THE SIX 5 



Uncle Paul has no family, he is alone; yet he is 

 never happier than when with children, children who 

 chatter, who ask this, that, and the other, with the 

 adorable ingenuousness of an awakening mind. He 

 has prevailed upon his brother to let his children 

 spend a part of the year with their uncle. There 

 are three: Emile, Jules, and Claire. 



( 'laire is the oldest. When the first cherries come 

 she will be twelve years old. Little Claire is indus- 

 trious, obedient, gentle, a little timid, but not in the 

 least vain. She knits stockings, hems handkerchiefs, 

 studies her lessons, without thinking of what dress 

 she shall wear Sunday. When her uncle, or Mother 

 Anibroisine, who is almost a mother to her, tells her 

 to do a certain thing, she does it at once, even with 

 pleasure, happy in being able to render some little 

 service. It is a very good quality. 



Jules is two years younger. He is a rather thin 

 little body, lively, all fire and flame. When he is 

 preoccupied about something, he does not sleep. He 

 has an insatiable appetite for knowledge. Every- 

 thing interests and takes possession of him. An ant 

 drawing a straw, a sparrow chirping on the roof, are 

 sufficient to engross his attention. He then turns to 

 his uncle \\ith his internfmahle questions: Why is 

 this? Why is that? His uncle has great faith in 

 this curiosity, which, properly guided, may lead to 

 good results. But there is one thing about Jules 

 that his uncle does not like. As we must be honest, 

 ill own that Jules has a little fault which would 

 become a grave one if not guarded against: he has 

 l -I If he is opposed he cries, gets angry, 



