MADAME GEOFFRIN, 345 



affecting, an agreeable, and perhaps a new fpectacle 

 for your philofophy and for humanity." 



We omit the reft of this letter, in the concluflon of 

 which fhe informs M. de Voltaire that fhe would re- 

 mit to him in October the king's donation, and with 

 it " the widow's mite." 



Madame GeofFrin had two kinds of beneficence, 

 which arefeldom found together. One, that, fo to 

 fpeak, was yearly and regular, the other daily and de- 

 pending on the moment ; and whenever an opportu- 

 nity was to be had for putting it in practice. She 

 bellowed various little penfions for the education of 

 .children, and old difmhTed fervants, &c. Sundays, the 

 day on which fhe never received company, were de- 

 voted to the payment and the conferring of thefe little 

 penfions in pacquets ; but there feldom pafTed a day in 

 the week that was not marked by fome act of bounty. 

 I lhall only adduce a couple of inftances. 



She had ordered two marble vafes of the celebrated 

 Bouchardon, which were brought home to her by two 

 of his workmen ; but, unfortunately, the cover of one 

 was broke to pieces. cc Ah, madam, faid the man, 

 our comrade who had this misfortune, is fo diftrefTed 

 that he could not have the courage to appear before 

 you ; and if it fhould come to the knowledge of our 

 mafter, he will turn him away, and the man has a wife 

 and four children." Well, well, let him make himfelf 

 eafy, anfwered madame GeofFrin ; I will not mention a 

 word of it to any living. The people being gone, fhe 

 bethought herfelf : The poor fellow muft have had % 

 .deal of uneafinefs ; what anxiety has he not fufFered ! 

 I muft make him amends for it : — and directly lent 



him 



