Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-10-23
The LILLE Wooden Shoe.
TRANSLATED FROM the FRENCH

store Of nets and boat called the Fine.Au.
guile. The sea was never yet too rough ioi
either. For il never stormcd until the Fine
Aupuillo had come with her crew snug and
dry to her mooring. The captain Of this irig-
ate was Jacques; the mate-and what mate
be was was Fanor, Newfoundland peer
aud prince Of dogs. Everybody knew the
Fine-Anguille. Everybody knew Fanor
And well was il for many Of them that they .
did They had made bis acquaintance under
the most favorable circumstances For, when
Fanor looked from his kennel at night along
the dark coast, he could see the glow Of many
a Preside which would long have been dark |
and cherries if be had not rescued from the |
waves the strong arms that earned It's fuel |
Many mother felt something queer in her
throat and in the corners of her eyes when
she saw the great shaggy brute and thought |
Of a certain little head that might long ago
have been pillowed in the sea.weeds.
But when the feast Of our Lady Of Larmor |
came. ali then Fanor was in his glory Did
he walk in the procession OF course he
did Did he know what was the proper
thing for a respectable dog to do, and where
his right place was, after the banners? All"
said Jacques, "tc's a Christian. He's no
dog he is almost man"
After Jacques and Fine-Angulle and the
sea- Ange was the dearest friend Of this dog
Fauor paid the most delicate attentions to
this little fellow nekcpt back his strength,
and RETAINED from those bosterous leaps he
gave Ange a thousand tender caresses with
bis great cold nose and with his paw and,
when he licked his hands, he scarcely moist
ened them. 1t was plain that he was in love
with this baby. As for Jeanne, she loved
nothing in the world besides Jacques and
the dog.
For you and me, and the thoughtess, busy
world what grand sight to watch the sea in
September so deep, so dark, it falls and
rises with ever increasing majesty. There is
menace in its ceaseless roll, its beauty is
terribly grand, and from the shore we admire
its strength and its immensely. But how diff
ierent it appears to the poor fishers wife
For her there is nothing to admire in the
ocean. For her it is only a source of anxiety
and dread How gloomy to her is the even
ing as 1t settles over this ever tossing plain (;
how her heart starts at the vague threats Of
the wind This blue and white-crested mass
is perhaps a shroud. Is there no moaning
save that which the lstess waters make Z?
And, when the horizon lowers, is the wild call
Of the sea-bird the only strange cry that can
be heard And, as the wind sweeps from
the stormy ofling, We perhaps think it beauti.
full but to the fishers wife it is dreadful.
She fears for him who tolls in the abyss
What can a little shell like Fine. Angulle
and man and dog do against the ocean ?
We may say, " How beautiful !" But she
cries, " Holy Virgin the sea is too high
Sweet Jesus it blows too, too bard !"
One day Jeanne was with Ange on the
beach, and Jacques preparing Fine Auguille
for fishing. Jeanne sat knitting by the wa
ter's side. Ange had kicked off one Of his
little wooden shoes, and with his rosy little
foot was playing in the water He laughed
he shouted, he splashed the little waves that
ran softly upon the sand All, what fine fun
= he was having
1t was evening. The setting sun batbed
the entire coast in purple, and the sea- still
and peaceful, reflected this scene of splendor
Ange had tied string 10 his little shoe aud
thrown it out upon the water
Mamma" said be, " look see my Fine.
Anguile In a minute I'm going to make a
storm"
And he spashed away with his bare foot
The little shoe tossed from one side to an.
other, and finally it filled with water. jean
ne looked up and said, Naughty boy Put
on your shoe Quick !"
just then somebody touched her shoulder.
1t was a stranger, from Paris perhaps. This
seemed probable from the naughty air, which
people from the city always have, and also
from his cold, harsh look and his pale coun-
tenance.
al want 4 boat" said the strange person
"to go out into the oiiing" Jacques ap.
preached. "If you like, sir, | am ready
Here, Fanor !"
"What! take that brute along with US
Horrid eur He is filthy and smells Of OLD
fish can't bear him for companion"
i will not 60 without my dog" said
Jacques.
"Come" said the stranger, i" this beast i,
of no use. Twill give you louis to leav,
the dog" Jacques looked at his wife hesita
tingy. Jeanne was pale The stranger
tossed the louis in his hand
Just then Ange cried, My shoe has gon,
to the bottom - And Jeanne said, Dom
60 without the dog"
Soon the Fine-Anguille left the shore, anC
breaking through the rosy water, disappeared
In the distance, like faint cloud.
Jeanne turned toward the house, CARRYING
her child, whose little foot hung bare owe
her dress.
When she reached the heights, she turned
to scan the horizon, She saw thick, gray
band stretched along it. Seized with anxious
forebodings, she paused
"Will it be fair ?" she asked of Father
Lucas, the cow-herd What sort of night
will they have over by the Thunder Rocks
and the White Marc aud in the ofing2"
Father Lucas in turn scanned the horizon.
Fine Anguille is good sea.boat, said he,
and passed on with bis cows.
1t is the wind, thought Jeanne, as Ange
by an unconscious movement covered his foot
with her apron. :" 1t is the wind God b.
mercliul TO us ~ Then she entered the house
AT ten O'Clock gusts began to blow The
waves moaned piteously. Jeanne could moi
sleep. But neither the moaning Of wind nor
wave could disturb ADge as he lay wrapped
snugly IN bis little cradle. His mother struck
light. One is not 50 much frightened wher
one can see clearly. Then it seems as if on,
conld do anything; but what can one Dc
against the wind
1.-The wind . my God the wind,
cried Jeanne. "But at any rate, Fanor il
with him."
"Then, as everything creaked and moanet
around her, she fell into slight sumber
She saw the great sea with its frighifu gulfs
Its white yawning mouth, its threatenin.
rocks, and its deceitlul shoals. She saw he
child on the beach splashing the water witt