Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-04-03
The Leisure Hour.
TOMS FOOLLSIINE.SS.

Another girl and girls are OF no earth
ly use in France without dowry," and
Monsieur Marillac stalked out of his house
in a rage.
The little newcomer, who was named
Marie, was the finh daughter come to vex
the paternal committee of ways and means.
AS matrimony is the chief end OF French
girls existence, it was ne wonder that poor
monsieur received the congratulations of
his friends with his heart wrong side out.
But little Marie throve in spite of the
frowns, and at sixteen had developed into
a fine, handsome, and brave girl, so that
her father was wont to stroke her long
brown hair, and say, "True you are girl,
Marie, but you have all the qualities of a
man. That is great comfort"
At this time Marie had two lovers-one
old, rich, and whose suit her father favor
ed the other young and net rich, whom
Marie loved, and married without :he bless
ing of her father. Her husband had Just
completed a medical education. He was
tall and handsome, and his name Pierre
Marquerat. A week after their marriage
Pierre found himself nearly penniess, and
the young husband and wife soon afler
bade good-b to France, to seek home and
fortune in America. They landed in New
York, beginning the work of home max
ing with empty hands, but strong hearts
full of love. Pierre gradually won place
for himself and his profession, which, ad-
ded to Marie's excellent management, furn-
ished them with all the real comforts of
home. But every year or two brought a
baby, until there were seven, all boys.
"Ah if my father could only see my sew
en-, all boys, he would adore me, and quite
forgive me for being girl myself" Marie
would proudly say.
When the youngest was three years old
almost the entire family was stricken dow
with fever. From days and nights of
watching, Pierre, who was less strong
than Marie, became PROSTATE fati igue,
his physician said but he would be quite
well after little rest. In two hours he
was dead, and the eldest son lay dying.
From that day Marie was broken heart
ed. She had loved her husband with the
whole force and strength Of her intense na-
ture. From the day she married him un-
til he lay dead at her side, no other man
had seemed TO her so large-souled, so no.
ble-hearted, so devoted and true. She did
not weep--her grief was too deep for that.
| Her heart, If she had one, was stone. Moth.
ing moved her. All sorrows fell so lar
short of her own as TO seem not worthy the
name of sorrow. She was still so young,
barely thirty-three, and she already had
drunk TO the very dregs the sweetest and
saddest of ife's wine. For her woman's
heart there was nothing left. For her
mothers heart there were six boys and for
| her brains and her hands the care and sup
port of them. She had her home, but no
| income now. What could she do? Teach
| French, and take a few boarders. SO few
weeks time saw the happy, bright eyed
vivacious Marie changed into a pale, sad
black-robed woman, with her handsome
boys gathered about her like a constella-
tion, and half dozen gentlemen to sit at
her table and learn French. Most of them
were professional men, while one or two
were her own countrymen, The 6rst to
come was Tom Sigism1nd, partner in q
downtown house, and the pet of a bachel-
or coterie, many of whom had been class
mates in college, and led the usual life oi
well-to do city fellows who have no ain
cumbrances." Some one in the frm was
wanted who understood French, and why
not learn ii himself2 A Franco American
friend gave him Madame Marquerats ad-
dress. The artlessness Of madame's brok-
en- English, and the sweetness of her brok-
en-hearted face, made the formal business
matter a furegone conclusion. And so il
happened that being the first by day on
the carpet, Tom was given the late doctors
place at the table, If she would be so good
as TO carve. Carving was as new and un'
tried business as speaking French. Bu
he was fellow 10 do any thing for a wo
man except marry her. He would carve I
he ampulated his hands in the operation
And then those six distracting boys, with
their inlermlnable French chatter, with
their "maman, maman, maman," kiss
ing her, hugging her, rubbing thei
heads against her, overwhelming he
with their devotion, and trying her patienc,
to the utmostl How could he ever expec
to learn all their pretty French names
much less abide in the midst of such a bed
lam?
And so each and all of The gentlemen
thought, but had their wonderings answer
ed by the nameless graces OF the widowed
madame. Day by day only enhanced theil
admiration, aud astonlshed them with he
capabilities. From morning until eyenip