The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-10-18
Romance of n Blackbird.

hOlniincc OF DlachDlfus
Arnilie sat with her hand resting on the
window seat, her head leaning against the
sash, her eyes closed in weary, hot sleep
for the open window admitted only heated
air, reflected from the opposite wall. Poor
child she was worn out. The sewing which
had fallen into her lap, the thimble and the
pricked fore-fnger showed her to be one of
those poor creatures who must toll day and
night with the wearying needle, in order to
obtain the food and rament which shall
lengthen out the miserable life. Amilie 5
hand was deicately formed and small, with
the soft skin that bespeaks good blood.
The expression upon the girls face as it
rested against the sash, was one to have
softened hard heart--a look of patient
sadness and weariness, that indeed only add
ed to the exquisite beauty of the features.
As she slept, bird flew in at the window
ii blackbird he flew around the room two
or three times and then alighted upon the
window-seat where Antilles hand lay, hop
ped restlessly about, and then pecked at
her thimble. This awoke the girl, who
started guiltily as she realized that she had
been asleep, and hastily picked up her work
The movement on her part startled the bird,
and simultaneously with her awakening
consequently unseen by her-he half hoped
and flew behind her chair, and alighted upon
the back of it. Amilie sewed industriously.
and the bird sat motionless for some time :
then hopping from the chair to her shoulder
he pecked at her ear. The girl started ::
but seeing the bird, she put up her hand
and took him down, without the least show
of resistance on his part. Poor little bird,
where did you come from " she said, in
soft voice. The bird chirped in answer,
and then burst forth in u sweet trilling song
Smiles played about Antilles mouth, and
her face beamed with pleasure. She stroked
the back of her little visitor, and he bent
his head in grateful attitude, now and then
chirping in contented way. Presently, to
her utter surprise, he hoped into her lap
and lay flat upon his back, with his slender
legs standing straight up, and his wings ly-
ing fiat open Amilie thought he was dead,
and lifted him tenderly but, in so doing,
she discovered tiny white parcel tied to
the under part of one wing with narrow
black ribbon. She looked at it wonderinxly
1t was folded like letter, and addressed,
ITO the one who first shows kindness to nv
bird" After some hesitation and doubt
whether she was the one addressed she at
last yielded to her feminine curiosity, and
united the letter from the bird S wing. Open
ing it, however she was chagrined to find
that although it was long and closely
written letter, it was written in German-an
unknown tongue to her; vainly she puzzled
over it, but the only word she could under
stane was the name at the end, "Gottlieb
Stiefelhagen."
Meanwhile, the bird was making himself
at home, hopping and flying about the room
quite at ease. As he perched upon the
high bureau and caught sight of himself re-
flected in Antilles small mirror, he burst
out into wild, sweet song, which awoke
Amlie from the reverie into which the
strange letter had plunged her. She listen
ed with delight to the bird, and then resum-
ed the work which must be finished before
nine O'Clock that night.
Amilie was all alone in that roOm-alwavs
alone, except when people came for work
she had promised. Her story was sad
one, although very like thousands of others.
Her father and mother were both dead
The former had been Frenchman of edu-
cation and good BIRTH but marrying a girl
who did not meet the requirements of his
family-who consequently made her life
with them unhappy-he took his modest
pretty bride and came to New York TO es-
cape the vexations of his home in France
Like many foreigners, he had little idea of
the ways of living in that great city, and
soon found that his comfortable little home
required more money to sustain it than he
could command Francois Corday gradu-
ally lost what pecuniary resources he bad.
and found it very difficult to replace the loss
And his patient wife, Elise, exerted herself
to the utmost TO aid him by every economy :;
but with it all. their future showed no bright
spot. The little daughter, Amilie, was a
great comfort to the mother, yet she could
not think of what might be in store for her
child without crushing sadness.
Years Of toiling and struggling went by,
and at last Francois found himself homeless
Amilie was then ten years old, and very
beautiful. Young as she was, her life had
been one TO mature mind and heart and
she would talk with more wisdom of life
matters than many of double her years.
She pnndered in her little brain what could
he done to relieve her parents, and the day
when they were TO leave their last lodging
place, having no money TO pay for another
night there, her resolution was made.
Papa che said, Il will make some
money. | know where there are some
beautiful wild -howers-iar prettier than
those the women sell in the street. will
get some. and make bouquets and sell them
to the people in the theatre. | saw little
girl. Yesterday coming out of one of the thea
tres with q basket half tull OF bouquets, and
she told me she had sold enough to give her
five dollars, but she would have to pay three
of them to the women who sold her the
flowers at first. Now. you know, if l can
get them without having to pay, it will all
be gam"
throwing men catch at straws,' and
Francois was in too desperate straits to OPP
pose the plan of his little girl, So Amihe
ran eagerly away to what was in those days
out of town, but it is now in the very heart
of the city. Here she found field bright