The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-10-11
Vol. Ill.
same harsh or rough voice: nature made only the
female, civilization the ialy.

covered with fine and glittering turf, and filled
with beautiful clusters of trees, their knotty roots
of singular and picturesque character casping the
ground, Petit-Pierre paused, seated himself upon
portion OF rock, and resting bis chin upon his
staff crooked like those OF the shepherds of Area
dia, he abandoned himself to his habitual propensi-
ty of dreaming. The dog, judging with sagacity,
that the sheep would not stray away from place
where the grass was so thick and tender, couched
at the feet of his MASTER his head resting upon his
paws and his eyes fixed upon his masters counte-
nance with that passionate attention which makes
the dog almost human. The sheep were scatter
ed here and there in happy disorder. A ray of
dew drops to sparkle on the grass, as diamonds
fallen from the casket Of Aurora, and which the
sun had not yet gathered. 1t was picture perfect
Iy made.
II was such reflections as these that caused
young lady, who had at that moment entered the
other extremity of the valley, TO exclaim:
"What beautiful scene to sketch" taking at
the same time an album from the hands OF femme
de.chambrc who accompanied her.
She seated herself upon moss covered stone.
at the risk Of painting green her clear white robe,
at which she appeared very little disqueted, open
eCfa book with leaves of vellum, laid it upon her
knees, and commenced to trace rough sketch
with bold, rapid hand. These fine, pure dashes
were of the color of gold, caused by the transpa-
rent shade of her large straw hat, as in that delicate
sketch of a young female, by Rubens, seen IN the
Museum; her HAIR, of rich blond, formed large
braid OH her more than milk white neck, which
was dotted, as through coquettery, with three or
four small freckles. She was a rare, charming
beauty.
Petit-Pierre, absorbed in contemplating the net
work of the leaves of the chesnut, had not at first
perceived the arrival of a new actor upon the tram
quill scene of the valley. Fidele had raised his
head, but seeingno cause for nquIetude, he had
resumed his melancholy attitude. The appearance
of that fine, slender form singularly troubled the
young shepherd he felt species of inexpressible
oppression at the heart, and, in order to shake off
that emotion, he whistled to his dog aud was about
to retire.
But this did not SUIT the purpose OF the young
lady, who was precisely at the point of sketchlng
the little herdsman and his flock, an indispensable
accessory to the landscape; she threw aside the
album and the pencils, and, with two or three
bou Ids like the pursued hind, she very soon over
took Petit-Pierre, whom she brought back with
seeming authority to that part of the rock upon
which he was before seated
"You must remain here,' she said to him gaily,
"until that which have commenced is finished;
| the arms little more forward the head more to
the left"
| And while speaking, with her tender white hand
she touched the sunburnt cheek Of Petit-Pierre in
order TO place him in the proper position.
"What beautiful eyes he has, Lucy. for the
eyes of apeasant," said she in Jest to her waiting
maid.
He remained in the attitude in which he was
placed while the cheerful young lady returned to
her place and resumed her sketch, which was soon
finished.
"You can now rise and depart, if you wish; ;but
it is just that remunerate you for the WEAKNESS
that have caused in bidding you remain here as a
saint of the wood. Come here" 1"
The herdsman walked slowly and bashfuly for
ward, the sweat dripping from his temples; the
young lady quickly slipped piece of gold in his
hand.
"That will buy you new vest for the holy
days"
The shepherd, who had thrown furtive glance
at the half opened album, remained as if struck
with stupor, without thinking of closing his hand,
wherein shown the new twenty franc piece: the
scales appeared to fall from his eyes, and an un-
looked for revelation was opened up to him. He
said in broken voice, following the different por-
tions of the design
"The trees, the stone, the dog, myself, all here,
the sheep too, on leaf of paper!"
The young lady was amused at his ingenious
admiration and astonishment, and showed him diff
ferent pencil sketches OF lakes houses and rocks;
then, as night was coming on, she retook with her
try.
Pett-Pierre followed her with his eyes long
while after the last fold of her robe had disappeared
behind the hill, and Fidele thrust his humid nose
into his hand but could not arouse him from his
meditation The humble shepherd began to CON-
prehend confusedy how he used to contemplate
the trees, the rsings of the ground, and the forms
of the clouds. His inquietude, his rapture that he
was sensible OF beautiful country, had then
design; he was then neither imbecile nor foolish!
He had often seen pictures fastened to the man
tells of the chimneys in the farmhouses, such as
the portrait of Isaac Laquedem, of Geneveve de
Brabant, Of the Mother of Grief, with the seven
swords thrust in her breast but these coarse en-
cravings upon yellow, red and blue wood, were
only worthy of the savages Of New Iceland, or the
inhabitants Of the South Sea, nor could they awake
one design Of art in his head. The sketches in the
album of the young lady, with their neatness of
design, their exactness of form were things entire
ly new to Petit-Pierre. The picture in the parish
church was 80 brown and ea etn ox cd that he could