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Les Miserables

By VICTOR HUGO Condensation by NATHAN HASKELL DOLE ABOUT the time of the French Revolution, Jean Valjean of La Brie, a day-laborer, earned a scanty living for his sister and her seven children. One time, when the family was starving, he stole a loaf of bread, was caught and condemned to the galleys for five years. Twice he attempted to escape and failed. He was a convict for nineteen years. When he was discharged in 1815 he was wicked, silent, chaste, ignorant, and ferocious; his affectionate nature had been poisoned against society. But he had taught himself how to read, and he had thought.

Refused shelter or food at tavern or private house, he came to Monsigneur Myriel, Bishop of D--, in the foot-hills of the Alps. He was treated like a prince; but in the night he stole some of the bishop's silver plate, was caught as he made off, and was brought back to the good bishop, who, with a smile, assured the gendarmes that the articles were not stolen, but given. Adding two silver candlesticks, the bishop said to him: "Take them and become an honest man. My brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good. I have bought your soul of you. I give it to God."

As he fled he yielded to one last temptation to do wrong; he took from a hurdy-gurdy boy a two-franc piece, but almost immediately, filled with remorse, he tried in vain to find the boy. Two years later a stranger, dressed like a working-man, arrived at the little city of M--sur M--. Just as he arrived a fire broke out in the Town Hall and he rescued two children belonging to the captain of the police. This saved him from having to show his passport. He made an invention and soon became prosperous. He built great workshops, endowed a hospital, founded schools, paid high wages, and was made mayor.