Des Arc citizen., 1859-01-08
FEMALE COURAGE AND HERoIsM.
A THRILLING LITTLE STORY.


 In the month of June, a pedlar and his wife presented themselves al sun down at the door of little farm house, at Boaie, in France, and requested permission of the farmer to stay overnight. A small room was consigned 10 them, as the far mer's wife was confined to her bed. The next day was Sunday and the farmer and his servants went to church. The pedlar also started to go, and there remained in the house, the wife of the farmer a new
 born infant, the pedar's wife, who leigned illness, and child six years of age. Scarce y had the people gone out, when the pedlar's wife, armed with knife, pre- sented herself at the bed of the sick wo- man, and demanded her money or her life. The poor woman, sick and weak; deliver ed up her keys, and desired the little boy to show the apartments. She rose softly from her bed, followed the pedlar's wife without being heard and having beckon- ed the child out of the room, locked the door. She then desired the child to run for his father and desire him to bring as- sstance. The child did not lose an in. stant, but by a surprising fatality, met the pedlar on the road who had stolen from the church to assist in the pre-concerted robbery. The pedlar asked the child where he was gong, he answered that he was going to seek his father, as an attempt was made to rob him. The pedlar said i, was now unnecessary, as he himself would go and protect his mother; and, ta- king the child by the hand, they returned to the farm. They knocked at the door, but the farmers wife not recognizing the voice of her husband refused to open; the pedlar made vain efforts to induce her ,and finally threatened to cut the child's throat and break it open. Furious at being un- able to prevail upon her, he executed his horrible threat and killed the child.
 After committing this useless crime, he tried to get into the house to save his own wife, as the time passed and the farmer might return from church. His attempts failing he mounted the roof and descend ed the chimney, The farmers wife, al- most fainting, now saw nothing to deliver her from certnin death. The wretch, was almost down the chimney and about to en- ter her chamber, when collecting all her strength, she by sudden inspiration, drew the pailessee straw bed-to the edge of the hearth and as quickly set fire to 1t. The smoke in few minutes enveloped the assassin, who, not being able to reascend, very soon fell in the fire half suffocated. The farmers courageous wife lost not her presence of mind, but, in his blinded state struck him several severe blows on the head with the poker, which put him be- yond the chance of immediately recover ing his senses. Exhausted with fatigue and mental agony, she herself fell sense- less on the carpet, and remained in this situation till the farmer and his ser wants returned from church. The dead body of the child, at the gate of the farm house, was the first horrible spectacle that met the eye of the unhappy farmer. They forced open the doors, and after having recovered 10 life the farmers wife, they seized the two cuprits and delivered them over to justice. The pedar survived his wounds and burns. but both he and his partner received the punishment due their crime.