Itwasperfectlysimpleandnatural。Thepoemmightformthesubjectofadramaoramusicalcantata。ThelamentationsofMargueriteonherblindnessremindoneofMilton’sheart-rendingwordsonthesamesubject：”Forothers，dayandjoyandlight，Forme，alldarkness，alwaysnight。”[4]
Sainte-Beuve，incriticisingJasmin’spoems，saysthat”Itwasin1835thathistalentraiseditselftotheeminenceofwritingoneofhispurestcompositions——natural，touchinganddisinterested——hisBlindGirlofCastel-Cuille，inwhichhemakesusassistinafete，amidstthejoysofthevillagers；andatthegriefofayounggirl，afianceewhomasevereattackofsmallpoxhaddeprivedofhereyesight，andwhomherbetrothedloverhadabandonedtomarryanother。”Thegriefofthepoorabandonedgirl，herchangesofcolour，herattitude，herconversation，herprojects——thewholesurroundedbythefreshnessofspringandthelaughingbrightnessoftheseason——exhibitsacharacterofnatureandoftruthwhichveryfewpoetshavebeenabletoattain。
Oneisquitesurprised，onreadingthissimplepicture，tobeinvoluntarilycarriedbacktothemostexpressivepoemsoftheancientGreeks——toTheocritusforexample——fortheMargueriteofJasminmaybecomparedwiththeSimethaoftheGreekpoet。Thisistruepoetry，richfromthesamesources，andgildedwiththesameimagery。InhisnewcompositionsJasminhasfollowedhisownbias；thisman，whohadfewbooks，butmeditateddeeplyinhisheartandhisloveofnature；
andhefollowedthewayoftrueartwithsecretandperseveringlabourinwhatappearedtohimthemosteloquent，easy，andhappymanner……”Hislanguage，”Sainte-Beuvecontinues，”isalwaysthemostnatural，faithful，transparent，truthful，eloquent，andsober；
neverforgetthislastcharacteristic。Heisnevermorehappythanwhenhefindsthathecanborrowfromanartizanorlaboureroneofthosewordswhichareworthtenofothers。Itisthusthathisgeniushasrefinedduringtheyearsprecedingthetimeinwhichheproducedhisgreatestworks。Itisthusthathehasbecomethepoetofthepeople，writinginthepopularpatois，andforpublicsolemnities，whichremindoneofthoseoftheMiddleAgesandofGreece；thushefindshimselftobe，inshort，morethananyofourcontemporaries，oftheSchoolofHorace，ofTheocritus，orofGray，andallthebrilliantgeniuseswhohaveendeavouredbystudytobringeachoftheirworkstoperfection。”[5]
TheBlindGirlwasthemostremarkableworkthatJasminhaduptothistimecomposed。Thereisnocountrywhereanauthorissopopular，whenheisonceknown，asinFrance。WhenJasmin’spoemwaspublishedhebecame，byuniversalconsent，thePoetLaureateoftheSouth。YetsomeofthelocaljournalsofBordeauxmadelightofhisappearanceinthatcityforthepurposeofrecitinghisasyetunknownpoem。”ThatabarberandhairdresserofAgen，”theysaid，”speakingandwritinginavulgartongue，shouldattempttoamuseorenlightentheintelligentpeopleofBordeaux，seemedtothembeneathcontempt。”
ButJasminsoonshowedthemthatgeniusisofnorankorconditionoflife；andtheirviewsshortlyunderwentasuddenchange。Hisveryappearanceinthecitywasatriumph。Crowdsresortedtothelargehall，inwhichhewastorecitehisnewpoemoftheBlindGirlofCastel-Cuille。Theprefect，themayor，themembersoftheAcademy，andthemostcultivatedpeopleofthecitywerepresent，andreceivedhimwithapplause。
Theremighthavebeensomemisgivingsastothesuccessofthepoem，butfromthemomentthatheappearedontheplatformandbeganhisrecitation，everydoubtdisappeared。Hereadthepoemwithmarvellouseloquence；whilehisartisticfigure，hismobilecountenance，hisdark-browneyebrows，whichheraisedorloweredatwill，hisexpressivegesticulation，andhispassionateacting，addedgreatlytotheeffectofhisrecital，andsoonwoneveryheart。Whenhecametotherefrain，”Thepathswithbudsandblossomsstrew，”
henolongerdeclaimed，butsangafterthemannerofthepeasantsintheirpopularchaunt。Hiseyesbecamesuffusedwithtears，andthosewholistenedtothepatois，eventhoughtheyonlyimperfectlyunderstoodit，partookoftheimpression，andweptalso。
Hewasaliketenderandimpressivethroughoutthepiece，especiallyatthedeathoftheblindgirl；andwhenhehadended，astormofapplauseburstfromtheaudience。Therewasaclappingofhandsandathunderousstampingoffeetthatshookthebuildingalmosttoitsfoundations。
Itwasaremarkablespectacle，thatahumbleworkingman，comparativelyuneducated，shouldhaveevokedthetumultuousapplauseofabrilliantassemblyofintelligentladiesandgentlemen。Itwasindeedsomethingextraordinary。SomesaidthathedeclaimedlikeTalmaorRachel，norwasthereanynoteofdissonanceinhisreception。Theenthusiasmwasgeneralandunanimousamongstthemagistrates，clergy，scientificmen，artists，physicians，ship-owners，menofbusiness，andworkingpeople。TheyalljoinedintheapplausewhenJasminhadconcludedhisrecitation。
FromthistimeforwardJasminwasoneofthemostpopularmenatBordeaux。Hewasentertainedataseriesoffetes。Hewasinvitedtosoireesbytheprefect，bythearchbishop，bythevarioussocialcircles，aswellasbytheworkmen’sassociations。
Theyviedwitheachotherforthehonourofentertaininghim。
Hewentfrommatineestosoirees，andintendaysheappearedatthirty-fourdifferententertainments。
Atlengthhebecamethoroughlytiredandexhaustedbythisenormousfete-ing。Helongedtobeawayandathomewithhiswifeandchildren。Hetookleaveofhisfriendsandadmirerswithemotion，and，notwithstandingthepraisesandacclamationshehadreceivedatBordeaux，hequietlyturnedtopursuehishumbleoccupationatAgen。
ItwasoneofthemostremarkablethingsaboutJasmin，thathewasnevercarriedoffhisfeetbythebrilliantovationshereceived。Thoughenoughtoturnanypoorfellow’shead，heremainedsimpleandnaturaltothelast。Aswesayinthiscountry，hecould”carrycorn”Wehavesaidthat”Gascon”isoftenusedinconnectionwithboastingorgasconading。ButthetermwasinnowayapplicabletoJasmin。Helefttheechoofpraisesbehindhim，andreturnedtoAgentoenjoythecomfortsofhisfireside。
Hewasnot，however，withouttempterstoweanhimfromhishomeandhisordinarypursuits。In1836，theyearafterhistriumphalreceptionatBordeaux，someofhisfriendsurgedhimtogotoParis——thecentreoflightandleading——inorderto”makehisfortune。”
Butno！hehadnevercontemplatedtheideaofleavinghisnativetown。ArichwinemerchantofToulousewasoneofhistempters。
HeadvisedJasmintogotothegreatmetropolis，wheregeniusalonewasrecognised。Jasminansweredhiminacharmingletter，settingforththereasonswhichdeterminedhimtoremainathome，principallybecausehistastesweremodestandhisdesireswerehomely。”Youtoo，”hesaid，”withoutregardtotroublingmydaysandmynights，havewrittentoaskmetocarrymyguitarandmydressing-combtothegreatcityofkings，becausethere，yousay，mypoeticalhumourandmywell-knownverseswillbringtorrentsofcrownstomypurse。Oh，youmaywellboasttomeofthisshowerofgoldanditsclinkingstream。Youonlymakemecry：’Honourisbutsmoke，gloryisbutglory，andmoneyisonlymoney！’Iaskyou，innocravenspirit，ismoneytheonlythingforamantoseekwhofeelsinhishearttheleastsparkofpoetry?Inmytown，whereeveryoneworks，leavemeasIam。
Everysummer，happierthanaking，Ilayupmysmallprovisionforthewinter，andthenIsinglikeagoldfinchundertheshadeofapoplaroranash-tree，onlytoohappytogrowgreyinthelandwhichgavemebirth。Onehearsinsummerthepleasantzigo，ziou，ziou，ofthenimblegrasshopper，ortheyoungsparrowpluminghiswingstomakehimselfreadyforflight，heknowsnotwhither；butthewisemanactsnotso。Iremainhereinmyhome。
Everythingsuitsme——earth，sky，air——allthatisnecessaryformycomfort。Tosingofjoyouspovertyonemustbejoyfulandpoor。Iamsatisfiedwithmyrye-bread，andthecoolwaterfrommyfountain。”
Jasminremainedfaithfultotheserulesofconductduringhislife。ThoughheafterwardsmadeavisittoParis，itwasonlyforashorttime；buthisnativetownofAgen，hishomeontheGravier，hisshop，hiswifeandhischildren，continuedtobehislittleparadise。Hismusesoaredoverhimlikeaguardianangel，givinghimsongsforhishappinessandconsolationforhissorrows。Hewas，aboveallthings，happyinhiswife。
Shecheeredhim，strengthenedhim，andconsoledhim。
Hethusportrayedherinoneofhispoems：”Hereyeslikesparklingstarsofheavenlyblue；
Hercheekssosweet，soround，androsy；
Herhairsobright，andbrown，andcurly；
Hermouthsolikearipenedcherry；
Herteethmorebrilliantthanthesnow。”
Jasminwasattachedtohiswife，notonlybyherbeauty，butbyhergoodsense。Shecounselledandadvisedhimineverything。
Hegavehimselfuptoherwiseadvice，andneverhadoccasiontoregretit。Itwaswithhermodestmarriage-portionthathewasenabledtoestablishhimselfasamasterhairdresser。
Whenheopenedhisshop，hesetovertheentrancedoorthissign：”L’ArtembellitLaNature：Jasmin，CoiffeurdesJeunesGens。”Ashisfamilygrew，inordertoincreasehisincome，headdedthewords，”CoiffeurdesDames。”Thisprovedtobeahappyadditiontohisbusiness。MostoftheladiesofAgenstroveforthehonourofhavingtheirhairdressedbythepoeticalbarber。Whiledressingtheirhairhedelightedthemwithhissongs。Hehadasympatheticvoice，whichtouchedtheirsoulsandthrewthemintothesweetestofdreams。
ThoughJasminwasalwaysdisposedtorhymealittle，hiswisewifeneverallowedhimtoforgethisregulardailywork。
Atthesametimesheunderstoodthathisdelicatenaturecouldnotbeentirelyabsorbedbythelaboursofanordinaryworkman。
Shewasnolongerjealousofhissolitarycommunionswithhismuse；andafterhisusualhoursofoccupation，shelefthim，orsatbyhim，toenablehimtopursuehisdearreveriesinquiet。
Mariette，orMarie，asshewasusuallycalled，wasathoroughlygoodpartnerforJasmin。Thoughnotbyanymeansahighlyeducatedwoman，shefelttheelevatingeffectsofpoetryevenonherself。Sheinfluencedherhusband’smindthroughherpracticalwisdomandgoodsense，whileheinhisturninfluencedhersbyelevatinghersoulandintellect。
Jasmin，whilehewaslabouringoversomesongorverse，founditnecessarytoreciteittosomeonenearhim，butmostlytohiswife。HewanderedwithheralongthebanksoftheGaronne，andwhileherecited，shelistenedwithbatedbreath。Shecouldevenventuretocorrecthim；forsheknew，betterthanhedid，theordinaryGascondialect。Sheoftenfoundforhimthetruewordforthepicturewhichhedesiredtopresenttohisreader。
ThoughJasminwasalwaysthankfulforherhelp，hedidnotabandonhisownwordswithoutsomelittlecontention。
Hehadworkedoutthesubjectinhismind，andanynewword，ormodeofdescription，mightinterruptthebeautyoftheverses。
Whenheatlengthrecognisedthejusticeofhercriticism，hewouldsay，”Marie，youareright；andIwillagainthinkoverthesubject，andmakeitfitmorecompletelyintotheGasconidiom。”Incertaincasespassagesweresuppressed；inotherstheywereconsiderablyaltered。
WhenJasmin，aftermuchlabourandcorrection，hadfinishedhispoem，hewouldcallabouthimhisintimatefriends，andrecitethepoemtothem。Hehadnoobjectiontothemostthoroughcriticism，byhiswifeaswellasbyhisfriends。Whenthepoemwaslongandelaborate，theauditorssometimesbegantoyawn。
Thenthewifesteppedinandsaid：”Jasmin，youmuststop；leavetheremainderofthepoemforanotherday。”Thustherecitalceasedforthetime。
ThepeopleofAgenentertainedalivelysympathyfortheirpoet。
Eventhosewhomighttoacertainextentdepreciatehistalent，dideveryjusticetothenobilityofhischaracter。Perhapssomemightenvythepositionofamanwhohadrisenfromtheranksandsecuredtheesteemofmenoffortuneandevenoftheleadersofliteraryopinion。Jasmin，likeeverypersonenviedorperhapsdetracted，hadhishoursofdepression。Butthestrongsoulofhiswifeinthesehourscametohisrelief，andassuagedthespiritofthemanandthepoet。
Jasminwasatonetimeonthepointofabandoningverse-making。
Yethewasencouragedtoproceedbythedemandswhichweremadeforhissongsandverses。Indeed，nofetewasconsideredcompletewithouttherecitationsofJasmin。Itwasnodoubtveryflattering；yetfamehasitsdrawbacks。Hisinvitationswereusuallyunceremonious。
Jasminwasnodoubtrecognisedasapoet，andanexcellentreciter；yethewasapersonwhohandledtherazorandthecurling-tongs。Whenhewasinvitedtoalocalparty，itwasmerelythathemightrecitehisversesgratuitously。Hedidnotbelongtotheirsocialcircle，andhiswifewasnotincluded。
Whatsympathycouldshehavewiththesedistinguishedpersonages?
AtlengthJasmindeclinedtogowherehiswifecouldnotbeinvited。Hepreferredtostayathomewithhisfamily；andallfurtherinvitationsofthissortwererefused。
Besides，hisfriendNodierhadwarnedhimthatapoetofhisstampoughtnottoappeartoooftenatthefeastsofthelazy；