and made a firm resolution to add to it every day with a similar one.
In effect, his application and progress increased to such a degree, that he soon wrote round-hand; not long words, which signify nothing, but those entire phrases which express an idea, those little dialogues and pretty stories which interest the heart, or excite laughter, and make a lesson of writing an agreeable, and often instructive amusement.
Every morning, when he embraced the august author of his being, Charles delivered to him the ticket of good behaviour, which he had received the evening before, and saw his dear treasure increasing every day.
The prince experienced great pleasure in paying his son the sum agreed upon, but, as it had been already renewed nearly twenty times, he thought that the good Mr Rochon treated his pupil with too much indulgence, and desired the latter to show him his copy-books. Charles immediately comes in triumph, and proves the astonishing progress he has made for the last three weeks. The prince could not but yield to such evidence; and, a short time after, the young Charles found himself possessed of twenty-five pieces of gold, the object of his secret ambition.
The bill of exchange backed by Mr Rochon had but three days more to run. This worthy man had been, without success, to supplicate his creditor to grant him a short delay; he was a rapacious, inexorable usurer. The poor writing-master got into such a consternation, that evident marks of it were to be seen in his countenance and behaviour: he intended, the same day, to carry the small quantity of silver plate, which he made use of, to a silversmith's, in order to realize the six hundred livres which were wanting to pay off the bill of exchange. Entirely taken up with the sacrifice he was about to make, he came to give his lesson to the young prince rather later than usual, and excused himself, on account of an important affair which had detained him. The face of the old man was as sad and dejected, as that of the youth was radiant with joy and happiness. «What is the matter with you, father Rochon? You are not so gay as you used to be.» «It is true, my lord, we have all our little torments and troubles.» «You, troubles! you must confide them to me, and that immediately, you know how much I love you.»
At this expression, so sincere and touching, Rochon was on the point of revealing every thing to his pupil, who, by saying a single word to his father, could relieve him from his distress; but modest merit has always a secret pride. The idea of taking advantage of the honourable access he had to an Infant of France, to beg a favour, alarmed the old man's delicacy, and, the better to conceal his secret, he hastened to change the conversation. «You are not so well disposed to take your lesson as you were yesterday, my lord.» «Do you think so, father Rochon?» «You are very absent.» «Yes, I have something on my mind.» «Your hand trembles, and you cannot remain quiet.»—«Well, you are the cause of it.»—«I! my lord?» «Yes, you, yourself! O! I can resist no longer.» At these words he rose up with precipitation, opened the table drawer, where he had deposited his treasure, and, throwing himself on the neck of his old master, put the purse in his hand, saying, «here, this will pay your bill of exchange, I hope this will prevent you from selling your furniture.» Rochon saw that his secret was discovered. However, in spite of the emotion which he felt, he did not yet dare to take the purse presented to him by the young prince. But the latter informed him of the treaty he had made with his father, and that these twenty-five Louis were the fruit of his application. At this avowal, the old man could not contain his tears, he seized the two hands of the child, carried them to his lips, pressed them to his bosom, and exclaimed, with the liveliest expression of astonishment and gratitude, «what my lord, was it to relieve me from distress, that for a whole month you have subdued the petulance of your disposition, braved the tediousness, and surmounted the disagreeableness inseparable from the art in which I instruct you? I receive with pride, this honourable and affecting offering, it will restore to me, at once, my repose and happiness. O! how sweet will it be to owe them to you; I will publish every where this trait of beneficence, strength of mind, and perseverance, it shall be one day transmitted to your children; it belongs to history. Ah! who could be surprised at it? Ought one to expect less from a grandson of Henry the Fourth?»
