Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1871-03-23
Miscellaneous.
THE LOST JEWELS.

"QUIcKER, madame! 1t commences to
fall. vEsSs ~ &<&egs c
"Well, what thenY" said madame.
"Why, madame has no umbrella"
Bah !" she exclaimed
at arrives then, that madame will get
wet"
" Let it arrive then, as you call it,
Toinette; 1t won't kill me-"
The speakers were mistressGand maid
and were comely women, of between forty
and fifty. The large basket, which the
latter carried on her arm, showed that the
purport of their walk had been to buy
provisions, and they were now-at about
six in the evening proceeding home.
wards TO their place of residence, which
was situated in a street in Clerkenwell.
Madame Michaud was an Englishwoman
by birth, but had married Frenchman a
working ieweler, who, like Others of his
countrymen, had sought refuge in Eng
land. He was skilled workman, and
earned excellent wages. Jules Michaud
was hale, red faced, white haired man,
some dozen or fifteen years his wife's senior,
but that had not prevented their union
from being happy one. As for Toinette,
she had been the Frenchman' servant in
his bachelor days, and was poor country
woman of his own, whom he had first
taken from motives Of charity, she being
without any friends or relations, either in
her own country or in England, She had
lived twenty years in Jules Michaud's ser
vice, and was much attached to her master
and his wife. She was faithful, honest
creature, regarded more in the light of a
friend than servant, little addicted to
grumbling, but believing the abode of the
Michauds in Snipe street to be the best
ordered domicile in Europe. And truly
it was a pleasant little household, that
which consisted of these three worthy
persons, and one which it would scarcely
be possible to praise too highly for its
neatness, its cheer lulness, aud its comfort.
The three rose at seven, summer and win
ter, took their meals comfortably together
at precisely the same hour and all retired
to rest punctually as the old-fashioned
clock struck ten, unless it might be that
Monsieur Michaud had some work in hand
that necessitated more than ordinary labor,
in which case he sat up after the two
women had gone to rest.
Arrived at home, Madame Miehaud, fol.
lowed by Toinette, entered her neatly. kept
Kitchen sat down in large chair, united
her boanet strings, famed herself with
her handkerchief, and declared that the
heat was insutierable; whilst Tonette
placed the huge wicket basket on the
table, and commenced emptying it of its
contents.
"Phew" she said. madame. how fine
! is that piece of veal Madame will stew
1t dur carottes, as usual, for monsieur's
supper
We'll, | suppose so, Toinette; but
wish you and Jules could take to our Eng
lish ways. Now like veal roasted, with
some green peas. 1t seems to me that To
stew such fine neck as that with carrots
Is to spoil IT," a,
Toihettc lifted her hands and appraised
her eyes.
Spoil It'll" said she. "Oh madame, it
comes to be superb
Well, get the stew pam said madame; :;
there is no time to lose. We shall have
supper at eight"
50 Toinctte got the pan, and commenced
cutting up the veal in chops, whilst
Madame Michaud followed the English
tastes and made herself cup of tea.
"Oh dear" she sand, how tea does re.
/ vive oner
Toinette peeled carrot, and hummed
Il " Partant pour Ia Syria"
81 Don't you think so, Toinett 7" asked
Nher mistress rather sharply w~
N What inadarneg" y T'E & &&
@ Why, thatstea revives one p
prefer coffee, madame, or even vin
trdindtre.n
Nasty thin stuff, like vinegar" said
maaaine, &" like English beer"
ioinelte knew that Madame Michaud's
nhoit, "hen she was cross and tired, (as
she always was when she had taken long
Walk IN not weather,) was to find fault
with everything French so she held her
tongue.
There would certainly have been n
skirmish between the two women had NOT
Mchaud at this moment his face hpan.
ing with satisfaction entered the kitchnn
Well, Jules, said his wife. rather
Grossly, what time you have been You
left home directly alter your four o'clock
coffee, and now. it is nearly seven"
1t was long way to 60 ma r4ia,'
he said wiping his forehead with his
handkerchief, and kissing his wife" all
the way to kensington"
If Toinette and | had loitered like
that you would have had no supper" said
madame, We have been back this
hour"
Oh madamel" exclaimed Toinette.
The ieweler smiled. He was used to
his wife's I" little ternpers, SO he said
!a1ghlngly HoY long, Toinette.7