THE MOTHER OF VICTOR HUGO. 241 One night, when she was a little better, she asked him if he had written the poem which he was to send in. He replied that he had not, and that it was useless to think of doing so, since to reach Toulouse in time it would need to be despatched the next day. Madame Hugo seemed to .feel so deeply the loss of this opportunity, which her sickness had caused him to miss, that as soon as she fell asleep he procured a pen and paper and sat by her side all night, writing the poem, which she found in the morn- ing upon her bed. He sent it, with another which he had written before, to Toulouse. Both poems won prizes, and a few days later he had the happiness of showing to his mother the golden lily and the golden amaranth awarded him by the judges. After her recovery the family removed to another house, but the effort of moving and the labor consequent upon settling down in the new room, brought on a second hemorrhage. This was followed by a long period of deceptive improvement ; then again she took to her bed. The doctor did not give up hope, and her sons were sure that she would recover. On the twenty-seventh of June, 1821, Eugene and Victor were alone with her in the room. " Look," said Eugdne to Victor, " how well mamma is! She has not waked since midnight." "Yes," replied Victor, " she will soon recover." He looked at her tranquil face and bent to kiss her. She was dead. All her children, but Victor most, mourned her deeply. After the funeral he wandered in the cemetery alone, softly calling her. name, until at night the gates were closed and he was forced to leave. He could not bear to return to the empty house. He paced the streets until a late hour, when, by a sudden impulse, he turned into the street where the Fouchers lived, wishing to gain some comfort if possible by thinking of these kind old friends,
