The child, who had no whip, tugged in vain at the bridle.  The horse remained motionless.  Then the poor little fellow cried out:  ’O dear, O dear!’ and began to weep bitterly, looking round him as if to implore the assistance of the passers-by.  His dear little face was impressed with so heart piercing a sorrow, that, without reflecting, I made an attempt at which I can now only smile, I must have presented so grotesque a figure.  I am horribly afraid of horses, and I am still more afraid of exposing myself to public gaze.  Nevertheless, I took courage, and, having an umbrella in my hand, I approached the horse, and with the impetuosity of an ant that strives to move a large stone with a little piece of straw, I struck with all my strength on the croup of the rebellious animal.  ‘Oh, thanks, my good lady!’ exclaimed the child, drying his eyes:  ‘hit him again, if you please.  Perhaps he will get up.’

“I began again, heroically; but, alas! either from obstinacy or laziness, the horse bent his knees, and stretched himself out upon the ground; then, getting entangled with his harness, he tore it, and broke his great wooden collar.  I had drawn back quickly, for fear of receiving a kick.  Upon this new disaster, the child could only throw himself on his knees in the middle of the street, clasping his hands and sobbing, and exclaiming in a voice of despair:  ‘Help! help!’

“The call was heard; several of the passers-by gathered round, and a more efficacious correction than mine was administered to the restive horse, who rose in a vile state, and without harness.

“‘My master will beat me,’ cried the poor child, as his tears redoubled; ’I am already two hours after time, for the horse would not go, and now he has broken his harness.  My master will beat me, and turn me away.  Oh dear! what will become of me!  I have no father nor mother.’

“At these words, uttered with a heart-rending accent, a worthy old clothes-dealer of the Temple, who was amongst the spectators, exclaimed, with a kindly air:  ’No father nor mother!  Do not grieve so, my poor little fellow; the Temple can supply everything.  We will mend the harness, and, if my gossips are like me, you shall not go away bareheaded or barefooted in such weather as this.’

“This proposition was greeted with acclamation; they led away both horse and child; some were occupied in mending the harness, then one supplied a cap, another a pair of stockings, another some shoes, and another a good jacket; in a quarter of an hour the child was warmly clad, the harness repaired, and a tall lad of eighteen, brandishing a whip, which he cracked close to the horse’s ears, by way of warning, said to the little boy, who, gazing first at his new clothes, and then at the good woman, believed himself the hero of a fairy-tale.  ’Where does your governor live, little ‘un?’

“‘On the Quai du Canal-Saint-Martin, sir,’ answered he, in a voice trembling with joy.