Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-02-12
TIE LITTLE WOODEN SHOE.
s TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.

p ~ TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.
jacques was a tisherman-a lucky one,
too. He had little nouse, all his own,
and Jeanne, and Ange, the jolliest little
scamp that ever romped a fsherman's cot.
tage. But those were not all his treasures.
He had besides a store of nets and boat
called she Fine. Anguille. The sea was
never yet, too rough for either. The
captain Of this frigate was Jacques; the
mate-and what d mate he was was
| Fanor,a Newfoundland, peer and prince
of dogs. Everybody knew the Fine
Anguille. Every body knew Fanor And
well was 1t for them that they did. They
had made his acquaintance under memor.
! looked from bis kennel at night along the
dark coast, he could see the glow OF many
ia ireside which would long have been
! dark and cheerless if he had not rescued
from the waves the strong arms that earn
ed its fuel. Many mother felt something
/ queer in hersthroat and in the corners of
her eyes when she saw the great shaggy
brute, and thought of certain little head
that might long ago have been pillowed
in the sea weeds.
But when the feast Of our Lady Of Lar
NOR came, ah! then Fanor was in his glory.
Did he-walk in the procession? Of course
he didlzDid he know what was the
proper thing for a respectable dog to do,
and where his right place was, after the
banners p" /" All !''said Jacques, (" he's u
Christian. He's no dog; he is almost a
man.
After jacques and Fine-Anguille and
the sea, Ange was the dearest friend of
this dog Fanor paid the most delicate
attentions to this little fellow. He kept
back his Strength, and refrained from those
boisterous leaps, ne gave Ange thousand
tender caresses with his great cold no Sc
and with his paw; and when he licked
! his hands. he scarcely moistened them. 1t
was plain, that he was in love with this
baby. AS for Jeanne, she loved nothing
IN the world besides Jacqnes and Ange
and the dog.
For YOU and me, and the thoughtless,
busy world, what a grand sight to watch
the sea in September so deep, so dark, it
falls and r1s es with ever increasing ma
jesty There is a menace III It's ceaseless
roll, It's beauty is terribly grand, and from
the shore we admire its strength and its
immensely. But how different it appears
Ito the poor fisherman's wife; for her there
is nothing to admire In the ocean. For
her it is 2nly source of anxiety and
dread. How gloomy to her is the evening
as 1t settles over this ever tossing plain :
how her b cart starts at the vague threats
Of the wind! This blue and white. crested
mass IS perhaps u shroud Is there no
moaning save that which tho Tistless
waters make And when the horizon
lowers, is the wild cry of the sea-bird the
only strange cry that can be heard? And
as the wind sweeps fromth stormy offing
we perhaps think it beautiful but to the
fshernian2s wife it is dreadful. She fears
dor him whctoilsin the abyss. What can
little shell like e-Anguille and a man
and dogd against-the ocean?
We may say, g How beautiiul y But
she cries, "Hoiy Virgin! the sea is too
bigh! Sweet Jesus it blows too, too
hard -
One day Jeanne was with Ange on the
beach, and jacques was preparing Fine
Anguilie for fishing. eanne sat kuItting
by the waters side. Ange had kicked off
one of his little wooden shoes, and with his
rosy little foot was playing in The water.
lie laughed, he shouted, he splashed the
little waves that ran softly upon the sand.
An, wi hat fine fun he was having.
1t was evening. The setting sun bathed
the entire coast in purple, and the sea,
still and peaceful, reflected this scene of
splendor alE-l
Ange had tied string to his little shoe
and thrown it out upon the water.
Mamma" said he, "look see my
Flne-Apguille In minute | am going to
make storm.n
And he splashed away with his bare
foot. .--.srza
The little shoe tossed from one side to
another, and finally it filed with water
Jeanne looked up and said, "Naughty
boy Put on your shoe quickp;
Just then somebody touched her shoul-
der. 1t was stranger from Paris, per-
haps. This seemed probable from the
naughty air, which people from the city
always haye, andsalso from his cold, harsh
look and pale countenance.
" [ want boat said the strange per-
sou, " to go into toe ofing." jacques ap-
preached. "If you like, sir, | am ready.
Here Fanor p
What! take that brute along with Us !?
Horrid cur he is filthy and smells of Did
fish, / can't bear him for a companion"