Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-10-01

THE CONTENTED MAN,
From Wolfert's Roost, by Washington Irwin

From Wolfert's Roost, by Washington Irving
In the garden of the Tuilleries there is
a sunny corner under the wall of a terrace
which fronts the south. Along the wall
is a range of benches commanding view
of the walks and avenues of the garden.
This genial nook is place of great resort
in the latter part of autumn, and in fine
days of winter, as it seems to retain the
flavor Of departed summer On a calm,
bright morning it is quite alive with nur-
sery maids and their playful little charges.
Hither also resort number of ancient
ladies and gentlemen, who, with laudable
thrift in the small pleasures and mall ex-
penses, for which the French are to be
noted, come here to enjoy sunshine and
and save frewood. Here may often be
seen some cavalier of the old school where
the sunbeams have warmed his blood into
something like glow, fluttering about
like frost bitten moth thawed before the
fire, putting forth a feeble show Of gal
lantry among the antiquated danes, and
now and then eying the buxom nursery
maids with what might almost be mistaken
for an air of libertinism.
Among the regular trequenters of the
place, had often remarked an old gen.
tleman, whose dress was decidedly anti.
revoutional He wore a three-cornered
cooked hat of the ancient regime; his hair
was frizzled over each ear into allies de
pigeon, style strongly savoring of Bour-
bonism and queue stuck out behind,
the loyalty of which was not to be dis
puted. His dress, though ancient, had an
air Of decayed gentility, and l observed
that he took his snuff out of an elegant
though old-fashioned gold box. He ap-
peare Il to be the most popular on the walk.
He had a compliment for every old lady,h
kissed every child, and patted every little
dog on the head; for children and little
dogs are very important members of soci.
ETY. in France. must observe, however,
that he seldom kissed child without, at
the same time, pinching the nursery
maids check; a Frenchman of the old
school never forgets his devoirs to the
Sex.
had taken "a liking to this old gentle
man. There was an habitual expression oi
benevoence in his face, which have very
frequently remarked in the relics of the
potter days Of France. The constant in.
terchange of those thousand little courte'
sizes which imperceptibly sweeten life, have
Il happy eff ct upon the features, and
spread a mellow evening charm over the
wrinkles Of old age.
Where there is Il favorable predisposi
tion, one soon forms kind of tacit init
macy by often meeting on the same walks
Once or twice | accommodated him with q
bench, after which we touched hats OF
passing each other; at length we got 81
far as to take pinch of snuff together ou
of his box, which is equivalent to eating
salt together IN the East; from that tint
our acquaintance was esta Dlished.
/ now became his frequent companion
in his morning promenades, and derived
much amusement from his good humore'
remarks on men and manners. One morn
ing, as we were stroling through the allie
Of the TuilIerie,, with the autumnal breez
whirling the yellow leaves about our path
my com .3anion iell into "a peculiarly con
municatve vein, and gave me several pal
tculars of his history. He had once bee
wealthy, and possessed of a fine estate an
noble hotel in Paris; but the revolutio
which affected so many disastrous change
stripped him Of every thing. lie was ST
cretly denounced by his own steward d,
ring sanguinary period of the revolution
and number Of the boodhounds o. th
Convention were sent to arrest him. II
received privfte intelligence of their al
pro ch in time to effect an escape. l.
landed in England without money
friends, but considered himself singular
fortunate in having his head upon h
shoulder; several Of his neighbors havir
been guIIotined as punishment for beil
rich.
When he reached London he had but
louis in his pocket, aud no prospect Of e
ing another, He ate solitary dinner
bee -steas. aud was almost poisoned
port wlnc, which, from Il, color, he HI
mistaken for clarci The dingy look Oft
ohop-house, AMI Of the little mahogan
coored box in which he ate his dime