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Passage Illustrated: The Secret to Successful Begging (II)

The poor man said, he knew not how to ask less of ladies of their rank; and bow’d down his head to the ground.

Poo! said they, — we have no money.

The beggar remained silent for a moment or two, and renew’d his supplication.

— Do not, my fair young ladies, said he, stop your good ears against me. — Upon my word, honest man! said the younger, we have no change.—Then God bless you, said the poor man, and multiply those joys which you can give to others without change! — I observed the elder sister put her hand into her pocket. — I’ll see, said she, if I have a sous. A sous! give twelve, said the supplicant; Nature has been bountiful to you, be bountiful to a poor man.

— I would friend, with all my heart, said the younger, if I had it.

My fair charitable! said he, addressing himself to the elder, — what is it but your goodness and humanity which makes your bright eyes so sweet, that they outshine the morning even in this dark passage? and what was it which made the Marquis de Santerre and his brother say so much of you both as they just passed by?

The two ladies seemed much affected; and impulsively, at the same time they both put their hands into their pocket, and each took out a twelve-sous piece. ["The Act of Charity. Paris," pp. 134-35]

Bibliography

Sterne, Laurence. A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy. Illustrated with one hundred engravings on wood, by Bastin and G. Nichols, from original designs by Jacque and Fussell. London: Joseph Thomas, 1841.

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Last modified 16 September 2018