After a few days spent in revisiting the scenes of my childhood, and breathing afresh the sweet perfumes still hovering around infancy’s cradle, I left for Paris, where I scarcely rested The manner in which I employed the few hours passed in that hot city would doubtless surprise you, madame.  My carriage rolled rapidly through the wealthy portion of the city, and following my directions was soon lost in the gloomy solitude of the Marais.

I alighted in the wilderness of a deserted street before a melancholy and dejected-looking house, and as I raised the heavy latch of the massive door, my heart beat as if I were about to meet, after a long absence, an aged mother who wept for my return, or a much-loved sister.  I took a key from its nail in the porter’s lodge and began to climb the stair, which, viewed from below, looked more picturesque than inviting, particularly when one proposed to ascend to the very top.  Fortunately, I am a mountaineer; I bounded up that wide ladder with as light a step as if it had been a marble stairway, with richly wrought balustrade.  At the end of the ascent I hurriedly opened a door, and, perfectly at home, entered a small room.  I paused motionless upon the threshold, and glanced feelingly around.  The room contained nothing but a table covered with books and dust, a stiff oak arm-chair, a hard and uninviting-looking lounge, and on the mantel-piece, in two earthen vases, designed by Ziegler, the only ornaments of this poor retreat, a few dry, withered asters.  No one expected me, I expected no one.  There I remained until evening, waiting for nightfall, thinking the sun would never set and the day never end.  Finally, as the night deepened, I leaned on the sill of the only window, and with an emotion I cannot describe, watched the stars peep forth one by one.  I would have given them all for a sight of the one star which will never shine again.  Shall I tell you about it, madame, and would you comprehend me?  You know nothing of my life; you do not know that, during two years, I lived in that garret, poor, unknown, with no other friend than labor, no other companion than the little light which appeared and disappeared regularly every evening through the branches of a Canada pine.  I did not know then, neither do I know now, who watched by that pale gleam, but I felt for it a nameless affection, a mysterious tenderness.  On leaving my retreat, I sent it, through the trees, a long farewell, and the not seeing it on my return distressed me as the loss of a brother.  What has become of you, little shining beacon, who illumined the gloom of my studious nights?  Did a storm extinguish you? or has God, whom I invoked for you, granted my prayer, and do you shine with a less troubled ray in happier climes?  It is a long story; and I know a fresher and a more charming one, which I will speedily tell you.