Litchfield enquirer., 1873-07-31
From Every Saturday. MONSIEUR FERRAMD.
A TALE OF ..LA aR.NpE ARMEr. :"


 but little progress in her course, for the air was as if asleep, and not breath was stirring to fill the sails, or even to raise them as they droop heavily against the spars. The white-sailed packet-boat gid ed lazily, therefore, down the stream, the curving, sun-it nipples flashing from hel bows, as from the bright breast of the snow-winged swan.
 1 On board all was quiet 1t seemed as though the drowsy beauty of the summer afternoon had cast spell over the lively and talkative passengers. Even the mate $ cheery whistle had subsided into an oc- casional chirrup; not sound was to be heard, save an occasional creak from a spar, and the low, monotonous murmur of the river. as it rippled against its stone bound banks.
 On the forecastle sat group of Nor man women, - strong, cheerful looking country people. They were returning from market, as was evidenced by the baskets which many of them carried on their arms. and which lay about the deck. Doubtless they had been with butter and eggs, and fresh fruit, and many other things, to the market held ill the quaint old square at Rouen, where Joan of Arc looks down, from her stone pedestal, on the peaceful descendants of those for whom she fought and suffered. The market being ended, they had hurried on board the sloop, now drifting down be- tween the islands opposite Mouineau, and were far on their way home.
 Suddenly the sloop rounded a curve in the stream, which, for the last half mile of her course, had obstructed the view of | those on board; and there appeared a long reach of glittering water, which seemed to run to point at the horizon. Just where the banks appeared to unite, l stood a cluster of small houses, inter | spersed with trees, and above them a square church-tower rose dark against the sky.
 As the sloop came in view of the little town, the lookout man shouted in a sharp tone, "La Bouille !"
 At these words, a sudden spirit of &C., tivity seemed to selze on the passengers. Those who were to disembark at the | town began to collect their packages: friends exchanged farewells, and dogs ran about barking.
 Of the group on the forecastle, only one had been fairly awake when the bus tie began. The others were dozing in various attitudes; and one of them, a good-1ooking young farmer, was fast l asleep, with his head resting against the rail of the forecastle.
 Disturbed by the cry, first one, then another raised her head, and on seeing that the packet was nearing La BouiIle, began to collect her panniers and pack ages. But the young farmer slept on soundly, with his face upturned to the suns warm rays.
 At length one of the group addressed ruddy-faeed woman, with snow-white cap and clacking wooden shoes, saying,- ''See, Madame Parcand how sound ly your nephew Jean sleeps? Unless you waken him, think he will not only go on to Aixelles, where he intends to land, but to Havre."
 70, I want nina to stay tonight with us at La Bouillep' exclaimed Madame Parcand, ''and am determined he shall do so." Saying this, she pulled her neph- CIV by the arm, and called him by name For some time, nothing could be extract ed from the young man but series of uncomfortable grunts; but at last he woke and sat up, rubbing his eyes.
 ''For shame, Jean P said Madame Par cand ill an expostulating tone; ''see, I have made myself quite hot in trying to waken you. Here we are at La Bouille, and want you to go home with me for the night, instead of going on to Aixelles. :"
 ''I'm afraid I can't possibly stay, aunt, " replied the young farmer. 'I have an appointment at Chambord early to-mor- row morning, and I could not by any An appointment invented for the oc- casion, Jean, think !-"
 Indeed, I am speaking truly, aunt. RncinQSS rnnSt ho atfou1oI &a on1 n farmer will not sometimes go to seek his ] customers, he may chance to find they will not always come to seek 4ii,l'"
 "Well, Iean, a said Madame Parcand, if you really can't stay, suppose I must give up the point. But am very | sorry for it; it is so long since we have seen you at La Bouille besides, I want ed to make you acquainted with an old friend, Monsieur Ferrand, who lives on the estate of Monsieur Deschamps, just outside the town, and who is to spend the evening with us. You must often | have heard of him from your father. 1" Now, Monsieur FerraEd had great | reputation in that little locality for it was we'll known that he had served in the graade arnaee, under the first Napoleon, and rumor told of many perils through which he had passed to 1. green old age. Thus, his name was not at all unfamiliar l to Jean, who felt somewhat tempted to stay at La Bouille and see the old man. He wished also to see the Parcands in their vine-covered cottage on the hill: still, he did not like to miss his appoint ment; so he stood irresolute, swinging his stick to and fro. At last, with a frightened face, he exclaimed,- T think M. Peltrac's cutter is to start from Fla Bouille this evening for Havre, laden with timber. If he goes moderate ] ly late, and will land me at the pier op- posite Aixelles, 1t will suit me very well; and can then spend part of the evening, at any rate, with you. I know he IS on 1 board this boat, and will go and lock for him.h l Now, amidst cheers and laughter, and much vociferation, the vessel was warped up to the side of little quay, just in front of La Boullle, and gangway was laid from the shore to the deck. Across it hastened men, women, and children, - a motley crew, for the most part chattering so volubly, that the wonder was, who did all the listening. v .. When they had nearly all reached the shore, the pigs seemed to think their turn was fairly come. A porker led the way across the gangway, more eagerly probably than he would have done had he known he was destined for sausages on the morrow. But Jean, who had not yet crossed, struck him on the nose with his stick, and sent him back with vary lit tie ceremony. He then went ashore, and found his aunt much perplexed how to carry home two great market -panniers, ,and a wide, shallow bowl of glazed earthen- ware which she had brought from Rouen for dairy purposes. Jean settled the mat ter by taking the panniers from her, and thus leaving her free to bestow her undi- vided care on the new purchase of which she was so proud.
 'But, aunt, 7" said he, as they proceed ed through the town, sI fear you had not a very good market this morning, your pannlers are SO heavy."
 l ssAoa anat. :" replied the shrewd house. wife, Cat Rouen buy as we'll as sell. To-day I have bought some new china,