The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-16
CHAP. XII.
The Holyddy.

Bg '' ,s isl Ig,e Log Ps1ip u Lri,fia- &C.
CHAP. XXI
The Holyday.
Tomorrow! 1t has come, in due course ;
bringing with it clear, blue sky a crisp,
Tracing air. that has in it good dash of frost ;
and bright sun, which enlivens and cheers, if
il does not warm. Ii is surprising what amount
Of lie it gives to the dull courtyard of the
house in the Rue Blanche, where Flammeche
tie tailor il furnishing up his accoutrements of
NATIONAL guard for he is on duty to-day
and where his active spouse is already busy,
,reparing her fire and potatoes for the days
,ry. The old hound, half mastiff, half bulldog,
la, crept out of his kennel, and basks in the
,lsung ray that has settled down in the corner
h.. usually occupies. The sparrows, too, are in
immense spirits, and keep up chirruping
quarrel as they fy to and fro, in hocks, to a
certain window, where kind and well-knOwn
hand has spread out for them a feast of crumbs
on an unusually extensive scale. The contagion
Of their noise has spread to the two canaries
that hang in separate cages, outside of the
easement. below, for they are flying about with
ia their tiny prisons, and hopping from perch
10 bars, and from bars to perch, in state of
noisy excitement, pouring out of their little
throats a continual stream of melody. Even
Madame Flammeche is musically disposed, for,
q, she lights her charcoal, she trolls out, in a
bass voice, somewhat husky, the air, " Partant
Joar Ii .Syrie," TO which she first marched to
The wars with the old army
Thou'lt have fine weather, my man." she
SAYS. presently, speaking to her husband.
l'hatll make thy duty agreeable"
F!ammechc growls a reply that she does not
l.. Il. 4 ..
Is only An oath, and consignment of the SOL
diernI to certain region the geographical
position of which has ever been more or less
speculative.
Thoult be late, resumes his martial spouse,
unlrss thou make haste
Is it my fault he retorts, irving to get
comfortably into his military coat, 4" if the things
won't fit? Ieste!"
Madame Fiammeche obligingly lends him a
hand She sees he has got the collar turned in
50 she sets it straight. She then assists him
to adjust the remainder Of his appointments
and finally hands him his musket, quite with
air OF knowing how to handle it, should oc-
casinn require it.
" Thou looks like an old trooper she SAYS
by way Of complmonting him on his martial
appearance. fright about: nazareth"
The tailor is evidently i'll at ease in his mill
tary costume; which, by the way, does not be-
come him. With an effort, nevertheless, he
contrives TO throw his head up, and, with sui
len return of the uNorial embrace, strides out
OF the courtyard.
Eh, dear, oh, dearl" signs Madame Flam-
meche, looking after him. TO say that is my
husband, and that l must humor it. Since
those republican notions got into his head, he's
no longer the same. however,"
l. l.~t.sl
up in that final exclamation of hers though ii
j, clear that IN her mind there is floating a
comparison between her " foregoing" and her
husband, not complimentary to the latter. But
she resumes her occupation, and with it the
melody most familiar to her, in connection with
the defnnct heroes of the grand army. Pres
entity she looks up, and exclaims with some de
gree of surprise:
Tens Iou, Monsieur Martini How fine
We are to-day: Flowers tool What magnifi
cent orange tree!''
Yes 1t is for Lisette 1t is her tste to
DAY. you know answers Martin. Z" Is she nj
home?"
Go up, go up" responds the porteress
" Her tete! That accounts for Monsieur Paul's
lrn9ing her that myrtle last evening. Oh, yes
She's at home, Monsieur Martin
Nartiu is soon at the door of Lisotte's cham
her. and the soft voice has scarcely hidden him
enter. before the speaker herself il there to wei
come the yisiter she has recognised.
God bless ;hee nv child God bless thee!'
he exclains and oh, how ierventlv. How close
Is. too, he presses her to his bosom The tears
stand in his eyes. and heavy sobs choke his ut
irf;1nce, "a he presents her with the beautiful
orange tree he has brought for her. 1t is in
luli blossom, for it is fresh from the green
house and he has purchased it from one of the
Mast florists on the Qudi du FIe,,s. He tells
h''' this, and calls her attention to the numer-
Gus buds that have yet to bloom, and to the
heal green box III which the plant stands. She
Is delighted with 1t, but observes that he has
been very extravaganza, for it must have cost a
good deal of money. He only laughs, however
and kisses her again, and by her directions sets
down on the table, by the side of the myrtle
Martin cannot help remarking how cheerful
The room looks. He thinks it must be the sun
winch Is shining full into it, illuminating il
wan ITS glorious old golden light. The birds
'o'' make II very pleasant. Some of the pet
''''iar'e' have already appropriated the myrtle
anu 'l'e orange tree, and are inquisitively in
SieCth5 The buds and blossoms. Presently the
"'Ilng, shrleking out sacred blue " in his
wF. NY voice fles over and perches on the stand
" IN ms head cooked on ono side, he looks n,
one OF the lowest blossoms with the air of an
adept IN botany. then clcverlv nibbles it off
ana Mes back with it to his perch. whore he
"niuses himself dissccting it. petal bv petal
hoSne, eXclaimS Lisette "Thief! III
,ul tree" - D''''0y my ''""
\ KNOCK at the door. 1t is Madame Flam
u'eche' who enters with an enormous bunch OF
MOVERS arranged with an artistic eve to effect
PARDON, my little cabbage" she saws, ad
dressing Lsette :" but | bring YOU my offer
ing; Permit me to embrace YOU. my little rose
ana to wish you many happy returns of the
on are very kind, Madame" replies Lii
sg"e, returning the portercsss embrace. 81
'''ahh YOU very much"
ion mention it, my pretty cat" is the
"hha'le rejoinder "Who can help loving
syI IL Jewel, Monsieur Martin" she adds
J'uiF''ing Martin, who is sitting by the win
Watching what is passing.
:; i (% yes! he replies. IL know it, know
T. iUG see have come to spend the day will
We are going to be very happy, aren'
| wish YOU much pleasure responds the
''erosS' and good morning at the same
me must go and attend to my frying.
"n smell 1t burning already" And she wheels
I'M on her heels, and departs, making a mil
lary salute.
riol@' you can't think how kind she is t6
-, SAYS Llsette. "She saves me a world o.
.W IN errands, and when | was ill.,
reg pet, know Martin replies. Blu
"uh TAX of your illness. 1t will make u:
~ 't' uuH' tell you | intend to be quite hap
81, enc goes up to him and kisses him affection
1aeJ ana then perceives how prim he has
-aue himself, in her honor. Indeed, he look.
f"',g an altered man. His dress is plain sui
"lack, which by some mysterious process
mas assumed a new face His boots too ar,