Nebraska advertiser., 1868-02-27
lyon AND FINETTE,
A FAIRY TALE OF BR1rrExY.

I Osh0tA%EAs
When the steward, the bailif, and the
seneschal we're experiencing these little
unpleasantnesses, Of which they did not
think it proper TO boast, preparations
were being made for a great event al
Kerver Castle, namely the marriage of
WON and the fair-haired lady. Two
days had passed in those preparations
and all the friends of the family had
gathered together for twenty leagues
round, when, one fine morning, WON
and his bride. with the Baron and Baro-
ness Kerver, took their seats in a grsat
carriage adorned with flowers, and sci
out for the celebrated church of St.
Madore.
A hundred knights, in full armoP,
mounted On The horses decked with rib,
bons, rode on each side Of the betroihed
couple, each with bis vizor raised and bis
lance at rest IN token Of honor. BY the
eide Of each baron. a squire. also on horse
back, carried the seigniorial banner. At
the head Of the procession rode the GEN.
sechal, with a gilded staff in his hand.
Behind the carriage gravely walked the
bailif, followed By the v~assals, while the
steward rallied at the seEfs, a noisy and
curious rabble.
As they yer crossing a brook league
from the castle, one of the traces of the
carriage broke, and they were forced 10
stop. The accident repaired, the coach
man cracked bis whip, and tie horses
started with such force that the new
trace broke in three pieces. Six times
this provoking piece of wood was replaced,
and six time it broke anew, without
drawing the carriage from the hole where
1t was wedged. Every one had a word
Of advise to offer even the peasants,
as wheel-wrIghts and carpenters, were
not the last to make a show Of theiI
knowledge. This gave the steward cour-
age be approached the baron, took of
his cap, and. scratching his head,
"My lord" said be, Gin the house thai
you see shining yonder among the trees
there lives a woman who does things thal
nobody else can do. Only persuade her
20 lend you her tongs, and, in my opinion.
they will hold till morning"
The baron made a sign, and ten peas,
ants ran to the cottage Of Finette, who
very obligingly lent them her gold iongs,
They were put in the place of the trace
the coachman cracked his whip, and of
went the carriage like a feather.
Every D rejoiced, but the Joy did not
last long. A hundred steps father, 10
the bottom of the carriage gave way lit
lie more, and the noble Kerver family
would have sunk quite out off sight. The
wheel-wrights and the carpenters set to
work at once they sawed plsnks, nailed
them down fast, and in the twinkling of
al eye repaired the accident. The coach
man cracked his whip, and the horses
started, when behold, half Of the carriage
was left behind the Baroness Kerver
eat by the side Of the bride. while WON
and the baron were carried off al full
gallop. Here was a new difficulty. Three
times was the carriage mended, three
times it broke anew. There was every
reason to believe that it was enchanted.
Every n had q word of advice to
offer. This gave the bailif courage.
He approached the baron, and said, with
q low tone,
"My lord. in the house that you see
shining yonder among the trees, there
lives a woman who does things such as
nobody else can do. Only persuade her
90 lend you her door for the bottom Of
the carriage, aud, in my opinion, it viii
hold ill morning"
The baron made a sign, and twenty
peasants ran TO the cottage of Finetie,
who very oblIgingly lent them her gold
den door. They put il in the bottom Of
the carriage. when il fitted as if it had
been made expressly for it. The party
took their seats inthe carriage, the coach
man cracked his whip, the church was
in sight, and all The trouble of the journey
seemed ended.
Net at all! Suddenly the horses stop.
ped, and refused to draw. There were
four Of them. Six, eight, ten, twenty
four more were put to the carriage, but
all ia vain It was impossible 70 stir them.
The more they were whipped, the deeper
the wheels sunk into the ground like the
coulter Of a plow.
What were they 10 do To go on foot
would have been a disgrace. To mount
q horse. and ride to the church like simple
peasants. was not The custom Of the Ker-
yer. They tried 10 lift the carriage,
they pushed the wheels. they shook il,
NJ ali in vain. Meanwhile the day was
sclining, and the hour for the marriage
4 passed.