Martha could not bear the terrible calamity of her blighted love.

She became crazy--almost an idiot.
She ran away from her home at Laffitte, and wandered about the country.
Jasmin, when a boy, had often seen the crazy woman wandering about the streets of Agen with a basket on her arm, begging for bread.

Even in her rags she had the remains of beauty.

The children ran after her, and cried, "Martha, a soldier!" then she ran off, and concealed herself.
Like other children of his age Jasmin teased her; and now, after more than thirty years, he proposed to atone for his childish folly by converting her sad story into a still sadder poem.

Martha the Innocent is a charming poem, full of grace, harmony, and beauty.