Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-06-26
The Lovers of wire.

way oetWeen tne Watering pot VI Aprit anu
the warming-pan of June, when, in the beau
tiful valley of Vire-everybody knows Wire
but, lest there should be anybody in the
wide world who does not, dearly beloved
reader, ] will tell you all about it.
Get into the stage-coach which journeyeth
diurnally between London and Southampton;
enjoy the smoo,hhess of the road, bless Mr..
McAdam, put up at the Dolphin, and yield
youself to the full delights of an English
four.post bed, for no such sweets shall you
know from the moment you set your foot on
board the steamboat for Havre, till the same
steamboat, or another, it matters not which,
lands you once more on the English strand.
Supposing you then arrived at Havre-l
get out of it again as soon as you can-rush
across the river to Honfeurs from Hon
aeurs dart back to Caen; and after you have
passed five minutes to think about William
the Conqueror, put yourself into the dill
gence for St. Malo. and when you have trav
elled just twelve leagues and half, you
will come to long steep hill, crowned by |
pretty, airy-lookin9 town, whose buildings, |
in some parts gathered on the very pima
Gle, in others running far down the slope, |
seem as if coquetting with the rich valleys
that WOO them from below.
Go to bed and if you bathe your feet be-
forehand, which, it you are of my faction,
you will do, walk over the tiled floor of the
inner bedroom. that you may have fit OPP
portunity of cursing tiled floors, and of re-
lieving yourself of all the spleen in Your ma
ture before next morning. Then, if both
your liver and the day be favorably dispos-
| ed, sally forth to the east corner of the town,
and you will have fair view over one of
the loveliest valleys that natures profuse
hand ever gifted with beauty-the soft, clear
stream of the Wire, winding sweetly along
between the green sloping hills, and the
rich woods, and the fields. and the chatea,tr,
and hamlets. and the sunshine catching upon
all its meanderings, and the birds singing it
their song of love, as its calm waters roll
bountifully by them. Look upon it, and
you will not find it difficult to imagine how
the soul, even of an obscure artisan, in re-
mote age, warmed into poetry and music in
the bosom of that valley, and by the side of
that stream.
II was, then, in that beautiful vale of Wire,
some twenty years agone, that Francis Lor-
mier went out to take his last May walk
! With Maaiette Duval, ore the relentless con-.
scription called him from his happy home
and his early love. 1t was sad walk, as
may well be imagined; ; for, though the morn
ing was bright, and nature, to her shame be
it spoken, had put on her gayest smiles, as
if to mock their sorrow, vet the sunshine of
the scene could net fud its way to their
hearts. and all seemed darkened and clouded
around them. They talked great deal, and
they trlked long time but far be it from
me 10 betray their private conversation. l
would not for the world-especially as
know not one word about it-except, indeed,
that Francis Mormier vowed the image of
Mariette should remain with him forever
should inspire him in the battle, and cheer
him in the bivouac and that Mariette pro-
tested she never would marry anybody ex-
cept Francis Lormier, even if rich old Mon
sieur Latoussefort, the great foutan, were to
lay himself and fortune at her feet and, in
short, "that when his seven long years were
out" Francis would find her still spnster,
and very much at his service. :" INais 81 je
perdois une jamie ?" said Francis Lormier.
Is Quest ce que ca fat :" replied Mariette.
4 They parted first to follow the lady.
4 Mariette wept a great deal, but soon after
got calm again, went about her ordinary
work, sang her song, danced at the village
fete. talk ed with .he takers, laughed with
the laughers, and won the hearts of all the
/ youths in the place by her unadorned beauty
and her native grece. But still she did not
forget Francis Lormier; and when any one
came to ask her in marriage, the good dame,
her mother, referred them to Mariette, who
had always her answer resdy, and with a
kind word and gentle look, sent them away
refused, but not offended. At length good
old Monsieur Latoussefort presented HIM
self, with all his money-bags, declaring that
his only wish was TO enrich his gentle Ma
riette; but Mariette was steady, and so
touchingly did she talk TO him about poor
! Francis Lormier, that the old man went away
with the tears in his eyes. Six months af-
terward he died, when, to the wonder of the
l. whole place, he left his large fortune TO Ma
riette Duval
In the meanwhile, Francis Joined the
army, and, from light handsome conscript,
he soon became brave, steady soldier. At
tached to the great northern army. he under
went all the hardships of the campaigns in
Poland and Russia; but still he never lost
his cheerfulness, for the thought of Mariette
! kept his heart warm, and even Russian
winter could not freeze him. All through
! that miserable retreat he made the best of
everything. AS long as he had good ten
} der piece Of saddle, he did not want a din
ner; and when he met with a comfortable
dead horse to creep into, he found board and
} lodging combined. His courage and his
powers of endurance called upon him, from
the first, the eyes of one whose best quality
was the impartiality of his recompense.
Francis was rewarded as well as he could
be rewarded; but at length, in one of those