At all events his humble home protected him and his wife from wind and weather.
On one occasion M.Gontaud, an amiable young poet, in a chaffing way, addressed Jasmin as "Apollo!" in former times regarded as the god of poetry and music.

The epistle appeared in a local journal.

Jasmin read it aloud to his family.

Gontaud alleged in his poem that Apollo had met Jasmin's mother on the banks of the Garonne, and fell in love with her; and that Jasmin, because of the merits of his poetry, was their son.
Up flamed the old pair! "What, Catherine ?" cried the old man, "is it true that you have been a coquette?
How! have I been only the foster-father of thy little poet ?" "No! No!" replied the enraged mother; "he is all thine own! Console thyself, poor John; thou alone hast been my mate.

And who is this 'Pollo, the humbug who has deceived thee so?
Yes, I am lame, but when I was washing my linen, if any coxcomb had approached me, I would have hit him on the mouth with a stroke of my mallet!" "Mother," exclaimed the daughter, "'Pollo is only a fool, not worth talking about; where does he live, Jacques ?" Jasmin relished the chaff, and explained that he only lived in the old mythology, and had no part in human affairs.