The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-12-30

Between PaSgv and Auteuil were still to be seen.
some years ago, the remains Of what had been
genLemans residence and the family to whom it
had belonged had both fallen during the first Rev
Oution. The boe Of a once magnificent tree, stag
headed, owing to the neighbOrIng buildings having
hurt the roots, all the evidence that remained
Of park but bits OF old moss grown wa-broken
steps that led to nOthing-heads and headless
trunks Of statues that adorned the edges Of
what-now marsh-had formerly been a piece Of
ornamental water-ttIe thickets of trees stunted
in their growth by want OF care-a limited of what
had been, although they could give no idea of the
beauty which had once made Buoinvilliers the
pride OF the neghborhood and possessor. Such
was the aspect Of the place recently but when the
following aRecdoe begins, France was to external
appearance prosperous, and Boulonvihers was
still in its bloom
At a cottage, within the gate which entered the
grounds, lived the gardener and his wife. They
had been long married, had lost all their children
and were considered by everybody stad elderly
couple, when to the aStonisnment of all, girl was
born. This precious plant, the child of their old age
was the delight especially OF Pierres life ; he
breathed but in little Marie, and tended her with
the utmost care Although attired in the costume
appropriate to her station her clothes were of fine
materials every indulgence in their power was
lavIshed upon her, and every wish gratiied, except
the very natural one OF going outside the grounds
that was never permitted to her whom they had
dedicated to the blessed Virgin, and determined to
keep 'unspotted from the world Pierre himself
taught her to read very we'll and to write little
Cecllon to knit and prepare the pot-a1t-feu
and amusement she early found herself She lived
among green leaves and bIossoms-She loved them
as ssters-all her thoughts turned toward the
flowers that surrounded her on every side they
were her sole companions, and she never wearied
playing with them. An old lime, the branches of
which dropped round like a tent and where the
bees sought honey as long there was any linger-
ing on its sweetly odorous branches was her house
as she termed it; large acorn formed coffee pot
ITS cups, her cups, plates porrngers, and saucers,
according to their size and hatness and bits oil
broken porcelain, rubbed bright, enlivened the
knOtted stump, which served for shelves, chimney
and all; water-lIy was her mGrnitc and fir
cones her cows large mushroom her table when
mushrooms were IN season at other times a bit of
wood covered with green moss or wild sorrel Her
dolls even were made of iiowers-bunches of lilies
and roses formed the faces, a bundle of long beech
sprgs the bodies; and for hours she would sit
rocking them, her low song Ginning in with the
drowsy hum Of the insects.
When grown older, and become more adven.
turous she used to weave little boats from PUSHES
upon BITS OF cork and freight them with flowers.
These she launches the lake, where the fresh
air and fresh wafer kept them sometimes lnpger
from fading than would have been their fate, duiiHo
the hot dry days of July and August, on their ma.
tive beds. Thus passed her happy childhood
often and often she dreamed over it in after life
pleasing herself with the fancy, that perhaps A,
Col, when he made sness man in his own image
gave him garden as his home, so or those VIII,
entered into the Joy Of our Lord garden NIGH
be prepared in heaven, sweeter than even that O
Boulonvilliers-one where sun never scorched
cold never pinched, flowers never faded birds neve
lied. The death of bird was the greatest gre
she had known, cat the most ferociouS animal sh
had as yet encountered. She attended the privat
chapel on Sundays and saints days The day she
made her first communion the first of her entrl
into the world, and much distraction of mind die
the unwonted sight of houses, shops, and crowd
OF people, cause to our little reCluse, which serve,
Tor reflection, conversation, and curious question
ing for many day after On white painte
table with drawer, there stood plaster cast @
the Virgin Mary, much admired by its innoCen
namesake, and associated in her mind with praise
and sugar plums-lor whenever she had been par
tcularly good she found some there for her.
was her office to dust il with feather brush sur
ply water to the flowers amid which the LTD
figure stood, and replace them with fresh 6Ace
when faded Whenever she was petulert a blac
s,reen was placed before { e table, and Maris-wa
---pr 1uhsred TO approaeh~it This was herzonl
hment; indeed the only one she required, fc
sF Td and saw nothing wrong; her parent
squted, and they were so gentle and indu
Sr, that she never felt tempted to disgus