Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-06-08
FRIDAY. JUNE s, 1860.

Would 1t really interes. you to hear
~" said she. "Ihave not thought or 'pek'
en- much Of tho old times since have been
in America"
wish could tell you her story Is she
told II to me-.ittipg there In the April
sunshine. her brown eyes dimmed with Q
mist OF tears and her email hands now
tightly ela'ped, and now raised In the slo-
quenee Of unconscious gesture.
They were an old family OF Normandy
the De villargennes. A ruined castle i'still
standing there an estate once theirs. which
is said to have been bull. in the days Of
William the Copqueror. They had lived
in opulsnce for many centuries. but In the
Revolution they clung to the fortunes oil
The King. and lost both wealth and power,
and were even forced for time into exile
to save their lives. When they retained I,
was 10 End their lands In the possession ol
strangers. and themselves uncarcd for and
unknown. With the little property which
remained 20 them they went 10 Paris. hop.
/ ing to recover their fortunes. and IL wa.
there that Mario's father was born. Bot
trouble secmed TO pursue tbSu. All their
efforts TO recover their ancient possessions
were unavailips, and at length, In disgust
and despair. the last representative OF the
family. with hi, motherless daughters, bad
come TO America.
This chain and ring which I wear"
said Marie. "srs the all that remains to
us Of tho 'plendor Of IN. De villarrcn..
We have como hers to find new life.
never speak OF the pas. TO my father. and
hops to bS 90 successful In my teaching
tbA, his las, days shall be happier than any
no has ever known"
The nsI, day I WAS at Madame B.s. I
told her how much interestOdI was in Ma
ris De vill,rg,nne., and expressed the
hope that she would give her all her classes.
81 am interested m her also," said Mad.
ame. " and have no doub, she takes great
pains with her pupils. but ! am no, sure
,ha, I like her method altogether. with.
in q few day. have seen young French
gentleman, jus, from Paris who has grad.
ua,ed there with high honers. aud bring.
letter. from the we'll known professors un.
der whom he has studied. lie has come TO
New York TO establish himself as teacher
Of his native language, and has n system OF
his own. by which he thinks scholars will
learn much more rapidly than in tie old
ways"
just then the door opened and Mr..
Philippe Reiour" wa. announced. Mad.
amc greeted him very aE.bly and presented
hin to me saying. "iho gentleman ] was
speaking Of" 40 was tall, snely Horned
handsome young man. with that ease and
assurance Of manner which Is 80 effective
with women. Amer soma complimentary
remarks TO Madame. he hogan TO speak OF
hi' plans for classes. lie discussed old and
new systems, and made !. very clear tia,
HE own was the only ono by which pupil
could learn TO speak Partisan French. ]
saw that he was converting Madame, and
trembling for nv teachers interests, ven.
,urcd TO remind her tha, | though, she had
promised her scholar, TO Marie Ds-Villar.
genno.
"I made no definite promise" said she,
" and | shall still bs able to give her some
oil The little girls"
"Maric De villargeno7 ?" exclaimed Mr..
Retour, :" | had heard tha, tho las. Of ,ha,
old family had come to this country, but /
never would have believed one Of them
would demean herself 30 much rs to teach.
| knew De vlllarscnne had amused him
self with making grammar, but did not
suppose ono Of the name would use it,"
"It il Marie's father who has done IL"
said Madame. and she teaches her classes
from IT,"
Mr. Re,our smiled. {" I do not wish to
di'panso the young lady" 'aid be. Il
do not wish to di.parase the young lady"
said he, 4" have great respect for her an.
eient name but it is because our language
has been taught by person, like her, who
undertake il from necessity and not from
choice, that 1t is so lmperiec.ly and rarely
learned. Any one can see that that gram.
mar is the work OF an amateur. IL nigh,
have done for the court in the time Of De
villarsenno's grandfather. but Is quite un'
equal TO the practical wants Of to-day. A
true teacher must spring from the people,"
Mr.. Retour was triumphant, aud Mad.
ame began to consul, him a. once about the
arrangement Of her advanced classes.
No one could help liking the young man.
Ile seemed to have no envy or unkind
feeling only u determination to succeed in
his profession. lie combined Yankee ener-
~ and ,hrewdness with French suavity
and grace, and the blending made him
quito irresistabls. After he had gone Mad.
ame turned to me and 'aid,
~ am delighted with his system.
And with Mr.. Retour."
"Ye., with Mr.. Retour.
What will become OF Marie Do Villar.
gennei"
"oh che is getting pupils in other quar-.
ters. and shall still give her tho younger
girls"
~ am very sorry for her diappoiut.
ment."
$50 am |, but the good OF my scholars