4^4 ANECDOTE OP EOISSY, 



of the moft horrible — of ftarving : accordingly they 

 waited, in their folitary and deferted apartment, their 

 dear deliverer death, in his moft ghaftly form* Their 

 refolution, their fortitude were immoveable. 



They locked the door, and began to faft. When 

 any one came and knocked, they fied trembling into 

 the corner, and were in perpetual dread left their pur- 

 pofe fhould be difcovered. Their little fon, who had 

 not yet learnt to filence the calls of hunger by artificial 

 reafons, whimpering and crying, afked for bread ; but 

 they always found means to quiet him. 



It occurred to one of Boiffy's friends, that it was 

 very extraordinary he fhould never find him at home. 

 At jfirfh he thought the family were removed ; but, on 

 being allured of the contrary, he grew more uneafy. 

 He called feveral times in one day : always nobody at 

 home ! At laft he burft open the door. — Oh what a 

 fight ! 



He faw his friend, with his wife and fon, lying on 

 a bed, pale and emaciated, fcarcely able to utter a 

 found. The boy lay in the middle, and the hufband 

 and wife had their arms thrown over him. The child 

 ftretched out his little hands towards his deliverer, and 

 his hrft word was — bread ! It was now the third day 

 that not a morfel of food had entered his lips. 



The parents lay frill in a perfect ftupor ; they had 

 never heard the burfting open of the door, and felt 

 nothing of the embraces of their agitated friend. Their 

 wafted eyes were directed towards the boy ; and the 

 tenderer!: expreffions of pity were in the look with 

 which they had iaft beheld him, and ftill faw him 

 dying, 



Their 



