The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-12-07
Wistellar1eo11s,
tRrop, Dickens All tho Year Round.l
THE STOL EN- Oh I L D.
A wRosaED MorHER's STORY.

| lne ETcHCH NhiaSo ohutay-iO-OioOuoA was
situated on the side Of hill, baskiug in sun.
shine. At the back, up to the summit, and
rolling down the other slope, and up and
down again for miles and miles Of hill and
valley, spread vast woods, which kept away
from Auray all bitter winds I; while below il
the ground ran gently down to a broad and
gentle vale, watcred by little river here
showing itself in glittering silver, there
marking its course by rows of poplars aud
willows, aud by mills, with few cottages
clustered about them. At the entrance of
the single rough.pavcd yillage-street, guilt
less of trottoirs, and with gutter in tho
middle, stood the church, and, enclosed with
it, tho presbyterc, and its ample garden.
A contempt Of economy Of space and OF
any approach to regularity, seemed to be the
ruling principles of the architect Of the
house in question. Inhabited only by the
cure, his single maid servant, and little
boy nine or ten years old, the orphan neph-
! ew of the latter, there were rooms enough to
accommodate a-largc family.
Up and down, in the shade, beside the
rurgling of the brook, the euro paced, read
ing In his brcviary one Of the portions allott-
Cd IOr uaily pcruhai. ho WIS vi oiu ihou'
but tall, upright, hale, and hearty, and his
firm, equal step bctokcncd none of tho infr-
mites of age. A tranquil, temperate, sim
ple life had maintained in prolonged yigor
a naturally strong frame and constitution !;
and frank, kindly, though not very intel
lectual couutcnance, fresh colorcd, and but
little lined, seemed Indicative of that most
cnyiablc temperament that " takes the goods
the gods provide" with cheerful thankful
ness, and troubles itself but little without
serious and real cause for so doing.
Ills reading finished, the cnre looked at
his watch, and found dinner-time drew near;
so he turned his steps no wise reluctantly to-
wards tho house, paused here and there in
his progress up the sanded alley to pick the
blight off some pet rose-tree--he was great
amateur of roses to disencumber it of fad
ing blossoms, or to gather some particularly
beautiful specimen tostand in winc-glass on
the top of the organ that he might enjoy its
loveliness and perfume while he played.
Gathering about in sabots, on the pave
ment in front of the house, was little Claude,
the nephew of Jeanne, the cures servant.
al say, little ono" said the good man,
I" tell thy aunt to make haste with dinuer.
I'm as hungry as wolf. Run, or l shall
eat thee J"
The child laughed, and clumpcd into the
kitchen with his message, while NJ. Leroy
proceeded up stairs to his sitting-room, and
TO expedite matters, drew tho table into its
place, and out of the corner cupboard ex-
tracted his bottle Of vim ordinaire-wretched
thin stuif-a tumbler, coarse plain linen
tablecloth, and napkin to match. rollcd
within its ivory ring, on which an inscrip-
ton Hospitality wished tho user Z" Good
Appetite"
While occupied in these arrangements, q
back door opened, and Jeanne made her ap-
pearanco to lay the cloth.
Par example, NJ. 10 euro !" was her OK.
clamation, when she saw how hsr master
was employed and, taking tho things from
his hands. She was good.looking woman
of about four or FIVE and twenty, but, like
nearly all French peasants, appeared some
years older. Her features were regular,
with the exception Of q somewhat coarse
mouth her dark cyes were fine, and sur
mounted by well marked eyebrows, and her
complexion was OF rich warm brown, with
a good deal of color. Altogether hand
some specimen Of her class, but with taci-
turn gravity Of countenance and demeanor
somewhat unusual to it.
The cure sat down in his armchair with
book, while Jeanne brushed round the ta-
bic and about the room. II was evident his
reading occupied little Of his attention for
whenever he could direct 1t unobseryed to
the servant, he did SO, and finally when she
left the room, he flung down the volume,
murmuring, with an expression Of profound
concern !" The poor girl the unhappy ~
and remaining absorbed in evidently sad re-
Elections till the sound Of her by no means
light fOotstep ON the stairs aroused him.
But it must have been no common grief
which could materially affect the cures ap-
petite. and when Jeanne had produced, in
one course, the whole Of the dinner, consist
ing of the usual soup and bouilli, salad, a
dish Of potatoes cooked with butter and a
dish Of the light-rod pineapple strawberries,
of which whole fields arc grown wherever
the vicinity Of town Of any size affords a
market for them, NJ. Leroy fell to with a
hearty goodwill and made very short work o.
the repast. Then he sat down In the arm
chair, and quietly composed himself to biz
postpmndal nap, while tho roses nodded
outside the window ut him, and black bird,
from the grove below, sang thanks to him
for the ruddy cherries to which he had been
made welcome.
Jeanne and Claude's dinner followed tha,
Of the masters, and the meal concluded, the
former filled little baskot with eggs, and
gave 1t to the boy.
I" Go, nv child, shc said, /" to Madame
Morel, say Monsieur 10 cure sends thcm with
many compliments. Then 80 on to the
Croix Blanche. and ask. from NJ. le Cure
how Madame Lcdoux and her daughter are,
and. on coming hack. you may call at Uncl,