The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-02-06
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From Chanbers's Edinburgh Journall
FORTUNES OF A GlRDENER'S DAUGHTER,

FORTUNES OF A GARDENERS DAUGHTER
Between Passy and Auteuil were still
to be seen, some years ago, the remain
of what had been a gentleman's resi-
dence, and the family to whom it hat
belonged had both fallen during tbl
first Revolution. The bole of once
magnificent tree, stag headed, owing
to the neighboring buildings having
hurt the roots. was all the evidence tha
remained of a park; but bits of OLE
moss-grown wall-broken steps that lee
to nothing-heads and headless trunk.
of statues that once adorned the edge:
of what, now marsh, had formerly
been piece of ornamental water
Ii tie thickets of trees stnnted In theiI
g 'owth by want of care-all hinted o1
what had been, although they could
give no idea of the beauty which had
once made Bouloinvilliers the pride OF
the neighborhood and possessor. Such
was the aspect of the place recently
but when the following anecdote be.
gins, France was to external appear.
ance prosperous, and BoulcinViiliers
was still in its bloom.
AT cottage within the gate which
entered the grounds lived the gardener
and his wife. They had long been
married, had lost all their children. and
were considered by every body staid.
elderly couple when 10 the astnnish-
ment of all, girl was born. This pre-
cious plant the child of their old age,
was the delight especially of Pierre's
life !; he breathed but in little Marie.
and tended her with the utmost care
Although attired in the costume appro-
pirate to her station, her clothes were
of fine materials every indulgence in
their power was lavished upon her, and
every wish grati6ed, 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 10 keep
unspotted from the worldn Pierre
himself taught her to read very well,
and to write a little; Ceciion to knit,
sew and prepare the pot au fcu !,
and amusement she early found her.
self. She lived among green leaves
and blossoms she loved them as sis
ters all her thoughts turned towards
the flowers that surrounded her on every
side; they were her sole companions,
and she never .wearied PLAYING with
them. An old limb, the, branches of
which dropped round like a tent, and
where the bees sought honey as long as
there was any lingering on Its sweeily
odorous branches, was her house. as
she termed it; large acorn formed
coffee pot; its cups her cups, plates, por-
ringers and saucers, according to their
size and 1atness; and bits of broken
porcelain, rubbed bright, enlivened the
knotted stump, which served for shelves,
chimney and all a water-lily was her
ntarmite, and fir cones her cows; a
large mushroom her table, when mush-
rooms were IN season, at other times
bit of wood covered with green moss
or wild sorrel Her dolls seven were
made of f1owers-bunches of lilies and
roses formed the faces, bundle of
long beech sprigs the bodies and for
hours would Jshe sit rocking them, her
low song Ginning in with the drowsy
hum Of the insects.
When grown older, and become more
satlventaeons, she used 10 weave little
boats from rnshes upon bits of cork,
and freight them with flowers. These
she launched on the lake, where the
fresh air and fresh water kept them
sometimes longer from fading than
would have been their fate, during the
hot dry days Of July and August, on
their native beds. Thus passed her
happy childhood: often and often she
dreamed over it in after life, pleasing
herself with the fancy, that perhaps as
God, when he made sinless man in his
own image, gave him a garden as his
home, 50 for those who entered into the
joy Of our Lords garden might be pre-
pared in heaven, sweetek far than even
that of BouleinFilliefs--one where sun
never scorched, cold never pinched,
flowers never faded, birds never died.
The death of a bird was the greatest
grief she bad known, 3 cat the most
feTocions animal she had as yet encoun-
tered She attended the private chapel
on Sundays and saints days. The day
she made her first communion was the
first OF her entry into the world, and
much distraction of mind did the un-
wonted sight OF houses, shops, and