The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-02-06
no pardon, for that is the only sin we

her. and accepted the food he Offered
He was dressed as workman. and ha
Ton his shoulders hod of glass: in fact
he was an itinerant glazier. His Loo
was compassionate, but his voice, al
though soft, was authoritative. Refresh
ed by what she had taken, Marie ha,
sat up, and very soon was able to walk
She told her little history, one word 0
which he never doubted.
But what do you mean to do ~ asket
the young man.
ITO stay with you always, for yor
are kind and good, and no one else i:
so to men
"But that cannot be; it would no
be right, you know
"And why would it not be rigbt2 Oh
do let ME don't send me away
will be so good, p answered she, her en-.
tire ignorance and innocence prevent
ing her feeling what any other girl.
brought up among her fellow creatures.
however carefully, would at once have
done.
Auguste was Belgian, without any
relation at Paris, and with little means
of supporting wife; but young, ro-
mantle and kind-hearted, he resolved at
once to marry his innocent protege, as
soon at least as he could find a priest
to perform the ceremony-no easy task
at that time, and, in the eyes Of the
then world of Paris, no necessary one,
for profigacy was at its height, and the
streets were yet red with the blood of
the yirtuous and noble. They began
life, then, with his load Of glass, and
her gold cross and gold earrings, heir
looms of considerable value, which
providentially the robbers had not
thought of taking from her. With the
produce of the earrings they hired
garret and some humble furniture,
where they lived from hand to mouth,
Marie taking in coarse sewing, and her
husband sometimes picking up a few
sous at his trade.
Often, however, they had but one
meal a day, seldom any fire; and when
their first child was born, their trou-
bles, of course, materially increased
and Auguste often returned from
weary ramble all over Paris, Just as
he had set out-without having gained
solitary sou. The cross soon followed
the earrings, and they had now no
thing left that they could part with ex-
eept the little plaster figure so often al
luded to, which would not bring franc,
and which was loved and cherished by
Marie as the sole remaining object con-
nected with Bouloinvilliers, and the
last thing her father had looked at on
earth. The idea of parting with this
gave her grief which is better ina
gined than described; for although the
furniture of the cottage undoubtedly
toe %e that bba tnfae 81 hssF hsF wgh HUSBAND knew
right, any steps taken toward recover
ing its value would not only be fruit
less, but dangerous he therefore, never
even attempted to assert their rights.
One day, however, they had been
without food or firing for nearly twenty
four hours, and the little Cecile was
fractions with hunger, necessarily cry
ing, Du pain ! du pain Marie rose,
and approaching the Virgin said I" 1t is
wicked to hesitate longer; go, Auguste,
and sell it for what you can get"
She seized it hastily, as though afraid
of changing her resolution, and.with
such trepidation, that it slipped through |
her fingers and broke in twoI Poor
Marie sank.upon her face at this sight, |
with supefstitious feeling that she had |
meditated wrong and was thus punish
ed.
She was weeping bitterly when her
husband almost roughly raised her up, |
sxclaiming in joyous accents, Marie,
Marie, give thanks to God Now |
speak! Sorrow no more; we are richm
In the body of the statuette were
found bills to the amount of 1900 francs
-Marie's fortune, in fact, which her fa-
her had told the chaplain he had
for her. Weneed not dwell
upon the happiness of this excellent
couple, or the rapture, mingled with
gratitude, in which the remainder of
his day was passed. Those who dis
approve of castle-building may per-
laps blame them; for several castles
hey constructed, on better foundations,
however, than most of those who spend
heir time in this pleasing but unpro-
liable occupation Next day they took
GLACIERS shop, stocked ii, provided
themselves with decent clothing and
urniture, and commenced their new
ife with equal frugality and comfort
Marie doing her own work, and serving
n the shop when her husband was out
in business. But in time he
vas able to hire an assistant, and she
/ young girl to look after the children
while she pursued the avocation of a
,outurier, In which she soon became
rery expert The little image was
astened together again, placed upon a
white table, similar to that which used
O. stand in her childhood's home, sur
with flowers, and made as of
sd, the abode of sugar-plums and re-
wards of good conduct. But alas there |
ire not many Maries in the world In |
'pite of her good example and good |
her children would at times
oe naughty. They sometimes quarrel
ed, sometimes greedy and what vexed
heir simple mother more than all the
est, sometimes told stories of one an
,ther Still they were good children,
Al