1822—1843 17 



How could it have deserved the Montyon prize," he added, 

 with an edifying respect for the decisions of the Academy' 

 " if the reading of it were not of great value? " 



'You know," he announced to his parents when his 



appointment was definitely settled, "that a supplementary 



master has board and lodging and 300 francs a year! " This 



sum appeared to him enormous. He added, on January 20 : 



' At the end of this month money will already be owing to 



me ; and yet I assure you I am not really worth it." 



Pleased with this situation, though such a modest one, full 



>. of eagerness to work, he wrote in the same letter : " I find it 



: an excellent thing to have a room of my own ; I have more 



time to myself, and I am not interrupted by those endless 



little things that the boys have to do, and which take up a 



good deal of time. Indeed I am already noticing a change 



J in my work ; difficulties are getting smoothed away because I 



have more time to give to overcoming them; in fact I am 



beginning to hope that by working as I do and shall continue 



to do I may be received with a good rank at the Ecole. But 



\ do not think that I am overworking myself at all ; I take every 



j recreation necessary to my health." 



Besides his ordinary work, he had been entrusted with 

 the duty of giving some help in mathematics and physical 

 science to the youths who were reading for their baccalaureat. 

 As if reproaching himself with being the only member of 

 the family who enjoyed the opportunity of learning, he offered 

 to pay for the schooling of his youngest sister Josephine in a 

 girls' college at Lons-le-Saulnier. He wrote, " I could easily 

 do it by giving private lessons. I have already refused to 

 give some to several boys at 20 or 25 fr. a month. I refused 

 because I have not too much time to give to my work " But 

 he was quite disposed to waive this motive in deference to 

 superior judgment. His parents promised to think over this 

 fraternal wish, without however accepting his generous sugges- 

 tion, offering even to supplement his small salary of 24 francs 

 a month by a little allowance, in case he wished for a few 

 private lessons to prepare himself more thoroughly for the 

 i^cole Normale. They quite recognized his right to advise; 



for acts of private virtue or self-sacrifice. The laureates are chosen 

 every year by the Academie France, and in this way many obscure 



ss r se sr ded ' and many exceiient books hL ^ z 



