The poet had no sooner returned from his visit to Paris than he was besieged with appeals to proceed to the relief of the poor in the South of France.Indeed,for more than thirty years he devoted a considerable part of his time to works of charity and benevolence.He visited successively cities and towns so far remote from each other,as Bayonne and Marseilles,Bagneres and Lyons.He placed his talents at the service of the public from motives of sheer benevolence,for the large collections which were made at his recitations were not of the slightest personal advantage to himself.
The first place he visited on this occasion was Carcassonne,south-east of Toulouse,--a town of considerable importance,and containing a large number of poor people.M.Dugue,prefect of the Aude,wrote to Jasmin:"The crying needs of this winter have called forth a desire to help the poor;but the means are sadly wanting.Our thoughts are necessarily directed to you.
Will you come and help us?"Jasmin at once complied.He was entertained by the prefect.
After several successful recitations,a considerable sum of money was collected for the relief of the poor of Carcassonne.
To perpetuate the recollection of Jasmin's noble work,and to popularise the genius of the poet,the Prefect of the Aude arranged that Jasmin's poems should be distributed amongst all the schools of his department,and for this purpose a portion of the surplus funds was placed at the disposal of the Council-general.
Bordeaux next appealed to the poet.He had a strong love for Bordeaux.It was the place where he had first recited his Blind Girl,where he had first attracted public attention,and where he was always admired and always feted.The Orphan Institution of the city was in difficulties;its funds were quite exhausted;and who should be invited to come to their help but their old friend Jasmin?He was again enthusiastically received.
The Franklin Rooms were crowded,and money flowed quickly into the orphans'treasury.Among the poems he recited was the following:--THE SHEPHERD AND THE GASCON POET.[1]
Aux Bordelais,au jour de ma grande Seance au Casino.
In a far land,I know not where,Ere viol's sigh;or organ's swell,Had made the sons of song aware That music!is a potent spell:
A shepherd to a city came,Play'd on his pipe,and rose to fame.
He sang of fields,and at each close,Applause from ready hands arose.
The simple swain was hail'd and crown'd,In mansions where the great reside,And cheering smiles and praise he found,And in his heart rose honest pride.
All seem'd with joy and rapture gleaming,He trembled lest he was but dreaming.
But,modest still,his soul was moved;
Yet of his hamlet was his thought--
Of friends at home,and her he loved,When back his laurel branch he brought.
And pleasure beaming in his eyes,Enjoyed their welcome and surprise.
'Twas thus with me when Bordeaux deigned To listen to my rustic song:
Whose music praise and honour gain'd More than to rural strains belong.
Delighted,charm'd,I scarcely knew Whence sprung this life so fresh and new,And to my heart I whispered low,When to my fields returned again,"Is not the Gascon Poet now As happy as the shepherd swain?"The minstrel never can forget,The spot where first success he met;But he,the shepherd who,of yore,Has charm'd so many a list'ing ear,Came back,and was beloved no more.
He found all changed and cold and drear A skilful hand had touch'd the flute;His pipe and he were scorn'd--were mute.
But I,once more I dared appear,And found old friends so true and dear.
The mem'ry of my ancient lays Lived in their hearts,awoke their praise.
Oh!they did more.I was their guest;
Again was welcomed and caress't,And,twined with their melodious tongue,Again my rustic carol rung;And my old language proudly found Her words had list'ners pressing round.
Thus,though condemn'd the shepherd's skill,The Gascon Poet triumph'd still.
At the end of the recital a pretty little orphan girl came forward and presented Jasmin with a laurel adorned with a ruby,with these words in golden letters,To Jasmin,with the orphans'gratitude."Jasmin finally descended from the rostrum and mixed with the audience,who pressed round him and embraced him.The result was the collection of more than a thousand francs for the orphans'fund.
No matter what the institution was,or where it was situated,if it was in difficulties,and Jasmin was appealed to,provided it commended itself to his judgment,he went far and near to give his help.A priest at a remote place in Perigord had for some time endeavoured to found an agricultural colony for the benefit of the labourers,and at last wrote to Jasmin for assistance.
The work had been patronised by most of the wealthy people of the province;but the colony did not prosper.There remained no one to help them but the noble barber of Agen.Without appealing any more to the rich for further aid,the priest applied to Jasmin through a mutual friend,one of the promoters of the undertaking,who explained to him the nature of the enterprise.
The following was Jasmin's answer:--
"MY DEAR SIR,--I have already heard of the Pious Work of the curate of Vedey,and shall be most happy to give him my services for one or two evenings,though I regret that I must necessarily defer my visit until after the month of February next.In May Ihave promised to go twice to the help of the Albigenses,in aid of their hospital and the poor of Alba.I start to-morrow for Cahors,to help in a work equally benevolent,begun long ago.
I am engaged for the month of August for Foix and Bagneres de Luchon,in behalf of a church and an agricultural society.
All my spare time,you will observe,is occupied;and though Imay be tired out by my journeys,I will endeavour to rally my forces and do all that I can for you.Tell the curate of Vedey,therefore,that as his labour has been of long continuance,my Muse will be happy to help his philanthropic work during one or two evenings at Perigueux,in the month of March next.