Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-08-02

marry, the same as mirror attracts
looks. Clairette was determined 10
have one Of these magical utensils. Ii
plain willow distaff proved so highly
advantageous to the housekeeper Biebe,
what would not be the effect of a hand
distaff Of hazel, exquisitely carved by
the best workman of the village, deeked
with the finest white wool instead of
coarse fax. and entwined with red rib
bons instead OF pack thread 2
The young girl fits herself out she
buys the choicest spinning apparatus
in the country, coyersit with wool as
white as snow, adorns it with ribbons
enthusiastically arranged in bows, and
never shows herself outside her door,
iii the street, or III 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 distaff 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
the industrious Biebe. The year passed
away. Clairette, at every festivity,
found dancers enough to clasp her
waist and to press her hand, but never
a beau disposed to talk of marriage =
She was now twenty, and saw her cous-
in Francoise, her friend Lixandrine-
"Lixandrine, the most ungainly
creature III the whole village, girl that
limps " reported those clairyoyant
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 Pierron? What
secret did she turn up in her grandmoth-
er's workbag ?" Clairette patiently
sought aresolution of these difficulties
She thought, finally, that the had found
one in the presence of a little white
lambkin which constantly followed
the shepherdess footsteps.
After making this important discov-
cred it may be imagined whether Clair
cite was prompt In procuring lamb as
closely resembling as possible that OF
the dark complexioned Lixandrine
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 suitor 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 regrats 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 are weeping, Clairette," said
Aunt Migueline, addressing her,
Il am crying over nay twenty=o1le
years gone without, without-stop-
ping" she responded.
"Without fetching you a husband,
you mean to say.
Gone need not be witch to guess
that, Magueline?"
g Your red petticoat and gay dlstat1
are worn out in a useless service youl
lambkin bleating and frisking around
you, has proved equally useless" "
EfWhy do you throw those things up
to me, Migueline?" "
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 matrimony? Every
young girl is an initiating bird, of the
parrot or magple order, who, since the
world began, is ever eXclaiming, hus
band, husband husband and it is not
necessary to teach her anything in this
direction, my dear neice Clairette,"
'ETis true, Miguline. But / thought
[ might be as fortunate as my friends
and in initiating their mode Of display
make
"And you are obliged to con fess
that you have had all your trouble fol
nothing Poor children, always rely
/ ing upon color instead of form, and new
er finding out the true state of things
| Yes, the habit of your companions o
appearing in public associated will
certain suitable and useful objects, ha
contributed not little toward gettins
them husbands. But do you know th
reason? It is because the red petticoa
was woven and made up by the persever
ing yOnng girl who wore it; such an eX
ample of her skill and activity in usin'
her needle furnishing admiral proc
of her knowing what to do In th
situation in which she is placed. Th
distaff likewise proved as profitable t.
Biebe because she was a fearless spin
ner, and did not rest satisfied as yo1
did, with carrying the lmplemen
around with her motionless ather belt
she kept the spindle below it and he
fingers always busy, so that the tlocl
Of wool or flax had to be renewed tel
times a day. II the lamb did not prov
unserviceable to Lixandrine, il was be
cause it was the leader Of fifty, whicl
that careful little shepherdess led on
daily to pasture, early in the mornin
in summer, and during the afternoo
in winter, avoiding wet grass and fields
always getting back before it rained
and ever keeping clear of changes /
the weather, of so much harm to thos
delicate little creatures. Your thre
companions work so faithfully III thel
respective caIlings that they are know
far and wide for their intelligence an
activity, best possible dowry
young girl can have, and the most rel
able charm for husband. Put asid
the red petticoat which YOU bought an
did not spin, the distaff of no avail
to you, and the evually useless lamt
You have fields and meadows that al
lying fallow resumed your rake an
hoe, stir up the ground and pull up I'll
weeds be as industrious as your con
panions, and you viii not have to wal
long for companion y
Clairetbe listened to Aunt Migueline
discourse with all the attention whic
advice deserves when one is dispose
TO follow it because it seems good. N
longer quitting her littleplot of grounC
she dug, hoed, and made hay so srl,
.cessfUlly that, at the end Of the yea
the son of rich old Thomas came an
put to her the following question
''Clairette, viii you be my wife?',
'FWhy should I refuse, Monsiel
Thomas, If such Is your wish ?' Z
SOOndp1 (laiTptta with dOwDcaSt avp