a," resumed Mother Bunch; overwhelmed with anxiety and terror on
hearing the blacksmith jest at such a moment, "I conjure you to listen
to me! No doubt you uphold in the verses the sacred love of labor; but
you do also grievously deplore and deprecate the unjust lot of the poor
laborers, devoted as they are, without hope, to all the miseries of
life; you recommend, indeed, only fraternity among men; but your good
and noble heart vents its indignation, at the same time, against the
selfish and the wicked. In fine, you fervently hasten on, with the ardor
of your wishes, the emancipation of all the artisans who, less fortunate
than you, have not generous M. Hardy for employer. Say, Agricola, in
these times of trouble, is there anything more necessary to compromise
you than that numerous copies of your song have been found in possession
of the persons who have been apprehended?"

Agricola was moved by these affectionate and judicious expressions of
an excellent creature, who reasoned from her heart; and he began to view
with more seriousness the advice which she had given him.

Perceiving that she had shaken him, the sewing-girl went on to say: "And
then, bear your fellow-workman, Remi, in recollection."

"Remi!" said Agricola, anxiously.

"Yes," resumed the sempstress; "a letter of his, a letter in itself
quite insignificant, was found in the house of a person arrested last
year for conspiracy; and Remi, in consequence, remained a month in
prison."

"That is true, but the injustice of his implication was easily shown,
and he was set at liberty."

"Yes, Agricola: but not till he had lain a month in prison; and that has
furnished the motive of the person who advised you to conceal yourself!
A month in prison! Good heavens! Agricola, think of that! and your
mother."

These words made a powerful impression upon Agricola. He took up the
letter and again read it attentively.

"And the man who has been lurking all this evening about the house?"
proceeded she. "I constantly recall that circumstance, which cannot be
naturally accounted for. Alas! what a blow it would be for your father,
and poor mother, who is incapable of earning anything. Are you not
now their only resource? Oh! consider, then, what would become of them
without you--without your labor!"

"It would indeed be terrible," said Agricola, impatiently casting the
letter upon the table. "What you have said concerning Remi is too true.
He was as innocent as I a