THE PRODIGAL UNCLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 67, 18 March 1916, Page 18

THE PRODIGAL UNCLE.

(By GUY DE MAiUPASSAWT.)

My family, at the time when this story (begins, lived in Havre. They were not rich, and were airways hard up. Father worked in an office, and the wages were not tlie highest, I had two sisters. My mother fretted under our poverty, and she often addressed harsh, words to my father—perfidious, veiled reproaches. The expression of the poor man's face always distressed mc; he passed his hand over it as if to wipe away a perspiration that was not there, and said nothing. I felt his powerless sadness. My parents economised with everything; they often ate 'dinners unfit to be served; they bought provisions at the lowest prices, and yet, even at that, they had often to ask for credit. My sisters made their own dresses, [ and had long discussions about the price ; of a kind of lace, costing fifteen centimes a yard. ...I well remember many scenes about lost buttons and torn trousers. But every Sunday we took a walk to the docks in great style. My father, in a long coat, a high hat, and wearing gloves, offered hw arm to my mother, who was dressed as gayly as a ship on a holiday. My sisters, always the first to be ready, awaited the signal of departure; but, at the last moment, a forgotten spot would be discovered on the coat of paterfamilias, and it had to be quickly effaced with a rag dipped in benzine. My father, keeping his hat on bis head, waited in his shirt aleeves until the operation was done, while my mother, having adjusted her glasses — she was nearsighted—hurriedly put on her gloves. KnaUy we started with great cerenuyny, my sisters with linked arms, going before. They had attained a marriageable age, and made quite a respectable appearance in the city. I walked at the left of my mother, my rather at the right. And I 'remember the pompous air of my poor parents in these Sunday excursions, the rigidity of their (features, the severity of their aspect. They advanced with a grave step, as if in an affair of tbe greatest importance depended upon their carriage. And every Sunday, seeing the great vessels that had returned from.unknown and distant countries, my father invariably repeated the same words: "Ah! if Jules were on one of these, what a surprise it would be!" My Uncle Jules, my father's brother, was the only hope of the family, after having been its terror. I did not speak of him but since my infancy my thoughts wore with him, and his first culpable act was always present in any mind. 1 know all the details of his Jife up to the day of bis departure for America. He had, it appears, misconducted himself; that is to say, he had squandered some money, which is a great crime if it happens in poor families. A rich man who amuses himself is simply guilty of follies. He is called "nobody's enemy but his own." With the poor and needy, a man who forces his parents to ourtail their capital or income, becomes a rascal, a knave. In short, Uncle Jules had considerably lessened the inheritance of my father, after spending his own share to the last sou. Then he sailed for America, as they afterwards learned, on board a merchantman bound for New York. « After having been there for some time my Uncle Jules established himself as a merchant; and he soon wrote that he was saving a 'little money, and hoped that he would be enabled shortly to indemnify my father for the losses be had caused him. . This letter created a profound emotion of the family. Jules, instead of being a worthless fellow, they said, was an honest man, tender-hearted man, a true Davranche, upright as all the Davranches. In a second letter, sent two years later, he said: "My dear Phillipe: I write you so that you need have no fears regarding my health, which is all that can be desired. My business also l goes well. I start tomorrow on a long voyage to South America; several years may pass, perhaps, before you will hear from mc. But if I do not write, do not be alarmed. I shall return to" Havre with a ifftir fortune. I hope it will not take too long, and then we shall all be happy." I This letter became the Gospel of the family. It was read at every opportunity, it was shown to every one. During ten years, perhaps, we did not hear from Uncle Jules; but, as the time lengthened, my father's hopes also grew in proportion, and my mother often said: " When Jules is here, our situation will be entirely changed." And every Sunday, when regarding the huge black masses of smoke on the horizon that ascended to the sky like an immense serpent, my father repeated his eternal phrase: "Ah, if Jules were on one of these, what a surprise it wouW be!" And then he robbed bis eyes briskly with a handkerchief. They made a thousand projects when the return was assured; they would buy, with Uncle's money, a small house in the country.' I do not know but that my father had already commenced negotiations in reference to the affair. The eldest of my sisters was twentyeight years old, the other twenty-six. They bad never married, which was a cawe of great sorrow to aJI. A wooer finally presented himself for my youngest sister. He was a clerk, not wealthy, but honourable. I had always had the conviction that the letter of my Uncle Jules, shown again one evening, had ended the hesitation and strengthened the resolution of this young man. He was accepted eagerly, and it was decided that after the wedding the whole family should take a little trip to Jersey. Jersey is the ideal of a journey for poor people. It is not far; one traverses the sea in a packet and finds one's self in a strange land, an island belonging to the English. Thus a Frenchman, after two hours' sailing, can see his neighbours and can study their strange manners and deplorable circumstances. This trip to Jersey occupied all onr thoughts, our entire attention, and we dreamed of it constantly. Finally we started. I remember it as if it happened yesterday; the 6moke blowing over the dock; my father, very much perturbed, watching the transporting of OUT luggage; my mother, also disquieted, had taken the arm of my unmarried sister, who appeared lost since the other sister had gone from her, like a chicken sitting alone in its coop; and behind us came the young married pair, always lagging, which, compelled mc to turn my head very often. The whistle Bounded. We went on board, and the ship, leaving its dock, glided out upon a sea as smooth as glass. We watched the receding shores, happy and joyous, a feelin;? doubtless experienced by all who have travelled

My father wore bis long coat, from which all the spots had been washed with benzine, and consequently he strongly suggested that valuable desny>ng agent, and recalled to my mind oar Sunday outings.

Suddenly he espied two elegant ladies, to whom two gentlemen were offering oysters. An old ragged seaman opened the bivalves with one blow of a knife and passed them to the gentlemen, who immediately carried them to the ladies, who ate them in a most genteel manner, holding the shells in a cambric handkerchief, and conveying them to their mouths without dropping any juice or staining their toilets. Then they drank the liquid with a pretty, rapid movement, and threw the shell into the sea. Undoubtedly my father was captivated by this distinguished act of eating oysters on a vessel while it was under sail. He thought it was good taste, refined, superior, and approached my mother and sisters, saying: "What would you say if I should offer you some oysters!" My mother hesitated on account of the expense; but my sisters accepted immediately. My mother said, in a querulous tone: "I am afraid they will not agree with mc. Give some to the children, but not many, as the oysters will make them sick. Then, turning toward mc, she remarked: "As to Joseph, he needs none; it is best not to spoil the boy." I remained beside my mother and thought her very unjust. I followed my father witb my eyes and watched him as he pompously conducted his two daughters and his son-in-law toward the old seaman. The two ladies started to go, and my father indicated to my two sisters that they were to eat the oysters without spilling any juice; in order that they might understand better he took an oyster, and, in endeavouring to imitate the ladies, poured the whole liquid down the front of his coat. Suddenly my father appeared to become uneasy, he recoiled a few steps, regarded his family fixedly, then the old seaman, and quickly returned to us. He seemed pale and his eyes had a singular look. He said to my mother: "It is strange how that man opening oysters resembles Jules." Mother asked: "What Jules?" My father returned: "Why, my brother Jules. If I did not know that he had a good position in America I should believe it was he." My mother ejaculated angrily: "You are a lunatic! You know very well that it is not Jules. Why do you talk such nonsense?" But father said persistently: "Go and see for yourself, Clarisse; I should like very much to have your opinion." She arose and joined her two daughters, and I also went and looked at the old man. He was dirty, wrinkled, and did not turn his attention from his work. My mother returned, and I saw that she trembled. She said, very quickly: "I believe it is he. Go and pump the captain. It will be prudent, for we certainly cannot claim this worthies fellow as our relative." My father went and I followed, feeling strangely agitated. The captain, a tall man, very thin, but with immense whiskers, walked the bridge with an important air, ag if he were commanding an India mail steamer. My father mounted the 6teps with ceremony, and spoke of his calling with compliments; asked him of the importance of Jersey, its inhabitants, their manners, their dress, the nature of the soil, etc. He thought the captain would perhaps speak of the United States of America; but he spoke only of the vessel in which we were sailing, how it was eqnipped, etc. Finally my father said in a troubled voice: "You have a very interesting old man opening oysters. Do you know any particulars of this good man!" The captain, begfiming to be bored by the conversation, replied carelessly: "He is an old French vagabond whom I found in America last year. He has relatives in Havre, it appears, but does not want to return to them, as he owes them some money. His name is Jules —Jules Darmanche or Jules Davranche, it is immaterial which. It appears that he was well-to-do at one time, but you see yourself that he is. much reduced at present." My father turned a livid hue, his eyes grew haggard, and, in an inarticulate voice, he said: "Ah! yes, very troe. I thank you very much, captain." And he walked away. He approached my mother, who said to him in an agitated voice: "Sit down; did yon find out anything?" He sank upon the seat and exclaimed: "It is he! —it is he! What are we to do now!." She replied quiddy: "We must take care that our son-in-law suspects nothing of this." My father seemed paralysed. He murmured: "What a catastrophe! *\ My mother ejaculated furiously: "I have always thought it would' amount to nothing, and now he returns in this state! As if I did not know how deep a Davranche could sink!" And my father passed hie hand across his face as if be would brush away mother's reproaches. My mother exclaimed: "Give money to Joseph immediately and let him~pay for the oysters. But he is not to recognise that man nor to say anything that will cause him to be recognised; and let us go to another part of the ship, where that man can not approach ns!" With theße words she rose, and my father gave mc a five-franc piece. My sisters regarded our parents with a surprised stare; and I said the sea had made mamma a little uneasy, and departed on my errand. I asked the old man: "How much do we owe yon for the oysters, sir!" "I so longed to say "My node!" He replied: "Two. and a-half francs." I gave him my five-franc piece and he returned mc the change. I looked at his hand, a poor, wrinkled, horny hand, and I looked into his face, 60 old and wrinkled and filled with deepest sadness, and I said to myself: "This is my uncle —papa's brother— my uncle!" I gave him ten eons as a pourboire. He thanked mc profusely and said, "God Bless you, my young sir!" in the tone of one receiving alms.

My sisters look at mc, amazed at my generosity. When I returned the two franffl to my father, mother said, in a surprised voice: __ "Did they cost you three francs? That is impossible!" I declared in a firm voice: "I gave ten sons as pourboire." My mother started, and looked at mc, exclaiming: "You are crazy! To give ten sous to that man—that wTeteh!" She stopped, looking at my father, who pointed to his son-in-law. Before us, on the horizon,' as if growing from the eea, a violet strip was visible. It was Jersey. We returned on another vessel, in order not to encounter him. My mother could not conceal her uneasiness. I never saw my father's brother again.