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Literary
November 8, 1813
The Alexandria Herald
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
In the suburbs of St. Germain, a water-carrier agrees to carry water up five flights for a poor girl's single penny. Seeing her extreme poverty, he returns the penny and gives her all his day's earnings out of compassion.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
THE WATER-CARRIER, OF THE SUBURBS OF ST GERMAIN.
[Translated from the French.]
A water-carrier, of the suburbs of St. Germain, crying his water from street to street, a girl stopped him from an alley, and asked him for some water, & requested him to carry it to the fifth story; but, added she, I can only give you one penny. A penny, said he, to mount five pair of stairs! indeed, said he, it is worth at least two. I grant it, said the girl, with an air of sorrow, but I cannot give you more than I have, and I have not any more. What! you have no more! Alas, it is but too true. Get on, get on, it is of no consequence-- I will carry it up for you. He mounted with difficulty the narrow stairs & arrived in the room. and saw the four walls--the furniture was a ragged rug covering a still more wretched straw bed, & some earthen pots partly broke, into which he poured the water--in a word, all the interior bespoke the greatest misery. You are very poor, my dear friend.--You see I am, and often I am without bread--do you think if I had the money that I would not pay you for your trouble?--here, there is what I promised you, I told you it was all I had.-- The water-carrier, melted into pity, returned her her money, and at the same time put his hand in his pocket & drew out twelvepence. Here, said he, in his turn, here is all I have earned to-day-- I hope that God will enable me to gain more--- and descended satisfied.
[Translated from the French.]
A water-carrier, of the suburbs of St. Germain, crying his water from street to street, a girl stopped him from an alley, and asked him for some water, & requested him to carry it to the fifth story; but, added she, I can only give you one penny. A penny, said he, to mount five pair of stairs! indeed, said he, it is worth at least two. I grant it, said the girl, with an air of sorrow, but I cannot give you more than I have, and I have not any more. What! you have no more! Alas, it is but too true. Get on, get on, it is of no consequence-- I will carry it up for you. He mounted with difficulty the narrow stairs & arrived in the room. and saw the four walls--the furniture was a ragged rug covering a still more wretched straw bed, & some earthen pots partly broke, into which he poured the water--in a word, all the interior bespoke the greatest misery. You are very poor, my dear friend.--You see I am, and often I am without bread--do you think if I had the money that I would not pay you for your trouble?--here, there is what I promised you, I told you it was all I had.-- The water-carrier, melted into pity, returned her her money, and at the same time put his hand in his pocket & drew out twelvepence. Here, said he, in his turn, here is all I have earned to-day-- I hope that God will enable me to gain more--- and descended satisfied.
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
Fable
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Water Carrier
Poverty
Charity
Kindness
Moral Tale
What entities or persons were involved?
[Translated From The French.]
Literary Details
Title
The Water Carrier, Of The Suburbs Of St Germain.
Author
[Translated From The French.]
Key Lines
The Water Carrier, Melted Into Pity, Returned Her Her Money, And At The Same Time Put His Hand In His Pocket & Drew Out Twelvepence. Here, Said He, In His Turn, Here Is All I Have Earned To Day I Hope That God Will Enable Me To Gain More And Descended Satisfied.