Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-01-04
From Once Week"
sTHE LITTLE REDCAPS OF KERhEAU.
BRETON TALE.

# In o corner or tne cOurtya aru Vi eho VI"
scastle of Kerleau may be seen the crumbllng
kt6ne statue of peasant, which has stood
there for many ages.
81 In the days when good Christians reached
Heaven by faith and good works, Satan
WAS forced to exercise his wits to draw
chem into his snares he was therefore
much more frequently to be seen among
men at that time than he is now for in
these days he has no need to come to u.s.
as we of our own accord 60 to him. But
whatever forethought he might exercise,
and whatever pains the evil spirit might
/ take, his most carefully prepared plots
would sometimes fail, even when brought
to bear upon the simple ones.
There was, then, at that time, in the
Commune of Eleven, poor peasant, named
Laurent, he was widower, and had no
other possession in the world than beau
tiful daughter; the pearl of the country,
who went by the name of fair Jeanette );
but though the love of money was then
less prevalent than it is now, no one
envicd the good man his treasure, and
none of the lads of the parish, though
they were always delighted at an oppor-
tunity of dancing with Jeanette, and
paid her fine compliments, ever thought of
marrying her.
"Ah! if I had but good farm" said
poor Laurent to himself. I'D make
Jeanette worth being looked after by the
best lads in the Commune; but with the
poor wages of day laborer, how can |
put anything aside? If the Count of
Iargoet would only give me some assistance
would clear some of his land for him,
and we should both be gamers by the bar
gain"
Hunger, they say, brings the wolf out
of the forest and father Laurent, having
laid all the plans, paid visit to the cas-
tie of Largoet and proposed to the Count
to take part of his land and get it into
order, if he would make him good ad-
vance.
Every good" said the Count | will
give you hundred crowns a good herd
of cattle, and all the tools you want; but
by this time three years you must have
cleared and planted and hedgcd. all the
land that is allotted to you"
Thoroughly delighted with his bargain
Laurent confidently set to work. He
built cottage for himself and daughter,
and stalls for the cattle for in those days,
with hundred crowns, o great many
stones could be put one upon another.
When once they were lodged the good
man engaged laborcrs, who cut bitches,
,plowed the land and sowed a great field,
while they lived whole year upon what
was borrowed. But at the expiration OF
twelve months, Laurent found himself far
poorer than at the beginning, for he was
in debt, and he had hardly any corn, as
the harvest had been bad, and his labor
.crs, who had been badly fed and not paid
at all left him.
One day, when the unfortunate Laurent
was digging trench alone, and the sweat
was running in streams from his brow
and his limbs were aching with fatigue
lhc lamentcd his hard lot, and, clutching
his hair, cried out =
"Yes, I would, I'd give myself to the
devil for mere nothing"
" Here am, at your service" said
Satan, who was Immediately at hand.
"No, no. by no means, thank you,
said laurent 81 prefer working alone. >
"Well, but I'll work for you and with
out wages
"Oh, no you never give anything fol
nothing" Said Laurent.
HCome," said Satan, do not 60 on ar
guing, but let's make bargain. ! pity
you, for | am good-hearted fellow, anc
will work for you for year and a day
for nothing, on the condition that you'll
always supply me with work; but tho
very first time it fails, l."
You'll carry me off, said the peasant
"Well, then decline"
"By no means, you old idiotl" saic
Satan; sit isn't you I'd have, but YOU
daughter