Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-09-21

How eager / am to get backp' A-
Night overlook them ere they entered
the city of Arras. The carter would
accept of nothing for his trouble; the
old man, after blessing him and bid
ding him good night, directed his steps
toward the dwelling where he and his
nieces had held themselves In conceal
ment during the reign of terror.
In the garrett of an old, rickety house,
were seated two young girls, mt work
An earthen lamp lighted this miserable
habitation, which contained no other
furniture than a worm eaten bedstead,
table and two or three chairs. The
two girls were sewing IN silence. =
Jeanne. the oldest, he head bowed upon
her breast, was dropping tear now and
then upon her thin, white hands. Mar
guerite, the youngest, was regarding
her unperceived, and seemed to be
making an effort to restrain her grlef;
AT last her feelings gained the mastery
a deem eroan escaped her. Jeanne raised
her ewes. and with a voice full of love
and tenderness. said:
ssMarguerite, yOu know the precept
of our good uncle: "God is the mas
ter: what he does is we'll done"
Then she became silent, and both re-
sumed their needle-wOrk.
ssPoor uncle T. replied Marguerite;
"where is he nowP" Perhaps he is
deadr'
ooh. do not say that" said Jeanne;
s9the bare Thought makes me sbudder;
and vet, in tire distressiul condition that
we are in, would it not be better that he
should be in heaven? If he is there now,
God has indeed been merciful to him. =
"Jeanne," answered Marguerite,
sGod has already taken pity upon us,
since we are able TO obtain work, and
at a time when so many poor people
are without it; at least we shall have
bread, and how many there are who
have none! Obi God is, indeed, good
to u.s."
ayes, God is good, since he has left
us together. AT these verbs the Sis
tiers threw themselves in each others
arms: then they went to work again.
At this moment there was a knock
at the door. The frightened sisters
trembled and huddled together; they
were looking at each other In silence,
not knowing what to do, when sec
ond knock, louder than the first, in
creased their perplexity; but a voice
outside cried: - .-.--
"Jeanne, Marguerite, it is l. Come,
open the door, At this well known
voice, Marguerite FASTENED to obey,
and the next moment she was locked Ia
the arms of her dear old uncle Jacques
BeraDger.
Jeanne had remained seated, incapa-
BILE of any movement She regarded
with frightened air the good old
man whom she believed dead, or at
least In prison.
"Whyl what ails my Jeanne?" said
he, taking hold of both her hands
"Io you not know me? 1t is i; it is
your unclel"
At this voice consciousness returned
to the poor girl. She burst into tears,
and threw herself upon the old mans
/ bosom, without being able to utter a
single word.
sis it really possible" said Marguer-
lite, ''that you are restored to MS and
| forver, too; is it not so Oh no more
misfortunes are possible, for you are
with us T.
Then the cure related what had hap
pened, and how he had been restored to
| liberty. When he had concluded
Jeanne and Marguerite opened their
uncle's chamber, which they had kept
closed during his short absence, and
as he re-entered it he thanked the Gre
ator with his whole soul, for he be-
lieYed that he had left it forever.
Two wears past in the midst of assid-
nous labor. 1t appeared light To the
young girls, for it enabled them to
keep from want, him, who had re-
ceived them into his house when they
had been left orphans. Yet this peace
fuIness was soon tOsb be disturbed, for
God visits his faithful servants with
many painful trials. The merchant
for whom Jeanne and Marguerite
worked became embarrassed in his bu-
siness and fled, carrying with him a
considerable amount of money that he
was owing them for work already com
pleted; through this misfortune the
means of subsistence failed them all
of a sudden. They found themselves
without bread. They were now com
PEELED to II their clothing piece 10y
piece i'm order to avoid starvation, bIt
they nobly resolved to keek their intirm,
old uncle in ignorance of their fright
full condition, as long as possible.
Christmas arrived. The proprietor
of the two rooms, that the uncle and
nieces occupied, came to collect the
rent for the half year. Alas there
was nothing to pay him with. He was
a hard-hearted man; he become angry;
4 l.. ID cd 10
first time the destitution of his little
family. In vain Jeanne and Marguer.
ite besought the landlord to have pity
upon them, and showed him how very
poor they were. ...l# "
Chow can / help it?" he replied.
Cline words do not pay the rent; the
Government will not receive that kind
of coin for taxes. Go somewhere elsel
Your furniture must remain. 1t is
scarcely worth what you are owing
me-"
"Ohl Monsieur" said Jeanne, sew
erything here belongs to you. But /
ask as a great favor to permit us to
keep this picture. It is an heirloom;
my sister and L have a great affection
for IT"
Everything here belongs to me; the
picture as well as the rest, replied the
man, ''or else raise the money"
Jacques Beranger stood speechless
from establishment. Scarcely could he
articulate a word in favor of the de-
mand of his nieces.
The same evening a bailiff arrived,
who ordered them to pay THEN rent
within twenty-four hours or to leave
the premises. Poor children They
went to had that NIGHT with sad hearts.