The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-08-16
3 II ! r e II A N D S

.t<# his 10 uOs luS o'OI VI d nioSj oo' VI
b humble peasant girl; the scene is not
lid in camp, but in village at time
hen Bonaparte's wars had not jet
!iven to the simple name of Bernadotte
little Bernardl the historic glow which
bill surrounds it.
A man and his wife had an only
aughter, and they we're SO proud of her
bat she had scarcely come into the
ycrld when they began to think of her
narriage. The man, laboring with the
reatest perseverance, sought to accu-
nulate for her one of those attractive
owries which fascinate rich young
achelors the wife seconded his efforts
0 courageously, grubbiDg in the ground
IN day and stitching all night, constantly
preparing the brides outfit, that she
ell sick and died, not being willing to
BALL in the doctor, that she might save
she cost of the remedies.
Father Hugh, left alone with his
Daughter, was only the more anxious to
: have son n,law, some sturdy laborer
possessing a competence, one who would
insure both the prosperity of his house
and the happiness fhis beloved Berna-
dotte.
When she got to be eighteen years of
age there was no lack Of suitors. Father
Hugh owed to his avarice the reputation
5 of man in easy circumstances one
Fho had cleverly turned his pennies to
account 6y making short loans at rate
of interest not sanctioned by the code ;
but all young men wishing to marry
took very good care not to reproach- him
with an infraction of the statute; the
sin would remain with the father in-
law, and the profits with the grand chill
dren so they rubbed their hands aud
repeated the universal proverb: "Tis
q an i'll wind that blows nobody good"
Bernadotte, worthy of her sire in
economy and in activity, trudged to town
every forenoon to sell her chickens,
eggs and fruit. She frequently en-
cOuntered young Micoutet, the plowman,
who would drive up his oxen to the end
of the furrow by the roadside and keep
them standing long time to bid the
young girl good morning, and chat with
her about the rain, and the fine weather,
and the chickens, and the cows, and the
growing corn, and the beans that were
about drying. Bernadotte, no matter
what might be her haste to get to mar
ket, always had a few moments to spare
ior her talkativs men, and even after
leaving him to go back repeatedly to
answer, as far as he could make her hear
Hthem, the last kind words which he sent
! after her over the hedge.
Arrived at the market place, the first
customer whom Bernadottc usually
Il found there vas the young baker
Casterez, who, under the pretezt of ez-
aiming her eggs ard fruit, prolonged
1.-THE conversation full hour, praislng
the bright feathers Of the chickens,
their remarkable plumpness, and bestow-
ling thousand compliments on the
TcIever housekeepcr who knew how tc
get them into such nice condition
j Passing from words to acts, he would
bargain for the entire lot, appear per-
kfectly satisfied with the price, and carry
the basket off to his shop, where the
flair merchant always found some re-
freshnent and couple Of nice tarts
garnished with sweetmeats.
Bernadctte, on returning home from
market lighteucd of her load, passed
before the shop CT the hair.dresser,
Firmiu, young dandy as frizzled and
smoothly shaved as thslittle Saint John,
2in the procession of the Fete Dieu. VI.
RFirmin had just completed his tour
through France, as stated on handsome
sign in big letters adorned with a pair
of scissors and razor, after the fashion
of heraldic shield stamped with a
double device. "Heigh Bernadotte,"
Exclaimed the artistic barber, "have you
any eggs to sell me to- day?" Berna-
dot.e nodded a6irmatively. She had
fbeen careful to conceal dozen from
4 the wholesale buyer Casterez, purposely
to have some left for NJ. Firmin. Pru-
dence is the mother Of certainty
Micoutet was undoubtedly very atten-
tive, Casterez very devoted, but NJ
Firmin was no less agreeable, and nobody
knew what might happen.
The eggs were accordingly handed to
n. Firmin, who found their freshness
quite worthy of her who brought them
Par from attempting to abatc the price,
he added to the money he gave her
small flask of lavender water or cake
J of scented soap. lie wanted to know
how Father Hugh was, and all about
Marquette, the COW whose excellent
milk maintained the rosy hue of the
mixers cheeks, and about the sheer
providing the wool with which to knit
those pretty stockings so snugly fitting
those little feet. NJ. Firmin, in his
tour through France, had become very
impertinent; his presumption might
have offended the young rustic had not
her interests obliged her to dissimulate
and to be somewhat tolerant. He asked
her to bring him eggs the next day,
butter every time she emptied her
churn and, Notwithstanding his i'm
pertinence, fault in young men which
young girls often complain of to satisfy
their consciences, Bernadotte found the
hairdresser. quite as agreeable as he was
attentive.