The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1851-09-12
A, From the French Of Eugene de Mireeourt.
THE HISTORY OF A ROSE.


the Seine, and which joins the Palace Of
the Tuileries 10 the Louvre, was design
eddy Philibert do I'Orme, and finished
towards the end Of 1868. On the 18th
ofJanuary, 1864, Louis the Fourteenth
descended into the vast greenhouses,
where his gardener, lie Notre, had col
lected from oil parts Of the world the
rarest and must beautiful plants and
flowers. ei ,'3 m aQ
The air was soft and balmy as that Of
spring timo in The south. AT. The right
Of, the greai monarch stood Colbert,
silently revolving gigantic projects Of
state: at the left was Lauzun, thatsambi-
tious courtier, who, not possessing suffir
cient tact 10 discern royal hatred under
the mask Of court favour, was afterwards
destined to expate, at Pignerol, the
crime ofbeing more amiable and hand
somer than the king.
.sMessieurs," said Louis, showing 10
his companions 3 long and richly-laden
avenue Of orange trees, "aie not these a
noble present from our ancient enemy,
Philip the Fourth, now our faiher-in.law!
He has rifled his own gardens to deck
the Tuile,ies; and The Infanta, we hope,
when walking beneath these trees, will
cease to regret the shade OF the Es-
curial." Fa sei ny 6c
"Sire.n said Colbert, gravely, "ihe
Queen mourns much greater loss
tha, Of your majesiy's affections"
-"ParbIeu" exclaimed Lauzun, gayly;
Sin order TO lose anything, one must
firs. have possessed il. Now, il | don't
mistake"
.SiIence! M. lie Due. M. de Colbert,
my marriage was the work Of Mazarn--
quite suffi cient 10 guarantee that the
heart was moi consulted"
The minister bowed, without replying.
aAs to you, M. lie J-auzun," con,in-
ned the king, "beware. henceforward,
how you forget that Maria Theresa is
Queen of France, and that the nature Of
our feelings towards her is not TO be made
the subject Of discussion"
"Sire, forgive my"
"Enoughw intermp'cdLouis, approach
ing man, who, unmindful OF the kings
presence, had taken of his coat, in orIer
the more easily TO prune tall Towering
shrub. fg 4
This was the celebrated gardener, lie
Noire. Absorbed in some unpleasant train
of,hought, he had not hooded the ap !
proach OF visilers, and continued 10
mutter and grumble TO himself, while
diligently using the pruning-knife.
"lVhat! out Of humour?" asked Lonis.
Without resuming his coat, the gar
dener cried eagerly-"Sire, Justice!
This morning the Queen Dowsger's
maids Of honour came bi,her, and, in
spite Of my remonstrances. did an in.
fini,y Of mischief. See this American
magnolia, The only one your Majesty
possesses. Well, Sire, they cut off its
finest blossoms: neither oranges nor roses
could escape them. Happily ] succeed
ed in hiding from them my favourlte
child--my beautiful rose-tree, which
have nursed with SO much care, and
which will live for fifty years, provided
care be taken not TO alowit 10 produce
more than one rose in the season.
Then pointing TO the plant Of which he
spoke, La Notre continued: "Tis the
hundred .leaved rose. Sire! Hitherto !
have saved il from pillage; but ! protest
If such conduct can be renewed"
aCome, comet" in,erposed the mon.
arch, we must not be 100 hard on young
eirls. They are like butterflies, and love
fowers.n
ssMorbleui Sire, butterflies don't break
boughs, and eat orangea"
Louis deigned 10 smile at this re-
partee.
.Tell u.s." he said, awho we're the
eulpritsg"
ssAll the ladies, Sire! Yet, no. am
wrong. There was one young creature,
as flesh and lovely as this very rose,
who did not initiate her cobpanians.--
The poor child even tried 10 comfort me,
while the others we're tearing my flow
ers: They called her Louise"
at was Mademoiselle de la Valliere,"
said Lauzun, "thc young petson whom
your Majesty remarked yesterday in at
tendance on Madame Henrieite."
nSbe shall have her reward" said
Louis. ALet Mademoiselle de la VAL
liere be The only maid Of honour invited
20 the ball 10 be given, here tonight"
IA ball! Ah, my poor flo wers!" cried
lie Notre, clasping his hands in des-
pair. ,d !
Colbert ventured 10 remind his Maj
es,y that he had promised 10 give an
audience that evening 10 two architects,
Claude Perault and Liberal Bruant; Of
whom, the first was to bring designs for
the Observatory; the second, plan for
the Hotel des Inyalides.
"Receiye these gentlemen YOURSELF"
replied the king; "while we are dancing,
M. de Colbert will labour for our glory;
posterity will never be the wiser! Only,
in order 10 decorate these bare walls,
have the goodness to send 10 the manu-