PARISIAN BEGGARS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 58, 6 February 1877, Page 3

PARISIAN BEGGARS.

Among the curious stories told of Parisian beggars is one concerning a blind man—really blind—who was always to be found near a certain gateway on the Boule yard Sabastopol. A passer-by, who was in the habit of giving him a couple of sous, one day dropped a double louis in his hat by mistake. On discovering his error, some time after, he returned to reclaim his gold. The blind man was gone, but a cripple in the gateway directed him to the Rue due Petit Carreau, where he said, " Monsieur Benjamin lived." The inquirer went to the address indicated. A nicely-dressed servant came to the door. " Monsieur Benjamin in ?" "Yes, sir." Our friend was shown into an elegant ante-room, through which one could see into the dining-room, where there was a table admirably appointed with fine white linen, crystal, and silver. The maid came to say that Monsieur Benjamin would be glad to see his visitor, and at the same time she opened the door of an apartment furnished in the Turkish fashion, in which the blind man was seated on a divan. " You wish to speak to me," he said. "Yes, indeed, sir, replied our friend, rather embarrassed. "I am sorry to trouble you, but the fact is—l believe—l rather think—that in passing along the Boulevard Sebastopol this morning, I'gave you, by mistake, two louis for two sous." The blind man said with the utmost coolness: "That is quite possible; the cash has not been looked at yet; and if there is a mistake, nothing is easier than to rectify it." He rang the bell, which was answered by the maid. " Ask Mr Ernest," he said, "if in the receipts of this morning he found a piece of forty francs." The piece was there: the maid fetched it, and at the bidding of her master presented it on a tray of Chinese lac to his visitor. The visitor pounced upon his coin, and without more ado, proceeded to take his leave. " Pardon me, sir," said the blind man, "you have forgotten something. There are two sous to return to me."