Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1851-08-27
ONLY A SERVANT.



followed by great numbering boy en- blouse
whose wooden sabots made dismal clatter on the
hard loose stones and who swung the lanthorn
which he bore as if he had been a will-o-wisp
making sport with travellers eyes. "Merci Mes
DANES !" said the little voice in the most supplica-
ting accents 81 am cold and hungry"
Madame Froidart continued to walk with
stately composed air, down the street; but the
piteous voice Immediately arrested the steps OF
Madame MecGur, and touched her woman's
heart
"Where do you dwell my petite ?" she said, in
soft, kindly accents, as she bent down and caress-
ed the infant. "Why are you not at home z"
"NIy father went away, yesterday, to join the
patriots at Grenobe, and left me alone" replied
the little girl as she turned her face towards Mad
anne Meceur, and sighed as if she had been
widow, instead of an infant.
Madame MecGur smiled sadly, for the words
and looks of the child recalled her own saddest
memories then quietly taking the outcast by the
hand, she led her to her own house.
"And what do you intend to do with the child,
Lucelle?" said Madame Froidart, who had wait
ed at the little wicket with Joachim, the lanthorn
bearer in order to bid her friend good night.
II shall share my bread and the protection of
my roof with her." was the reply of the kind
hearted dame.
The father ofsNarie, who had gone TO join the
patriots at Grenoble, marched to La Vendee to
Stay the royalists of that province. He followed
General Bonapare to glory in Italy, and fell
asleep among the SHOWS of Russia, shouting 1ace
J. Emperor so that he never came back to Bri-
Dude.
Marie was homeless and parentless, when her
fathers heart ceased to pulsate and his steps be-
came palsied in the career of ambition. He had
welded himself to the fate of fanatic of war and
glory and he died leaving child of tender years
to deplore his fanaticism. But thanks TO that
providence which has preserved in woman's heart.
through all ages the strength and purity of prime
val love, the little orphan had found home and
mother in Madame Melceur. She was a wild
ow of notary of Brioude, who had been slain in
m emeute by some heroes who had come to the
village of Brioude to propagate fraternity
Left with a son of tender years and slender
patrimony, the good widow had devoted herself
to the education Of her boy, and the economical
care of her fortune By one of those beautiful
ordinations of an omnscent and benevolent Prov
idence, which brings sweet from the saddest
events, the sorrows which had oppressed the
heart of LUCILLE Meceur and her son Ernest
softened by degrees into religious seriousness, un-
ill., as if in accordance with unity of sentiment,
the thoughts of the mother and boy were both d.
rected to the ministry and Ernest, in his sixteenth
year, was sent to Geneva, to prepare himself for
the duties of Protestant pastor.
Madame Meceur had parted, few days be-
fore, with her boy, when the little outcast Marie
made her appeal to her heart and the instinct of
maternity at once prompted her to accept the APP
peal Little Marie Brioude soon grew up to be
one of the fairest maidens in Auvergne ; and what
was of far more account, she was acknowledged
to be one of the most modest intelligent and dis
Greet. Marie was not one of those damsels whose
beauty strikes the eye at the first glance and then
pals upon the senses. When you looked in her
face, you felt your heart stirred with deep emo
ton of beauty such as you might feel when sitting
in a church, and reading of Ruth and Rebecca
and Rachel You could look into her eyes and
feel that far down below the blue, serene, peucid
orbs which illumned her face, there were virtues
shining like the reflection of flowers in a lake.
Her hair was worn simply parted on her high,
polished brow like the tresses of Raphaes Mad
onna. Her dress, of the simplest form and sub
stance, always possessed character of native ele-
gance, which it borrowed from the form of her
who wore it. Her countenance was radiant with
soul, and thought and peace and diligent were
the hands of Marie Broude
The house of Madame Melceur was little
old-fashioned dwelling, with little old-fashioned
garden, with high walls, and quaint old wicket.
On each side of the wicket grew linden tree,
which threw their branches over the walls, and
formed bower on the summer evenings, and cur
tanned her flowers from the scorching beams of
the sun. The old-fashioned house, and the old
fashioned garden of the good dame, albeit they
looked somewhat monastic from the highway,
seemed always haunted by an angel, and full of
beauty. Like some diligent little fairy Marie
made the rooms of her good patroness to shine as
clean and brightly as her own bright eyes. She
sung sweetly, too, that the old men would pause
to listen to her sweet voice from the road and
they would bless her light heart as they walked
on. The very flowers seemed to know and love
her, for they were always more beautiful after
she had trimmed and watered them; and Mad
anne MelcGur loved her, and counted on her as q
daughter.
Eight years sped away, and Ernest Malceur
had never revisited Brioude. The times were
troublous and the CONSUMPTION was ncessant and
so Professor Zngles deemed it was as well to send
fattering accounts of Emests progress TO his
mother, as to send the lad home during the yaca-
tions and, Ernest's letters were full of pious
assurances Of resignation to the prescribed
for him, she did not urge him to visit her. %
shall see him when he has finished his studies ant
entered, strong man, upon the work of the Lord
] shall behold him when the Master wills it," sh,
would say and then these reflections would re
mind her Of her own duties and would prompt he
to some new bsneTolent scheme which Away
taxed her means, but net her heart.
OF the projects that inspired Madame MeIceur
that of educating the little outcast children o
Brioude seemed the most useful and imperative
When she looked at Marie, and felt what
priceless blessing that little infant of the street
had become to her through care and culture, he
=, bosom would swell with emotions of gratitude +
God, and she would vow to consecrate her life +
the education of the little Ishmaelites of her ma
tive town. Unfortunately, the widow was to
poor to enter immediately into her design. Sh
must needs save the funds necessary for the es
tablishment she proposed, and before the requsit