the care of his little son. His neighbors, the
Gerards, were very kind to Amedee, and continued to keep him with them
all the afternoon. This state of affairs could not always continue, and
M. Violette hesitated to abuse his worthy friends' kindness in that way.

However, Amedee gave them little trouble, and Mamma Gerard loved him as
if he were her own. The orphan was now inseparable from little Maria, a
perfect little witch, who became prettier every day. The engraver, having
found in a cupboard the old bearskin cap which he had worn as a grenadier
in the National Guard, a headdress that had been suppressed since '98,
gave it to the children. What a magnificent plaything it was, and how
well calculated to excite their imagination! It was immediately
transformed in their minds into a frightfully large and ferocious bear,
which they chased through the apartment, lying in wait for it behind
armchairs, striking at it with sticks, and puffing out their little
cheeks with all their might to say "Boum!" imitating the report of a gun.
This hunting diversion completed the destruction of the old furniture.
Tranquil in the midst of the joyous uproar and disorder, the engraver was
busily at work finishing off the broad ribbon of the Legion of Honor, and
the large bullion epaulettes of the Prince President, whom, as a
suspicious republican and foreseeing the 'coup d'etat', he detested with
all his heart.

"Truly, Monsieur Violette," said Mother Gerard to the employe, when he
came for his little son upon his return from the office, and excused
himself for the trouble that the child must give his neighbors, "truly, I
assure you, he does not disturb us in the least. Wait a little before you
send him to school. He is very quiet, and if Maria did not excite him
so--upon my word, she is more of a boy than he--your Amedee would always
be looking at the pictures. My Louise hears him read every day two pages
in the Moral Tales, and yesterday he amused Gerard by telling him the
story of the grateful elephant. He can go to school later--wait a
little."

But M. Violette had decided to send Amedee to M. Batifol's. "Oh, yes, as
a day scholar, of course! It is so convenient; not two steps' distance.
This will not prevent little Amedee from seeing his friends often. He is
nearly seven years old, and very backward; he hardly knows how to make
his letters. One can not begin with children too soon," and much more to
the same effect.

This was th