Theveryrecollectionofthatpleasureevennowenchantsme。
　　’TotheIsland——totheIsland！’shoutedtheboldest，andthenwemadehastetowadetotheIsland，eachtogathertogetherourlittlebundleoffagots。”
　　Therestofthevagrants’timewasspentinplay。TheyascendedtheclifftowardsthegrottoofSaintJohn。Theysharedinmanyacontest。Theydaredeachothertodothings——possibleandimpossible。Therewereclimbingsofrocks，anddaringleaps，withmanyperilsandescapades，accordingtothenatureofboysatplay。Atlength，afterbecomingtired，therewasthereturnhomeanhourbeforenightfall。Andnowthelittlefellowstrippedalong；thirtyfagotbundleswerecarriedonthirtyheads；
　　andthethirtysang，asonsettingout，thesamecarol，withthesamerefrain。
　　Jasminproceeds，inhisSouvenirs，todescribewithgreatzestandawonderfulrichnessoflocalcolour，theimpromptufetesinwhichheboreapart；hisraidsuponthecherryandplumorchards——fortheneighbourhoodofAgenisrichinplum-trees，andprunesareoneoftheprincipalarticlesofcommerceinthedistrict。PlayingatsoldierswasoneofJasmin’sfavouriteamusements；andhewasusuallyelectedCaptain。”Ishouldneed，”hesays，”ahundredtrumpetstocelebrateallmyvictories。”Thenhedescribesthedancingroundthebonfires，andthefantasticceremoniesconnectedwiththecelebrationofSt。John’sEve。
　　Ageniscelebratedforitsfairs。InthemonthofJune，oneofthemostimportantfairsintheSouthofFranceisheldontheextensivepromenadeinfrontoftheGravier。ThereJasminwenttopickupanysparesousbyholdinghorsesorcattle，orrunningerrands，orperforminganytriflingcommissionforthefarmersorgraziers。Whenhehadfilledtoaslightextenthislittlepurse，hewenthomeatnightandemptiedthewholecontentsintohismother’shand。Hisheartoftensankasshereceivedhisearningswithsmilesandtears。”Poorchild，”
　　shewouldsay，”yourhelpcomesjustintime。”Thusthebitterthoughtofpovertyandtheevidencesofdestitutionwerealwaysnearathand。
　　IntheautumnJasminwentgleaninginthecornfields，foritwashisgreatestpleasuretobringhomesomeadditionalhelpforthefamilyneeds。InSeptembercamethevintage——thegatheringinandpressingofthegrapesprevioustotheirmanufactureintowine。Theboywasable，withhishandyhelpfulness，toaddalittlemoremoneytothehomestore。Winterfollowed，andtheweatherbecamecolder。Inthedearthoffirewood，Jasminwasfaintopreservehisbodilyheat，notwithstandinghisraggedclothes，bywarminghimselfbythesuninsomeshelterednooksolongasthedaylasted；orhewouldplaywithhiscompanions，beingstillbuoyedupwiththejoyandvigourofyouth。
　　Whenthesternwintersetin，Jasminspenthiseveningsinthecompanyofspinning-womenandchildren，principallyforthesakeofwarmth。Ascoreormoreofwomen，withtheirchildren，assembledinalargeroom，lightedbyasingleantiquelampsuspendedfromtheceiling。Thewomenhaddistaffsandheavyspindles，bymeansofwhichtheyspunakindofcoarsepack-thread，whichthechildrenwoundup，sittingonstoolsattheirfeet。Allthewhilesomeolddamewouldrelatetheold-worldogreishstoriesofBlueBeard，theSorcerer，ortheLoupGarou，tofascinatetheearsandtroublethedreamsoftheyoungfolks。Itwashere，nodoubt，thatJasmingatheredmuchofthetraditionarylorewhichheafterwardswoveintohispoeticalballads。
　　Jasminhadhismomentsofsadness。Hewasnowgettingabigfellow，andhismotherwasanxiousthatheshouldreceivesomelittleeducation。Hehadnotyetbeentaughttoread；hehadnotevenlearnthisABC。Thewordschoolfrightenedhim。Hecouldnotbeartobeshutupinacloseroom——hewhohadbeenaccustomedtoenjoyasortofvagabondlifeintheopenair。
　　Hecouldnotgiveuphiscomrades，hisplayingatsoldiers，andhisnumerousescapades。
　　Themother，duringthehumofherspinning-wheel，oftenspokeinwhisperstograndfatherBoeofherdesiretosendtheboytoschool。WhenJasminoverheardtheirconversation，hecouldscarcelyconcealhistears。OldBoedeterminedtodowhathecould。Hescrapedtogetherhislittlesavings，andhandedthemovertothemother。ButthemoneycouldnotthenbeusedforeducatingJasmin；itwassorelyneededforbuyingbread。
　　Thusthematterlayoverforatime。
　　Theoldmanbecameunabletogooutofdoorstosolicitalms。
　　Ageandinfirmitykepthimindoors。Hebegantofeelhimselfaburdenontheimpoverishedfamily。Hemadeuphismindtoridthemoftheincumbrance，anddesiredtheparentstoputhimintothefamilyarm-chairandhavehimcarriedtothehospital。
　　Jasminhastouchinglytoldtheincidentofhisremoval。”IthappenedonaMonday，”hesaysinhisSouvenirs：”Iwasthentenyearsold。Iwasplayinginthesquarewithmycompanions，girdedaboutwithawoodensword，andIwasking；butsuddenlyadreadfulspectacledisturbedmyroyalty。Isawanoldmaninanarm-chairbornealongbyseveralpersons。Thebearersapproachedstillnearer，whenIrecognisedmyafflictedgrandfather。
　　’OGod，’saidI，’whatdoIsee?Myoldgrandfathersurroundedbymyfamily。’InmygriefIsawonlyhim。Iranuptohimintears，threwmyselfonhisneckandkissedhim。”Inreturningmyembrace，hewept。’Ograndfather，’saidI，’whereareyougoing?Whydoyouweep?Whyareyouleavingourhome?’’Mychild，’saidtheoldman，’Iamgoingtothehospital，[2]wherealltheJasminsdie。’Heagainembracedme，closedhiseyes，andwascarriedaway。Wefollowedhimforsometimeunderthetrees。Iabandonedmyplay，andreturnedhomefullofsorrow。”
　　GrandfatherBoedidnotsurvivelonginthehospital。Hewasutterlywornout。Afterfivedaystheoldmanquietlybreathedhislast。Hiswalletwashunguponitsusualnailinhisformerhome，butitwasneverusedagain。Oneofthebread-winnershaddeparted，andthefamilywerepoorerthanever。”OnthatMonday，”saysJasmin，”Iforthefirsttimeknewandfeltthatwewereverypoor。”
　　AllthisistoldwithmarvellouseffectinthefirstpartoftheSouvenirs，whichendswithawailandasob。
　　FootnotestoChapterI。
　　[1]ItisstatedintheBibliographieGeneraledel’Agenais，thatPalissywasborninthedistrictofAgen，perhapsatLaChapelleBiron，andthat，beingaHuguenot，hewasimprisonedintheBastilleatParis，anddiedtherein1590，shortlyafterthemassacreofSt。Bartholomew。ButPalissyseemstohavebeenborninanothertown，notfarfromLaChapelleBiron。TheTimesofthe7thJuly，1891，containedthefollowingparagraph：——”AstatueofBernardPalissywasunveiledyesterdayatVilleneuvesur-Lot，hisnativetown，byM。Bourgeois，MinisterofEducation。”
　　[2]L’hopitalmeansaninfirmaryoralmshouseforoldandimpoverishedpeople。
　　CHAPTERII。
　　JASMINATSCHOOL。
　　OnejoyfuldayJasmin’smothercamehomeinanecstasyofdelight，andcried，”Toschool，mychild，toschool！””Toschool?”saidJasmin，greatlyamazed。”Howisthis?
　　Havewegrownrich?””No，mypoorboy，butyouwillgetyourschoolingfornothing。Yourcousinhaspromisedtoeducateyou；
　　come，come，Iamsohappy！”ItwasSisterBoe，theschoolmistressofAgen，whohadofferedtoteachtheboygratuitouslytheelementsofreadingandwriting。
　　ThenewsofJacques’proposedscholarshipcausednosmallstirathome。Themotherwasalmostbesideherselfwithjoy。
　　Thefathertoowasequallymoved，andshedtearsofgratitude。
　　Hebelievedthattheboymightyetbeabletohelphiminwritingout，underhisdictation，theCharivariimpromptuswhich，hesupposed，werehischiefforte。Indeed，thewholefamilyregardedthisgreatstrokeofluckforJacquesinthelightofaspecialprovidence，andasthebeginningofabrilliantdestiny。
　　Themother，inordertodresshimproperly，rummagedthehouse，andpickedouttheleastmendedsuitofclothes，inwhichtoarraytheyoungscholar。
　　Whenproperlyclothed，theboy，notwithoutfearonhisownpart，wastakenbyhismothertoschool。
　　Beholdhim，then，placedunderthetuitionofSisterBoe！
　　Thereweresomefiftyotherchildrenatschool，mumblingatthelettersofthealphabet，andtryingtoreadtheirfirsteasysentences。Jasminhadagoodmemory，andsoonmasteredthedifficultiesoftheABC。”’Twixtsmilesandtears，”hesays，”Isoonlearnttoread，bythehelpofthepiousSister。”
　　InsixmonthshewasabletoentertheSeminaryintheRueMontesquieuasafreescholar。HenowservedatMass。Havingagoodearformusic，hebecameachorister，andsangtheTantumergo。Hewasadiligentboy，andsofareverythingprosperedwellwithhim。Heevenreceivedaprize。True，itwasonlyanoldcassock，dryasautumnheather。But，beingtrimmedupbyhisfather，itservedtohidehisraggedclothesbeneath。
　　Hismotherwasveryproudofthecassock。”ThankGod，”shesaid，”thoulearnestwell；andthisisthereasonwhy，eachTuesday，awhiteloafcomesfromtheSeminary。Itisalwayswelcome，forthesakeofthehungrylittleones。””Yes，”hereplied，”Iwilltrymybesttobelearnedforyoursake。”ButJasmindidnotlongwearthecassock。HewasshortlyafterturnedoutoftheSeminary，inconsequenceofanaughtytrickwhichheplayeduponagirlofthehousehold。
　　Jasmintellsthestoryofhisexpulsionwithgreatfrankness，thoughevidentlyashamedofthetransaction。Hewaspassingthroughtheinnercourtoneday，duringtheShroveCarnival，when，lookingup，hecaughtsightofapetticoat。Hestoppedandgazed。Astrangetremorcreptthroughhisnerves。Whatevilspiritpossessedhimtoapproachtheownerofthepetticoat?
　　Helookedupagain，andrecognisedthesweetandrosy-cheekedCatherine——thehousemaidoftheSeminary。Shewasperchednearthetopofaslimladderleaningagainstthewall，standingupright，andfeedingthefeathery-footedpigeons。
　　AvisionflashedthroughJasmin’smind——”alifeallvelvet，”
　　asheexpressedit，——andheapproachedtheladder。Heclimbedupafewsteps，andwhatdidhesee?Twocomelyanklesandtwoprettylittlefeet。Hisheartburnedwithinhim，andhebreathedaloudsigh。Thegirlheardthesigh，lookeddown，andhuddleduptheladder，cryingpiteously。Theladderwastooslimtobeartwo。Itsnappedandfell，andtheytumbleddown，sheaboveandhebelow！
　　Theloudscreamsofthegirlbroughtallthehouseholdtothespot——theCanons，thelittleAbbe，thecook，thescullion——
　　indeedalltheinmatesoftheSeminary。Jasminquaintlyremarks，”Agirlalwayslikestohavethesinsknownthatshehascausedotherstocommit。”Butinthiscase，accordingtoJasmin’sownshowing，thegirlwasnottoblame。Thetrickwhichheplayedmightbeveryinnocent，buttotheassembledhouseholditseemedverywicked。Hemustbepunished。
　　First，hehadaterriblewiggingfromthemaster；andnext，hewassentencedtoimprisonmentduringtherestoftheCarnival。
　　Indefaultofadungeon，theylockedhiminadismallittlechamber，withsomebreadandwater。Nextday，ShroveTuesday，whiletheCarnivalwasafoot，Jasminfeltveryangryandveryhungry。”Whosleepseats，”saystheproverb。”But，”saidJasmin，”theproverblies：Ididnotsleep，andwasconsumedbyhunger。”Thenhefilledupthemeasureofhisiniquitybybreakingintoacupboard！
　　IthappenedthattheConventpreserveswerekeptintheroomwhereinhewasconfined。Theirodourattractedhim，andheclimbedup，bymeansofatableandchair，totheclosetinwhichtheywerestored。Hefoundasplendidpotofpreserves。