The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-03-27
The Village Cure

restaurant known as that OF Eel
Godot. The house was one of thos
culinary establishments which al
utterly unknown to that large clas
of Parisians whose well furnishe
purses permits them to partake dali
of a comfortable breakfast and dinne
To breakfast or dine at Pere GOdot'
it was not essential to possess 1iy
francs, nor even twenty two sous, th
cost of a repast at Rameau's or at til
Istill more celebrated. Flicotteaux's i
the Quarter Latin.
| At the loyal sign of Gagne- Peti
the habitues dIned la carte, order
ling portion, or half a portion, az
cording to their means: and thu
clerk, shop-hoy, or grisette, conl
obtain a meal-such as it was--fo
from ten to fifteen sous. The sal
habitues did not trouble themselve
with inquiries as to the mysteries @
the dishes. In all great cities ther
are those who are obliged to conten
themselves with what they can ge
for their money. If they ventured t
demonstrate, they would be to told il
the most affable manner possible tina
they could probably obtain what the,
wanted at the Cafe de Paris or tn
Cafe Anglals,-an explanation whicl
would, as invariably it did, excite tn
merriment of those sycophants VIII
are always to be met with in ever
public establishment.
1t was in the month of September
1885. Six o'clock-the hour whel
all Paris sits down to dinner-ha'
lust struck. There were, however
only some five or six persons in Per
Godot's when Horace walked in.-.
Horace was young man, of from
thirty to thirty-two years of age
tall, thin, and of gentlemanly appear
ance. His dress was perfectly sim
pie, and yet attested that the weare
was well 10 do, from the very fact o
the absence of all ostentation.
1t was evidently his first visit pal,
to Pere Godot's, for he looked around
scanning each separate party, mani
Testing at the same time urequivoca
symptoms of disappointment at no
finding some one there whom he ex
pected. But his eyes were attracted
in the course OF his scurtiny by tn
sight O: an old cure sitting at tabl
in the corner of the room. The hal
of the aged minister of religion wa
perfectly white, but his countenanc
was so expressive Of goodness aDt
single le-heartedness that it was impos
sible not to feel at once an interes
in his person.
Horace could not resist the attrac
ton, and, approaching, he salutet
the old man in the most respectful
manner
Would it be disagreeable, SIR h
said, "that / should take seat a
your table !?
'Disagrceable by no means, sir,
replied the worthy old cure quit
the contrary g., --...-5,--.s,
And as the young man took q sea
opposite to him, the old man smiled
with satisfaction.
sWhat will monsieur hsve?' inter
Irupted Anastase, a precociOus garcol
|of fourteen years of age.--a potage
or half potage?
what you like said Horace, an
Inoyed at the interruption.
"A whole potage, then, for mon
lsieur. Does monsieur take 2
Horace glanced to see if the prizes
was provided. His bottle had scarce
lly been touched.
NO, thank you, my boy, no wine,
replied Horace.
The cure, in his turn, looked u
Iinqiringly at his new friend. Horac
was quietly unfolding his napkin
Anastase soon reappeared, bearing i
triumph julienne, in which potatoe
ltyrann;zed over all other vegetable:
lin few minutes Horace had dispos
ed of his julierne, just as the cur
had finished with a kind of beefstea
which had abused his patience griey
lously.
You live in Paris p observed th
latter, by way of breaking the ice.
Yes, sir
sAh! a splendid city, slr,-superb
1t is the first time in my life that
have visited the capital, and when
return to my little village in MOI
mandy, I shall carry with me, | as
sure you, many pleasant remirisce'
But what are you doing?
AS Horace was listening to th
priest, he had poured out half a tun
bier of water.
1T is not good at your age to drin
water continued the cure, and
you would oblige me- The oil
man blushed slightly, and his han
failed in steadiness as he lifted up hi
bottle. i shall never be able to drin
all this myself he said. And befol
Horace could reply he had filled u
his tumbler with wine.
! 1t was Horace's turn to blush nov
You are really too good, sir, and
do not know if / ought
Bah . said the cure. i was du
at table by myself; you came to kee
: me company, and must do what
can on my side to reciprocate yol
: condescension. Besides, in Norman
: DIV, we don't drink much wine, an
You do me a service in helping me
drink this. Had you not come,
:, might, perhaps, have committed q
excess,--I might have committed
SIM
Horace smiled kindly, as Anasta'
= brought q fricassee of chicken.
: lfricassee of chicken, st six sous, Ho
. = ace thought could not come under Il
category of sinful gourmandizing.-
The friends--for they were frien'
. by sympathy already, as if, indee
:, they had known one another f
years-conversed as they ate.
What part of Normandy do "
e come from. father?' inquired Ho
ace.
From the department of the Eur
am minister of Fleury sur PAndell
|. four leagues from Andelys. Do "
know the county?
II NO, / do not
a sFleury is but poor village-t'
\ poor, alas and l had hoped,
looming to Paris--But the cares OF
poor village cure cannot interest yol
y, why SO? Are they not as mi
}. worthy of sympathy as the cares
IS a poor artist of Paris ?"