Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-11-05
liseellantons.
The Broken Mug.

The Broken Mug.
tFrcm the German of Heinrich Zschokke.l
La Napoule is, it is true, but small
village on the sea shore nevertheless. it i.
well known in Provence. 1t is surround
ed by lofty palm trees and dark orange
groves; but to this it does not owe its eel
cbrity. 1t is said that the most juicy
grapes, tn. sweetest roses, and the prett
e.t girls in the world grow there. l can
not speak from experience; but | believe
1t. and can only say. that it is pity that
La Nap )ule does not produce IA greatef
quantity of juicy grapes. sweet roses. and
pretty girls. as in tina; ease some of them
would certainly have reached Us.
As the women Of La Napvu!e have been
celebrated for their beauty, ever since the
village was built, little Marriette must
have been the eighth wonder Of the world
for even the chronicle makes mention OF
her. She was called. it is true. Little
Marietta; and yet she was as tall as girls
of seventeen generally are, that is, her
forehead reached exactly to tn. lips of Il
grown up man.
The chronicle of La NapouIe had good
reasons foc mentioning Marriettc In the
chronicles place should have acted in
the same manner, for Marriettc (who, with
her mother, Manon. had hitherto resided
| in Avignon J when she returned to her ia
tive village. almost turned 1t upside down.
not exactly the houses. but the heads OF
the people and especially of those whose
heads and hearts are always in danger
when in the vicinity of a pair Of expressive
eyes. sneak from experience, and know
that in such a case it is no joke.
Ma1ame Manon would. perhaps. have
done better had she remained in Avisnon ;
but she had inherited in La Napoulc some
land aud vineyards, together with a pretty
house sheltered by rock, and surrounded
by olive trees and African acacias. This
was not to be rtject'dby poor widow,
and in her own opinion she was now as
rich and happy as il she were Countess Of
| Provence.
The good people of La Napoule did net
fare so we'll on the occaslo /, but they fore
saw no mischief. and from never having
read Homer, they were not aware that a
Asia Minor to arms.
Before Marriette had lived a fortnight in
the house surrounded BY olive trees and
African acacias. every young man in La
Napoule knew that the mos: charming girl
in Provence dwelt there.
When, looking like an angel in disgrisc.
she walked through tho village with her
W, wing petticoat, pale green bodice, with
a bouquet of orange blossoms and rose
bud. in the front of it. and her lovely face
shaded by her grey hat trimmed with flow
ers and streamers of ribbon then the old
became eloquent, and the young became
dumb. Aud doors and windows were
opened one after another as she passed in
order to say Good morning or Coco
evening, Marriette
When Mariette entered the church, al
hearts (that is. the hearts Of the young
men) were turned iron heaven, all eye:
from the saints. and fingers became en-
tangled in the rosary. That must have
been great offence to the religious people
and the youug girls of l., Napoule mus
have been at that time especially pious
for they were the most scandalized on tn,
occasion. And one can scarcely blam.
them for. from the time of Mariette's Ar
rival, more than one intended had grew
cool, and more than one lovsr faithless
There were quarrels and rerroaches--tear
otA hSihS"'o' ihstCou vi Bloh
en- off matches became the subject of con
versaton. Pledges of faith. rings an,
ribbons were reciprocally returned Tn,
old people took up the quarrels of the
jchidrcn. and discussion r,igned in every
house. 1t wasa lamentablc state of al
fairs.
Marrictte is altogether to blame, said tn
young girls; first their mothers agree,
with them, then their fathers; and at las
even the young men were of the sam
topin,on.
But Marriette in her Mo lestv and limo
cence. like rosebu in its dark green ca
li1, little suspected the mischief she wa
doing. continued courteous to all. Thi
first excited the compassion ST the youn,
men, aud they exclaimcd-'W Why shoul,
we vcy the sweet harmless child! She i
no: to blamen The fathers said the SAM
thing. then the mothers, and at last ever
the pious young girls. For no one coul
converse with Mariettc without liking her
and before six months had elapsed, ever
Fono had spoken to her, and every on
loved her.
Sae was now, however, not aware o
how much she was liked, and before sh
lad been quite unconscious thn. any on,
hated her, How little the so often tram
pied upon violet suspects its value.
The inhabitants of La Naponle now en-
deavored to atone for their injustice, an,
Marrictte was greeted everywhere witt
smiles, and invited to all their dances ant
rural amusemcnts.
But the hearts of some men, far from
being endowed with compassionate feel
iuss, are hardened like that Of Pharaoh.
A memorable example of such ha,dnes
OF heartwa young Colin, the richest pro
prlctor and farmer in La Napoue. who's,
Vineyards, diise gardens, lemon and orange
groves, We're 40 extensive, that one could
scarcely walk through them all in one day
What alone proves the natural hardnes,
of his heart is this fact--thst he has al.