Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-11-30
MISC + LII A N Y.
The Peasant Girl CT PGitOu;
OR, THE COUNTESS D'AURAY.

When Sir Walter Scot first met lady
to whom he was attached, after her eleva-
ton by marriage from a comparatively
humble to a very lofty rank, he felt ex-
tremely anxious to learn whether or not she
was happy in her new condition. lie knew
she had sustained no serious ills, but he
had seen by experience, he says, that our
happiness is much more often affected by
evils which we create for ourSelves,in spite
of the blessings of fortune than by real aud
severe ills. He illustrated the remark by
reference to the case OF the gentleman who
I'm the midst of all manner OF comforts was
rendered utterly miserable by the daily sight
OF HIS neishbors turkey. We have found
little story in one OF the foreign Journals,
which so forcibly illustrates the same max
i'm that we are tempted to translate it,
NJ. de Mauleon, young French gentle
man, left the school at st. Cyr at the age
of twenty -one, with an en>ign's commission
ia his possession. Hts mother had obtain
ed for him leave of absence for three
months, aud came to Paris to carry him OFT
for that period to Poitou, anxious to enjoy
b,s beloved society while she could. They
lett the capital together in post carriage,
and travelled great part Of their Journey
without any remarkable adventure. At
length, little incident occurred which
sr.atly interested NJ de Manleon. The
traveller, reached steep hill on their way
and M. de Manleon leaped out to relieve
the horses, leaving his mother inside. He
had scarcely walked few PAGES, when he
found himself surrounded by band OF vii
lage children, who, as Is wont IN the rural
districts Of France, offered him bouquets OF
flowers, expecting some little remuneration
in return. But as soon as they noticed the
lady, they flew to the coach side and threw
their flowers to her. One child alone re-
mained-a girl OF thirteen or so, whose un-
common beauty arrested lorcibly the notice
of NJ. de Manleon. She was burnette oil
a clear and shining complexion. with an
admirable form, aud teeth as white as ivo-
ry. She stood smiling before the young
man, but timidly kept her hand, afraid to
p esent them.
"What is your name, my dear'" SAID
The officer. "Marie, sir, answered the
yirl. nj. de Manleon spoke no n ore, but
stood gazing at the child, thinking to HIM
self that all the portratures of youthful
beauty which he had ever seen were out
done by the work of nature before him.
Marie's eyes were cast on the ground, and
che did not observe the closenesS OF his
gaze, but others did. A young village lad'
of fifteen or sixteen, leaped from the way
aid and looked at the officer with eyes iull
of anger and jealousy, NJ. de Maneon
had little time to notice this addition to the
scene.for the voice of his mother was heard
calling on him to come and proceed. The
vonng officer hastily took the bouqet of Ma
rie. and having emptied his purse OF ITS
whole contents into her hands, he obeyed
his mothers call, and soon saw the villa
gers no more.
M de Manleon, when he had time to re-
Acct an the past incident, repented, not ol
h;s generosity, but of the way In which he
b,J exercised it. A small medallion, con-
t.;n,no his own likeness aud that OF anoth-
or dearly cherished person, had been IN the
nurse, and had gone with the rest OF 'he
sontents. To reclaim it would have oeen
,rf;cult and the young othcer was iorceo
20 snbmit to the loss IN silence
u TON or twelve years. M. de ManIeon
.on,;rnsd in the army. He at last leh II
20 enjoy the pleasures OF fe'ireu' VI ~
least private lie, to which he had ever eve.
hem attached. After spending some time
With his mother in the country, he came to
Parrs, and there mixed with moderation 'n
,he social enoyments of the great world
One evening friend asked him to go 10
n,rtv and allow himself 10 be presented 10
M,dame dAuray, wife of Count d Auray,aa
iadv of consumatc beauty, and whom all
prs spoke of as the happlest of women
There was, said NJ. de Manleon's friend a
sort of pl asing mystery about Aer' tOo'-