The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-09


flask of lavender-water or cake of scented
soap. He wanted to know how Father
Hugh was, and all about Barquette, the |
COW, whose excellent milk maintained
the rosy hue of the mixers cheeks, and |
about the sheep providing the wool with |
which to knit those pretty stockings so |
snugly fitting those little feet. M. Fir
min, in his tour through France, had be-
come very impertinent his presump-
ton might have offended the young
rustic had not her interests obliged her
to dissimulate, and to be somewhat toll
Grant. He asked her to bring him eggs
the next day, and butter every time she
emptied her churn and, notwithstand-
ing his impertinence--a fault in young
men which young girls often complain
of to satisfy their consciences-Ber-
nadotte found the hair-dresser quite as
agreeable as he was attentive.
Micoutet, the ploughman, was daily
in the field, no matter what might be
the state of the weather, and at the
earliest hour, because he could not sleep
in his anxiety to see daylight and Ber-
nadotte and he became so worn out by
this way of living, that he resolved to
get back both his sleep and ususal tran
quillity. He betook himself to the
father of her who had robbed him of
his repose, and, cap in hand, with down.
cast eyes and stammering voice, spoke
to him for long time about Bernadotte,
praising her vigorous arms, made for
work, and the good health apparent in
every form and feature, and finally de-
manded her hand.
Father Hugh did not say yes, and
still less no. He knew full well the
value of those little words of few letters
like his coins, he would not let them go
without certain guarantees of their be-
ing properly placed. He put off the
young man to the following Sunday,
and, in the meantime, communicated
the proposal to his daughter.
Micoutet is a very nice young man."
said Bernadotte. 81 stop and talk with
him every morning on passing his farm.
He has fine oxen, good fields, and an ex-
cellent vineyard. Casterez, the baker,
however, appears also to good advantage;
would it not be we'll"
"Casterez, the baker!" replied Father
Hugh, in reflective mood. "By Our
Lady, there is always bread on q bakers
counter |"
"And tarts on the dinner table," add
ed Bernadotte.
al will find out, my child, what the
baker means before deciding"
"His meaning, father, is plain enough.
He buys every morning all that l take
to town, and without higgling about the
price, please you. If were to to ask
him double, he would not make the
slightest objection. .
Without higgling about the price"
repeated Father Hugh, who did not do
business in that way. "That young fell
low is very much smitten We will look
into the matter, Bernadotte and it his
granary and his purse are as well stocked
with -four and cash as his heart seems
to be with love, we will try to make some
arrangements"
Father Hugh strobe off to town to see
the baker, who, delighted with this pro-
ceeding, showed himself deeply enam-
ored.
(Which of the two? exclaimed Faith
er Hugh to himself. 1.-The thing works
well. We will set them to competing I;
goods in demand increase in value"
He returned home, and communica-
ting the bakers sentiments to his daugh-
ter, promised her to decide quickly
which of the two it would be the best
to marry.
"The baker is very nice young man,
said Bernadotte, the same as she had
said of the ploughman Micoutet, but
there is another, the hairdresser Firmin.
He buys something of me every day, and
keeps me an hour talking about his tour
through France, the yarn my stockings
are made of, and my good milch cow
He assures me that he has never seen
any one more engaging than she whom
he has the pleasure of looking at when
he looks at me-"
"The compliments of a barber !" in,
terposed Father Hugh. Everybody
knows what they are worth No mat.
ter-the work progresses competition
among three makes the profit all the
greater We will see the hairdresser, my
dear, and find out what to expect from
his admiration"
Hugh again returned to town, where
he had an interview with M. Firmin
and, us he knew that the larger the com
pany of buyers the more active the bid
ding, he invited each of the competitor
to come to his house the following Sun
day after mass.
"Humph !" he muttered to himself, a
he canvassed the situation, "the plough
man courts my daughter, but withou
neglecting his work or spending farth
ing; the baker is doing the same thing
lettering about the market-place, AM
spending his money to win the sales
woman the barber oyerWhelms Berna
dotte with fulsome compliments an
triHing presents. There is no hurry
things can be cleared up and the charac
ters of these gallsnts tested, to max
them solve one of my riddles"
When Sunday came Bernadotte mad
herself look as beautiful as the virgi
queen of a May-day festival. She pu
on her best Scotch muslin cap, Gallo
petticoat, red cotton handkerchief an
morocco shoes, and awaited the appear
ance of her suitors, who, on presentin
themselves, the father welcomed IN thes
terms:
"You three wish to provide husban
for my daughter, and you all cherish IL
same object. A custom obliges her
reject two in the selection OF one; 81
, must proceed cautiously in this ever III
} certain lottery. Every scholar who go
to college passes five or six years IN a
E certaining whether he will wear the un
a form of soldier, the robes OF iswye
y or that of doctor. A young girl ms
: be excused if she asks eight days TO d
: eide what kind of a moose she will p'
,, around her neck. Come back here ne'