The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-02-19

Sept. 15, eight O'Clock A. M.-This
morning while arranging my books.
Mere Genevieve came to bring me
the basket offruit which I purchase
OF her every Sunday. During the
twenty years Of my residence in this
neiRhborhood have patronized her
small fruit store. Possibly 1 might
be better served elsewhere, but Mere
Genevieve has few customers, and tO
desert her would be to do voluntary
wrong, and cause her deep chagrin.
The antiquity of her relations cause
me to feel under tacit obligations to
her; my patronage has become her
special property.
She placed the basket on my table,
and as wanted her husband, who is a
carpenter, to add some shelves to my
bookcase, she descended immedi-
ately to send him to me.
noticed nothing peculiar about
her when she first came in, but now
as 1 think of it, I imagine her man
ner lacked its usual cheerfulness.
Can it be possible that Mere Gene
We've has some trouble?
Poor woman! she has experienced
SO many cruel trials, that she has al
most purchased the right to expect
exemption from sorrow for the future.
Should I live century L can never
forget the circumstances through
which I became acquainted with her,
and learned to respect her so thor
oughly.
It was during the irst month Of my
residence in this street. I remarked
her small unpretending fruit store
which few persons entered, and at
tracted by this desertiOn I made my
modest purchases there. I have
always instinctively preferred small
shops. True, / find in them few ad-
Ysntages; but it seems to me that my
purchase is a pledge of sympathy to 3
brother in poverty. Their small es-
adjustments are nearly always the
anchor of misery, of existence in peril,
the one resource of some orphan. The
design of the merchant is not 10 enrich
himself, but to live. The purchase
made is not simply an exchange, it is
q good action.
Mere Genevieve was young then, but
had already lost the bloom of first
youth which care fades SO quickly
among the women of the people. Her
husband, clever carpenter, had lost
the habit of steady industry, and vas,
to use the picturesque expression of
this workshops, '.an adorer of the
Holy Monday The earnings of the
week usually reduced to two or three
days Of work, were completely conse-
Grated by him to the worship of this
divinity; and Genevieve herself had
to provide all tbs necessaries of the
household.
Entering her store one evening I
heard quarreling in the back room.
There were the voices of several
women, among which I could distin-
guish that of GeneYieve, altered by
tears. Glancing towards them, I saw
the fruit seller holding in her arms a
child, whilst country nurse seemed
to be demanding payment for her at
tendance. The poor woman, who
doubtless had exhausted all explana-
tions and all excuses, wept silently,
and q neighbor sought to appesse the
peasant women but without avail.
Excited by that country avarice
which proves so well the miseries of
the rude existence of the fields, and
by the refusal OF the hoped for pay
ment, the nurse poured forth recrimi-
nations, mensces and invectives. 1
heard the sorrowful conversation in
spite of myself, not daring to inter-
rupt 1t, not dreaming of retiring,
when Michel About appeared at the
door of the store.
The carpenter came from an ale
house where he had passed half the
day. His blouse which was unbelted,
and unfastened at the neck, bore none
Of the noble soils of labor he held in
his hand his cap which he had just
picked out of the mud his hair was
disordered, his eyes fixed, and his face
pAIlid with drunkenness. He entered
stumbling, gazed about him wildly
and called Genevieve.
She heard his cry and came into
the store, but at the sight of the
drunkard who sought in vain to gain
his equilibrium, she pressed the child
in her arms and hung her head weep
ing. The peasant aud neighbor fol-
lowed her.
SNOW, once for all, viii you pay
me ?n cried the first, exasperated.
"Demand the money from the citi-
GEN." replied the neighbor, pointing
| " tuc ChE PCuScI HAO oOuAuL W eGcfsuI
himself against the counter.
The peasant looked at him.
$50 that is the father" said she.
'Well, he is an idler, he has no money
to pay honest people, but can drown
himself thus in wine."
The drunkard raised his head.
"Whatw stammered he. "Who
speaks of wine? Ihaye taken moth
ing but brandy (; but when I return !
will drink wine. Wife, give me thy
money, there are some friends await
ing me at the Pere Ia Tuille.n
Genevieve said nothing. He turned
toward the counter, opened the draw
er, and fumbled in it.
HYou see where the money Of the