The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-08-05

with the finest white wool instead of
coarse flax, and entwined with red RIB
bons instead of pack thread
The young girl fits herself out she
buys the choicest spinning apparatus
IN the country, covers it with wool as
white as snow, adorns it with ribbons
enthusiastically arranged in bows, and
never shows herself outside her door
in the street, or in the village, without
this elegant implement of all good and
Industrious maidens.
One point only had been forgotten,
and that was to twirl the spindle. The
motionless distaif at her belt always
displayed the same flock of wool.
Now what happened Clairette's ell
egant instrument proved to be less eff
cacious than the rude willow stick of
away. Clairette, at every festivitY,
found dancers enough to clasp her
waist and to press her hand, but never
beau disposed to talk of marriage -
She was now twenty, and saw her cous.
in Franchise her friend Lixandrine-
"Lixandrine, the most ungainly
creature in the whole village, a girl that
limps reported those clairvoyant
people who are called back -biters.
eyes, indeed, Lixandrine, that red
headed black face with wry hips
What witch did she go to get charm
for that miserable Jean Pierron2 What
secret did she turn up in her grandmoth
ers workbag - Clairette patiently
sought resolution of these difficulties
She thought, finally, that the had found
one in the presence of a little white
lambkin which constantly followed
the sbepherdess' footsteps.
After making this important discov-
cred 1T may be imagined whether Clair
cite was prompt III procuring a lamb as
closely resembling as possible that of
the dark complexloned LlXandrine.
From that day forth she never was seen
without this pretty little creature bleat-
ing and skipping around her, and al
ways coming to her to eat bread out of
her hand.
DID a sutton following in the foot
steps of the lamb No more than he
came at the signal of the red petticoat,
or at that of the cross-ribboned distaff
Day followed day, month followed
month-poor Clairette look in vain.
TO regrets and modification succeed
! ed despair. Old Aunt Migueline, wise
in the ways Of the world, overheard her
means and administered consolation.
Where is the young girl who has not
, some good old fairy near at hand to
, give her counsel, ii she viii only take
! pains to listen to it
" You ale weeping, Clalrette," said
Aunt Mlgueline, addressing her
g am crying over nay twenty-one
: years gone without, without-stop
! ping, " she responded.
> without fetching you husband,
: you mean to say"
: cone need not be a witch to guess
. that, Magueiine?'
!, q" Your red petticoat and gay dlstatt
are worn out IN useless service your
lambkin bleating and frisking around
you, has proved equally useless
! HWhy do you throw those things ur
: to me, Migueline2
Il say what | think, Clairette, Dc
you suppose that my eyes, half closed
:, by age, do not see clearly into the tolls
? and snares set by you, and those like
: you, on the path to matrimony2 Every
/ y
parrot or maybe order, VINO, since tht
world began, is ever exclaimiug, hus
band, husband husband and it is not
/ necessary to teach her anything IN this
| direction, my dear neice Cjairette,
f'Tis trna, Misuline. But / thought
? [ might be as fortunate as my friends
and in initiating their mode Of display
4 make
> * And you are obliged to confess
: that you have had all your trouble fol
t nothing Poor children, always rely
= ipg upon color instead of form, and new.
g er finding out the true state of things
Yes, the habit Of your companions Of
' appearing in public associated will
certain suitable and useful objects, has
2 contributed not little toward getting
: them husbands. But do you know the
| reason2 1t is because the red pettlc0at
was woven and made up by the persever
+ ing yonng girl who wore 1t: such an eX-
: ample of her skill and activity IN using
her needle furnishing admiral prOol
4 of her knowing what to do III the
: situation in which she is placed. The
distaff likewise proved as profitable to
Biebe because she was a fearless spin
o ner, and did not rest satisfied as you
, did, with carrying the implement
s around with her motionless at her belt;
she kept the spindle below it and her
fingers always busy, so that the flock
\ of wool or flax had to be renewed ten
{ times a day. If the lamb did not prove
/ rlnserviceable to Lixandrine, 1t was be-
cause it was the leader OF fifty, which
that careful little shepherdess led out
! daily to pasture, early in the morning
in summer, and during the afternoon
6 III winter, avoiding wet grass and fields,
always getting back before it rained,
and ever keeping clear of changes III
The weather, of so much harm TO those
! delicate little creatures. Your three
! companions work SO faithfully III then
respective callings that they are known
far and wide for their intelligence and
activity, the best possible dowry q
young girl can have, aud the most rell
able charm for husband. Put aside
, the red petticoat which you bought and
did not spin, the distatf of no avail tC
: to you, and the evually useless lamb.
+. You have fields and meadows that are
7 lying fallow resumed your rake and
hoe, stir up the ground and pull up the
weeds be as industrious as your com
panions, and you viii not have TO wal
. long for companion.
Clairette listened to Aunt MiGuelinc' s
l discourse with all the attention which
advice deserves when one is disposed
to follow it because it seems good. No
longer quitting her little plot of ground,