ion; and soon, by studious
perseverance, his talents were developed by real knowledge. At length
the term of apprenticeship expired, and as the master was expressing
to the pupil the satisfaction which his good conduct and diligence had
given him, he was struck with astonishment when he replied: 'Master, I
have a favour to ask of you. I feel that I have not always as I ought
employed my time, which was to have indemnified you for the cares and
lessons you have spent on me. I beg of you, then, to permit me to
continue with you three months longer without salary.' This request
confirmed the attachment of the master to his pupil. But scarcely was
the apprenticeship of the latter over, when he lost his mother and his
stepfather, and found himself alone in the world with an elder
sister--being thus left to provide, by his own industry, for the
maintenance of two persons. Nevertheless, he ardently desired to
complete his necessary studies, for he felt that the knowledge of
mathematics was absolutely indispensable to his attaining perfection
in his art. This determined purpose conquered every obstacle. Not only
did he labour perseveringly for his sister and himself, but also found
means to attend regularly a course of public lectures which the Abbe
Marie was then giving at the College Mazarin. The professor, having
remarked the unwearied assiduity of the young clockmaker, made a
friend of him, and delighted in considering him as his beloved pupil.
This friendship, founded on the truest esteem and the most
affectionate gratitude, contributed wondrously to the progress of the
student.

The great metamorphosis which was effected so suddenly in the young
clockmaker was very remarkable. There is something very encouraging in
his example, affording as it does a proof of the power of the man who
arms himself with a determined purpose. At first, the struggle with
difficulties appears hard, painful, almost impossible; but only let
there be a little perseverance, the obstacles vanish one after the
other, the way is made plain: instead of the thorns which seem to
choke it, verdant laurels suddenly spring up, the reward of constant
and unwearied labour. Thus it was with our studious apprentice. His
ideas soon expand; his work acquires more precision; a new and a more
extended horizon opens before him. From a skilful workman, it is not
long before he becomes an accomplished artist. Yet a few years, and
the name of Breguet is celebrated.