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papillotes. Pierre was admitted without ceremony, and gave the préfet the history of the purse, without omitting a single circumstance, not even his own struggles with the temptation. The préfet immediately recognized the purse by the description Mr. Farquhar had given of it. He counted the money, and found that it tallied with that gentleman's statement, and that not a piece was missing. You are an honest fellow, Pierre," said the préfet, „, and deserve something for your good conduct. Tell me should I discover the owner of all this money, what reward you will expect.“

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,, Nay, please your honour," said the fisherman, I want no reward, not I. I am too glad to be rid of it; for I really think that, if we had kept it any longer in the house, I and my poor Katrine, who never quarrelled yet, would have quarelled about it, or perhaps have spent the money, which would have been worse.

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With a lightened heart Pierre tripped back to the quay, singing as he went, ,, Quand je danse, chère maman, 66 etc. etc. When he got there, he found his nets not so bad as he had thought: his tackle was in serviceable condition, and even the old boat appeared less battered than before, and every thing belonging to him wore a better and more cheering aspect. Were they really changed? No; but he was changed himself. He was at ease in his mind: he had obtained a great victory, and had preserved his integrity unspotted.

While all these things had been passing, poor Katrine had remained at home in a state of great anxiety. She had missed the purse, and had imagined

that her arguments had conquered Pierre's scruples, and that he was gone to buy the much desired new boat, and some presents for herself and the children; and her fancy revelled amongst all the variety of things he would probably purchase and bring home with him. At last she began to be surprised at his long absence. Next she became alarmed, fancying all sorts of terrific uncertainties. Perhaps he had been found with the purse in his possession, and had been taken up for the robbery. She was getting more and more uneasy, when she was startled by the entrance of a gentleman, evidently a foreigner. Mr. Farquhar had attended at the préfet's at the appointed hour, and there received, to his no little joy, his lost purse. He there received also, and was much touched by, the account of the honest fisherman's conduct, and determined to lose no time in finding him out. He was but an indifferent Frenchman, and had some difficulty in expressing himself. Katrine, however, comprehended that he was the owner of the purse, and supposed that he was come to claim it. Her agitation became extreme. ,,Ah," thought she, Pierre was in the right. If there was no harm in keeping the purse, I should not now feel so guilty or so ashamed. “ Most glad would she have been could she have restored it; and she was beginning to stammer out her excuse, and utter a few confused words, when the tide of her thoughts was suddenly turned by seeing Mr. Farquhar take out the identical purse from his pocket. „Oh, thank God," said she, ,, then you have got it!" She felt a load removed from her heart. At this moment Pierre entered, leading the little Janneton by the hand. Are you

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Pierre Leroux?" said Mr. Farquhar. The fisherman having replied in the affirmative: Then you are a very honest fellow, and I am come to reward you for finding my purse.

,,I beg your pardon, sir," said Pierre,,,I had nothing to do with it. This little girl found it."

,,Then I must reward her," answered Mr. Farquhar. ,, Here, my little girl, is a gold Napoleon, which I give you because you are a good child, and, as soon as you found my purse, brought it home to your mother to take care of it."

Janneton skipped about, as happy as a young mountain kid; and after showing her gold coin in turn to her father, mother, and brothers, and having kissed it herself several times, she ran out of the house to show an old dame next door what a fine beautiful thing the ,, brave milord" had given her.

„Now," said Mr. Farquhar, „having paid what is just to the child who found the purse, I must give what is due to the man who restored it. I cannot conveniently give you the whole of its contents, but the half I willingly offer you." And so saying, he put twenty-five of the Napoleons into Pierre's hand. „Take it," continued he, and may you receive it with as much willingness as I feel in bestowing it."

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Pierre tried to speak, but tears and surprise choked his utterance. All he could say was, ,.Oh, sir, I don't deserve it; you are too good; I did nothing; it is too much." As for Katrine her joy was more loquacious. She almost stunned Mr. Farquhar with the vehemence of her gratitude, and he was glad to make his escape from the cabin. When he was gone, Pierre took his wife's hand, and said, „Ah, Katrine, shall we

not enjoy this money, which we may call our own more than we could have enjoyed the whole if we had wrongfully kept it?" Do my young friends wish to hear how Pierre prospered afterwards? The anecdote of the purse was soon made known to all the English families in the place, and Pierre's fish was always the first for which enquiry was made in the market. He bought a new boat, the best built boat in the port. He grew rich for his condition in life, and removed his family to a comfortable house. His children grew up honest and good, and he daily instructed them never to part from their integrity, the poor man's rich inheritance: and, in short, the old English proverb, ,, Honesty is the best policy," was proved by the example of Pierre Leroux to hold good in France as well as in England.

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I miss that voice of waves which first

Awoke my childhood's glee;

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Oh! rich your Myrtles breath may rise,
Soft, soft your winds may be;

Yet my sick heart within me dies

Where is my own blue sea?

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