Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-02-06
THE LITTLE WOODEN SHOE.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.

dark and cheerless if he had not rescued
from the waves the strong arms that earn.
cd ito fuel. Many mother felt something
q ueer in her throat and in the corners Of
her eyes when she saw the great shaggy
brute, and thought Of u certain little houd
that might long ego have been pillowed
in the sea:weeds.
But when the feast Of our Lady of Lar
NOR came, alb! then Fanor was iu 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 ? "Ah !'said Jacques, abe's q
Christian. He's no dog; he is almost q
man."
After Jacques and Fine. .Auguille and
tho sea, Ange was tho dearest friend of
this dog. Fanor paid the most delicate
attentions to this little fellow. He kept
back his strength, and refrained from those
boieterous leaps, he gave Ange u thousand
tender caresses with his great cold nose
and with his paw; and when he licked
his hands. he scarcely moistened them. It
was plain that he was in love with this
baby. Al for Jeanne, che loved nothing
in the world besides Jacques and Ange
and the dog.
For you aad me, and the thouehtless,
busy world, what grand sigh, to watch
the sea in Septemberl 80 deep, 80 dark, it
falls and rls cs with ever increasing ma
jssty. There 10 q menace In :ts ceaseless
roll, its beauty ie terribly grand, and from
the shore We admire its etrength and its
immensity. But how different it appears
to the poor fsherman's wife; for her thore
is nothing to admire in the ocean. For
her it il only . source Of anxiety and
dread. How gloomy to her is the evening
as It settles over this ever tossing plain ::
how her heart starts ct the vague threats
of the wind! This bluS and white.crested
mass is perhaps shroud. Is thore no
moaning save that which tho 1istless
waters mako? And when the horizon
lowers, IL the wild cry of tho sea-b;rd the
only strange cry that can be heard? And
90 the wind sweeps from the stormy ofing
We perhaps think it beautiful but to thu
fishernlan's wife it il dreadful. She fears
Tor him who tolls in the abyss. What can
little shell like F;ne-Anguills and man
and q dog do against the ocean:
We may say, How beautifully w But
she cries, Holy Virgin! the sea is too
high! Sweet Jesus! it blows too, too
hard: !"
One day Jeanne was with Ango on tho
beach, and Jacques was preparing Fine
Anguille for fishing. Jeanne sat quitting
by tho waters side. Ange had kicked oil
one Of his little wooden shoes, ind with his
rosy little foot was play ing in the water.
lie laughed, he shouted, he splashed the
little waves that ran softly upon the saud.
Ah what fine fun he was having.
1t was evening. The setting sun bathed
the entire coast in purple, and the seq,
still and peaceful, reflected this scene Of
splendor.
Ange had tied string to his little shoe
and thrown it out upon the water.
Mamma" said he, "lookl see my
Fine-Apguille! In minute am going to
make storm"
And he splashed away with his bare
foot.
Tho little shoe tossed from onc side to
another, and finally it filled with water.
Jeanne looked up and said, "Naughty
boy! Put on your shoe quickv;
Just thcn somebody touched her shoul.
der. 1t was a stranger from Paris, per.
haps. This seemed probable from the
naughty air, which people from tho CITY
always have, and also from his cold, hursl,
look and pale countenance.
I" want boat," said tho strange per.
soil, "to 60 into toe citing" Jacques 40.
preached. "lf you like, sir, l am ready
Here Fanor!"
"What! take that brute along with US
Horrid cur! he is filthy and smells Of old
fish. can't bear him for companion u
II will rot 20 without my dog" suid
Jacques.
"Come p said tho stranger, "th,s beast
is ofno use. l will give you q louis to
leave the dog" Jacques looked ut biz
wife hesitatingly. Jeanne was pale. The
stranger tcssed tho louis in his hand.
Just then Ange cried, " My shoe ha.
gone to the bottom And Jeanne said
Don't 90 without the dog"
Soon tho Fine.Angnille left the shore,
and, breaking through tho rosy water,
disappeared in the distance, like q fainl
cloud.
Jeanne turned toward the house, carry.
ing her child, whose little bare foot hung
over her dress.
When she reached the heights, she turn
Cd to scan the horizon. She saw = thick