Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1850-07-09

! termined not 20 marry. bui why wont YOU
, have me, Fanehop' Wasn't good hus.
band to my poor Marguerite Didn't she on
! her death bed, bid me take another wife -
, And didn't she bid me tell her that had new.
er given my first one moments cause to re-
gre, ,ha, she had taken me for her husband''
81 know that's true" answered Fanchon
with the tears in her eyes. MY mother,
who was helping to nurse her in her last III.
ness, heard her say so"
" And didn't you hear what lep said to
night |, was the voice Of Marguerite
speaking through her child"
fanchon, however, was not to be persuad.
ed and although she gave no reason, she 80
steadily refused him, that, quite discouraged,
Michel ceased 10 speak and while she lay
down again beside the boy, he sat with his
head resting despondingl- on hs hands till
the morning broke. Then he turned To rouss
her, but h. saw that she Mas awake, and
that she h,d no, slept any more than himself
Having inquired their way of an early wood.
cutter, they once more started for Grandprc !,
and a. soon as they reached the entrance Of
the village, Fanchou stopped, and holding
out her hand, babe him Pood.by for, ;" said
she, " can't GO to INV new mistress till
have washed NV face and hands, and made
myself udy shall come there by aud by
and IN The mean time. Michel, shall forget
all you have said to me, and hops YOU will
marry Isabel Gerard, and that she may make
you good wife, and your children = good
mother '"
/ "Iwont have any mother bu, fanchon,
sald Icp.
"Yon shan't have any other, said VI.
chel and as she wont he your mother, you
shall have none" whcrcupon, bidding
Fanchou farewell, he returned home with
the child, while she Proceeded on her way.
/ In certain parts Of France, where It Is Gus.
,omary for all the married as well as the
single, children and grandchildren To reside
together under the same roof as long a. It Is
possible ior them ,o do 10, there y a remark
able degree II Difference observed towards
I the elders OF the family. and thus Michel,
though nearly thirty years Of age, felt some
misgiung at the thought Of presenting HIM
sclf at the farm without having fulfilled the
object Of his journey, and wiihou, being able
To explain lo the satisfaction ct hs parents
. the reason of hi- return too To- Say tia, be-
had fallen lu love with Barbct'- little daugh.
ter, and that she had refused him into the
bargain, h. knew would appear ,o them n,h
81 q subpc, for ama1rmcnt and laughter than
. commlscauon However, be was agood ,on,
aud - worthy man, iha, although dlsapPolnt-
. ed the old people dad not think proper Z" press
the matter further when be- declared hls de-
. termination not to marry Isabel Gerard aud
/ thsy conicnicd themselves with looking about
. IN other directions, and recommending 10 hls
notice first one and then another fair damsel
OF tho surrounding districts. hut It was al
m vain Michel would have nothing to say to
any Of thcm and although be- went about his
work as diligently as ever, every 'aw he vas
an altered min. Uf Fanchon be- heard moth.
ing bat Is there followed very hard win.
ter. Barbctc would have suffered exceeding
Is. had !, not somehow mlraculou'ly happen
rd that her stock Of potatoes, and -four. and
frcwoOd never diminished II did not sign-
. ~ how freely she used them she had always
. plenty and although, at first, fearing the deN
. II might have a hand IN the business, she had
some thongh,- nf conicsslnp 10 the priest, she
comioricd herself with the idea that as she
had no, entered into any compact with the
/ Evil One, he had no right "a expect any con-
dcsccnsion on her part 10 return tor his bene-
fits When the year was expired, Fanchon
came home again but much 10 the annoy.
ancc of her mother, and the surPrls" Of Blalse
/ Pasiorer and his wife, she declined TO enter
into their service, Michel guessed her reas.
on, and II ,iung him IN the quick Ia see how
reSolutey .hc avoided him but II happened
that while she was making inquiries iur an
other situation, the scarlet fever broke nut m
the neirhborhood, and there was scarcely a
house that had not one or more children In
bed with Il, Among the rest Michel's three
children we're all attacked at one time and
IN such an emergency as this fanchon did not
wait To b. asLed-she offered al once, In
spite, however, OF all the care and attention
tha, were llNshcd on them, the two younges,
died, 10 the lncxPressibc gref Of their faith
er, who dotted on them for their own ,akes,
and relics of hls beloved Marguerite, bu,
/ Iep recovered aud It was whilst he was ~
ING IN bed con,alesccn, th,, be said TO Fan
chon, to whom he had become Passlonaiely
attached, e Fanchon, wan, you Ia promise
me something Will YOU"
"Yes, dear, will # can
Oh, yes, YOU can very well, II you like. y
"well, wha, Is il, dear - asked Flnchon.
Promise ,ha, you'll be my mamma :"
said Lep.
"Oh, that's nonessnse ?" said Fanchon,
rising suddenly, for MargOt was in the room
.L Lie down, and 10, me cover you up while !
fetch your broth
I. "No, | won't" said leP;" III no, lie
down ,ill you promise to be my mamma,
and he seized hold OF her apron, and held her
fast.
"Fie, Lsp - .aid fanchon. " le, me
go"
"You thought was asleep ,ha, night in
the wood when papa asked you to be my ma
ma :" said Iep; but wasn't and when