Spirit of the age., 1860-10-17
Selett Iiittraturr.
THE ORPHANS CHOICE.
A BEAUTIFUL STORY.
CHAPTER /.


One magnificent morning in the year 1911,
a couple of little girls, not more than thirteen
years of age, sat crying by the roadside
some distance beyond the Zois de Boulogne,
near Paris. These children much resembled
each other, but were yet quite dissinilar.-
.,A.a$ - both had dark brown hair, large dark.
1egs pssgn I'd clear eomplezdions botb !,
same height and Size; but the 81 -!
was high and bfoad, while the oSn otrfpr Fssss Vas
low and narrow, one had sweet intelligent.
and loving expression of countenance. indi-
eating judgment and fortitude, while the
looks of the other denoted fiery impetuosi-
ity and recklessness that would give great
energy in a sudden emergency, but which
would soon weary under continued annoyan-
ces.
AS the children sat crying by the roadside,
with their arms around each others necks,
an elderly honest looking farmer came sing
ing round a curve in the road which had
hidden them from view, and astonished by
the sudden apparition Of the little weepers,
ne stopped short and exclaimed -
What, now, my pretty ones Has the
mother bird flown away? or have you stray
ed away from your nests +? Why do you
weept'
ALIAS! we are orphans-Pauline and L.
| said the low browed one. eve have nobody
to care for US. We have come here to die. :"
Soul of my mother!" exclaimed the hon
est farmer, throwing up his hands; Spirits
so young and yet weary of wing. who
could have imagined it? Are you sisters ?'
No. replied the one who had been called
Pauline; Camille is my cousin-her father
was my brother"
| By kind questioning, Jean Hudelt, (for
that was the farmers name) learned that
| the little orphans had come. from Provence
to Paris, with the mother of Pauline, to find
an uncle, who would have protected them =
but alas the good man had died before
their arrival, the mother and aunt soon died
also; and now they were left alone, without
friend in the world. And Camille again
said that they wished to die; but Pauline
said that her mother had taught he1 to trust
in God, and that she should trust in Him.
Chow intelligent they SEEM" soliloquised
the farmer, ''and so handsome too" But
Pauline is the angel, while Camille is the
devil in pantalettes this is plain enough to
be seen. | can't leave them here to die
poor things; nor can support them at nv
home. My good Maria would welcomedhem.
sSTe s " sass st ss4 n: SS9!a sag -ssss
from starving. | wish the good -: tsll :ss
was Empress, I'd take them to 1ar Jbepnlne h'1p l
new blue-eyed wife of the lite coruoli naI tnis
as cold and sour as DutcFcbooro a. is
she doesn't know that syed her b,sbsa etsiass
life in Egypt ''o o"iios !
At that moment anopen carr;,oo L..
by six milk white b5rses, dashed ro,,a Lawn ~
curve IN the road and as Hudelt loanoa 1a 'ne ). i
one side to avoid being run over he 80 " u
nlzed IN the occupants of the earr;aoa ~ ).
Emperor and Empress, who were TAKING ono n.o =
OF their morning rides, with only nosfGns
and two tootmen fer their attendants ''i'n
Napoleon had only recognized the old 60, :"
dler OF Italy and Egypt and with a demo :,
cratic impulse which gave him such a bnls :
upon the masses, he ordered the position NV ~ L
rein up and then beckoned Hudelt 20 annronol "
The latter believing his old comrade to be hsth
omnlsclent and omnipotent, was friebtened
lest he had OWNED his uncomplimentarvraao
tions upon the character of his new blpo
eyed wife, but telling the children to rema;s
where they were, he approached the carrssnss
with tiuttering heart The Emperor's man.
ner at once re-assured him, however. Mar
leon extended his hand, and cordially araen-
ing that of the farmer, said:
'Ah, my brave comrade, is it Won tbon
And you have turned your sword into q |
ploughshare, eh But as you were not
lancer, where did you get your PRUNING
Then gaily pinching the cheek of Mor;o
Louise, ne langhingy added ''you see that
am familiar with the prophets The
brave man here saved my life in Egypt Do Do
you not love him !? | like to meet nv o15
braves thus in the garb of peace and smell.
ing of clover. But: tell me- he said more 'e.. sa
riously, "are you prospering, Hudelt "a
s;oI you SAFE against want in case of blight or
The good farmer, overwhelmed br h;a
kindness, could hardly articulate word Hls
But he finally managed to say that ba d;a
not own the farm he worked, and that Iaa ha
was Tar from being prepared for any serious
- ths EnIaEor understood this |.
muchy he intbetuoSIv ;.Is