The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-09-08
WHITE HANDS.

WUtk UNW0Ot
This Is not the story Of king, bnt
of an humble peasant girl; the scene.
Is not laid In q camp, but In . village
at time when Bonaparte's wars had
not given to the simple name Of Ber-
nadotte little Bernard) the historic
rlow which still surrounds it.
A man and his wife had an only
daughter, and they were so proud Of
her that she had scarcely. como into
the world when they began to think
OF her marriage. The man, laboring
with the greatest perseverance, sought
20 accumulate for her one Of those at.
tractive dowries which faseinate rich
young bachelors; the wife seconded
his efforts 30 courageously, grubbing
in the ground all day and stitching all
night, constantly preparing the BRIDES
outfit, that she fell sick and died, not
being willing to call in the doctor,
that she might save the cost Of the
, remedies. r.
Father Hugh, left alone with his
daughter, was only the more anxious
TO have son.in-law--some sturdy la
borer possessing q competence, one
who would insure both the prosperity
of his house and the happiness Of his
| daughter.
When she got to be eighteen years
of age there was no lack of suitors.-
Father Hugh owed TO his ayarice the
reputation OF man in easy circum-
stances, one who had cleverly turned
his pennies to account by making
short loans at o 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 in
fraction Of the statute; the sin would
remain with the father.in-law and the
profits with the grandchildren; so
they rubbed their hands and repeated
the universal provcrb: "'ris an i'll
wind that blows nobody good"
Bernadotte. worthy Of her sire in
economy and activity, trudged to town
every forenoon to sell her chickens,
eggs and fruit. She frequently en-
countered young Micoutet, the plow-
man, who would drive up his oxen
to the end of the furrow by the road
side and keep them standing q long
time TO bid the young girl good morn
ing, and chat with her about the rain,
and the fine weather, and the chick
ems, and the cows, and the growing
corn, and the beans that were about
drying. Bernadotte, no matter what
might be her haste to get married, al
ways had few moments TO spare for
her taikative friend, and even after
leaving him 70 60 back repeatedly to
answer, as far as he could make her
hear them, the last kind words which
he always sent after her over the
hedge.
Arrived at the market place, the
| first customer whom Bernadotte usu-
ally found there was the young baker,
Casterez, who, under the pretext OF
examining her eggs and fruit, pro-
longed the conversation q full hour,
praising the bright feathers Of the
chickens, their remarkable plumpness,
and bestow;ng q thousand compli-
! ments on the clever housekeeper, who
knew how to get them into such nice
condition. Passing from words to
acts, he would bargain for the entire
lot, appear perfectly satisfied with the
price, and carry the basket of to his
shop, where the fair merchant always
found some refreshment and couple
of nice tarts garnished with sweet
| meats.
Bernadotte, on returning home from
market lightened of her load, passed
before the shop Of the hair-dresser,
Firmin, q young dandy as, frizzled and
smoothly shaved as the little Saint
joan in the procession of the Fete
Dieu. NJ. Firmin had just completed
Ibis tour through France, MS stated on
. handsome sign In big letters, adorn-
ed with pair of scissors and . razor,
after the fashion Of . heraldic shield
stamped with double device.
sHeigh! Bernadotte,n exclaimed
the artistic barber, "have you any eggs
| to sell me to-day I"
Bernadotte nodded affirmatively.-
She had been careful to conceal a doz-
en- from the wholesale buyer, Caster
ez, purposely to have some left for M.
Firmin. Prudence Is the mother Of
certainty. Micoutet was undoubted-
/ 1ly very attentive, Casterez very devo-
ted, but III. Firmin was no less agree
able, and nobody knew what might
happen. 60.
The eggs were accordingly handed to
/ NJ. Firmin, who found their freshness
quite worthy Of her who brought
them. Far from attempting to abate
the price; be added to the money he
gave her small flask Of lavender wa
ter or a cake of scented soap. He
\ wanted to know how Father Hugh
i was, and all about Braquette, 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 stock
ings SO snugly fitting those little feet
NJ. Firmin In his tour through France
had become very impertinent; his
presumption might have offended this
young rustic, had not her interests OBJ
| liged her to dissimulate and to be
somewhat tolerant. He asked her tc
bring him eggs the next day, butter
every time she emptied her churn =;
and, notwithstanding his impertipence
fault in young men which young
girls often complain Of to satisfy theiI
consciences, Bernadotte- found the
hair-dresser quite as agreeable as he