Yes！——letourfingersfeeltherule，Theangrychidingoftheschool；
Truetoournurse，ingoodorill，WearenotFrench，butGasconstill。
’Tissaidthatagenewfeelingbrings，Ouryouthreturnsaswegrowold；
AndthatweloveagainthethingsWhichinourmemoryhadgrowncold。
Ifthisbetrue，thetimewillcomeWhentoourancienttongue，oncemore，Youwillreturn，astoahome，Andthankusthatwekeptthestore。
RememberthouthetaletheytellOfLacueeandLacepede，[2]
Whenagecrepton，wholovedtodwellOnwordsthatoncetheirmusicmade；
And，inthemidstofgrandeur，hung，Delighted，ontheirparenttongue。
Thiswillyoudo：anditmaybe，Whenwearyoftheworld’sdeceit，Somesummer-dayweyetmayseeYourcominginourmeadowssweet；
Where，midsttheflowers，thefinch’slayShallwelcomeyouwithmusicgay；
WhileyoushallbidourantiquetongueSomeworddevise，orairsupply，Likethosethatcharm’dyouryouthsolong，Andlentaspelltomemory。
Bethinkyouhowwestray’daloneBeneaththoseelmsinAgengrown，Thateachanarchaboveusthrows，Likegiants，hand-in-hand，inrows。
Astormoncestruckafav’ritetree，Ittrembled，shook，andbentitsboughs，——
Thevistaisnolongerfree：
Ourgovernornopauseallows；”Bringhitherhatchet，axe，andspade，Thetreemuststraightbeprostratelaid！”
Butvainlystrengthandartweretried，Thestatelytreeallforcedefied；
Wellmighttheelmresistandfoiltheirmight，Forthoughhisbranchesweredecay’dtosight，Asmanyashisleavestherootsspreadround，Andinthefirmsetearththeysleptprofound。
Sincethen，morefull，moregreen，moregay，Thecrestsamidthebreezesplay：
AndbirdsofeverynoteandhueCometroopingtohisshadeinSpring；
Eachsummertheytheirlaysrenew，Andwhiletheyearsenduretheysing。
Andthusitis，believeme，sir，Withthisenchantress——shewecallOursecondmother；FrenchmenerrWho，cent’riessince，proclaimedherfall。
No！shestilllives，herwordsstillring，Herchildrenyethercarolssing；
AndthousandyearsmayrollawayBeforehermagicnotesdecay。
September2nd，1837。
FootnotestoJASMIN’SDEFENCEOFTHEGASCONDIALECT。
[1]Jasminherequotesseveralpatoissongs，wellknowninthecountry。
[2]BothGascons。
THEMASON’SSON。[1]
[LASEMMANOD’UNFIL。]
Riches，n’oubliezpasunseulpetitmomentQuedespauvreslagrandecouveeSereveilletoujourslesourirealaboucheQuandelles’endortsansavoirfaire！
RicheetPauvre。
Theswallowsflyabout，althoughtheairiscold，Ouroncefairsunhasshedhisbrightestgold。
ThefieldsdecayOnAll-saintsday。
Ground’shardafoot，Thebirdsaremute；
Thetree-topsshedtheirchill’dandyellowleaves，Theydyingfall，andwhirlaboutinsheaves。
Onenight，whenleavinglateaneighb’ringtown，Althoughtheheavenswereclear，Twochildrenpacedalong，withmanyamoan——
Brotherandsisterdear；
AndwhentheyreachedthewaysidecrossUpontheirkneestheyfell，quiteclose。
AbelandJane，bythemoon’slight，Werelongtimesilentquite；
Astheybeforethealtarbend，Withoneaccordtheirvoicessweetascend。”MotherofGod，Virgincompassionate！
Oh！sendthyangeltoabateThesicknessofourfatherdear，Thatmothermaynolongerfear——
Andforusboth！Oh！BlessedMother，Welovethee，moreandmore，wetwotogether！”
TheVirgindoubtlessheardtheirprayer，For，whentheyreachedthecottagenear，Thedoorbeforethemopenedwide，Andthedearmother，eresheturnedaside，Criedout：”Mychildrenbrave，Thefever’sgone——yourfather’slifeissafe！
Nowcome，mylittlelambs，andthankGodforHisgrace。”
Intheirsmallcot，forthwiththethree，ToGodinprayerdidbendtheknee，Motherandchildrenintheirgladnessweeping，Whileonasorrybedamanlaysleeping——
Itwasthefather，goodHilaire！
Notlongago，asoldierbrave，Butnow——aworkingmason’sslave。
II。
Thedawnnextdaywasclearandbright，TheglintofmorningsunlightGleamedthroughthewindowstaper，Althoughtheyonlywerepatchedupwithpaper。
WhenAbelnoiselessentered，withhisfoot-fallslight，Heslippedalongtothebedside；
Heopedthelittlecurtain，withoutstirringoftherings；
Hisfatherwokeandsmiled，withjoythatpleasurebrings。”Abel，”hesaid，”Ilongedforthee；nowlistenthoutome：
We’reverypoorindeed——I’venothingsavemyweeklyfee；
ButHeavenhashelpedourlivestosave——bycuringme。
Dearboy，alreadythouartfifteenyears——
Youknowtoread，towrite——thenhavenofears；
Thouartalone，thou’rtsad，butdreamnomore，Thouought’sttowork，fornowthouhastthepower！
Iknowthypainandsorrow，andthydeepalarms；
Moregoodthanstrong——howcouldthylittlearmsPlyhardthehammeronthestonyblocks?
Butourhardmaster，thoughhelikesgoodlooks，Mayfindtheequiteayouth；
Hesaysthatthouhastspirit；andhemeansforthybehoof。
Thendowhatgivestheepleasure，Withoutvain-glory，Abel；andspendthypreciousleisureInwritingorinworking——eachisalabourworthy，Eitherwithpenorhammer——theyarethetoolsmostlofty；
Labourinmindorbody，theydofatigueusever——
Butthen，Abelmyson，IhopethatneverOneblushuponyoue’erwillgatherToshamethehonourofyourfather。”
Abel’sblueeyeswerebrightwithblissandjoy——
Fatherrejoiced——fourtimesembracedtheboy；
Motheranddaughtermixedtheirtearsandkisses，ThenAbelsawthemaster，tohishappiness，Andafterwardsfourdaysdidpass，Allfullofjoyfulness。
Butpleasurewiththepoorisalwaysunenduring。
AbrutalorderhadbeengivenonSundaymorningThatif，nextday，thefatherdidnotshowhisface，Anotherworkman，inthatcase，Wouldbeemployedtotakehisplace！
AshotofcannonfilledwithgrapeCouldnothavecausedsuchgrief，AsthismostcruelordergivesTothesefourpoorunfortunates。”I’mcured！”Hilairecried；”letmeriseanddress；”
Hetried——fellback；andthenhemustconfessHecouldnotlabourforanotherweek！
Oh，wretchedplight——
Forhim，hisworkwaslife！
Shouldhekeepsick，’twasdeath！
Allfoursatmute；suddenamyofhopeBeamedinthesoulofAbel。
Hebrushedthetear-dropsfromhiseen，Assumedamanlymien，Strengthrushedintohislittlearms，Onhisbrightfacetheblushescame；
Heroseatonce，andwenttoreasonWiththatcruelmastermason。
Abelreturned，withspiritsbright，Nolongertremblingwithaffright；
Atoncehegailycries，Withlaughingmouthandlaughingeyes：——”Myfather！takeyourrest；havefaithandcourage；
Takealltheweek，thenthoushaltworkapace；
Someone，wholovestheewell，willtakethyplace，Thenthoumay’stgoagainandshowthyface。”
III。
Savedbyafriend，indeed！Heyethadfriendsinstore！
Oh！howIwishthatinthislifesolonely……
But，allwillbeexplainedatworkonMonday；
Therearegoodfriendsasyet——perhapsthere’smanymore。
ItwasindeedourAbeltookhisfather’splace。
Atofficefirstheshowedhisface；
Thentothework-yard：thushisfatherhebeguiled。
Spiteofhisslendermien，heworkedandalwayssmiled。