Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-11-12

hair much smoother, tnat would MAKE you
look like other girls; your hands may be
awkward, well. will say very awkward,
but hands can be taught like everything
else, and / think you have such good'
pleasant face. that if you choose you may
soon teach yourself better ways,
Jeanne's mouth opened widely; there
was . wistful uneasy look in her eyes, ana
saw she thought was not In earnest.
Il mean what say" ! repeated; N
you keep your hair smooth and neat, anu
were not always crying, and held your
head up as other girls do, you would soon
feel quite different, and believe l adj
ded. as a browning inducement. you
would not break so many pitchers.
Jeanne gave me long, grateful look
sMadame is very kind. Twill try hard,
she spoke shyly, "but hope she will not
think me ungrateful. I do not cry so much
for being ugly and awkwark, as because |
am of no use. am not of SO much use as
the spinning wheel which makes our
bread"
l felt dumb and foolish. have not the
gift my cousin Jemima has of saying the
right words at the right time. My wise
savings, when they do come. come too
late. But asked Jeanne to buy new
pitcher and new chair. and the JOY that
filled her eyes when l put the money III
her hands gave me courage.
"Well, good-by, Jeanne; try hard as
YOU say, perhaps you have not found your
use yet. We none of us know what use
we were made for; only God knows that;
but, depend upon it, We were all made to
be of some use some day Istopped, for
! seemed to be only singing words to-
gether without much meaning. 'Au re-
corr added hurriedly, and retreated,
telling that had been actually preaching
to this poor unhappy child, who had plain
" had more than her share Of lectures.
Ill
| had forgotten all about Jeanne the I'M
lucky and Madame Robillare.
Two years after that pleasant visit to
the bocage Of Normandy was on my way
to spend few weeks with friend at
Iannion, In Brittany, and as dislike any
but the shortest route, came by the way
of Paris and Granville-that is to say. in
stead of going on to picturesque. dirty
Granville, / left the railway at Villedieu.
from which place diligence goes to Az
ranches. / had been travelling ever since
early morning, and Villedieu les Poeles is
not very interesting station. 1t has tall
red chimneys. and half-built wholly
grimy aspect, SO that felt rutlled when
the diligence driver announced in his
broad, strong Norman, that there was only
room in the intarieur; the coupe had been
bespoken BY three English ladies who had
written for II from Paris. Ifelt still more
irritated that these English women should
have had such foresight. l. also, could SO
easily have written from Paris to retain a
place in the coupe. As / stood still, much
discounted, saw them. A mother and
two daughters, IN new and very elaborate
travelling dresses. with bags. and guides,
and cloaks, and umbrellas, and, above all,
straps enough for six people. The sight
soothed me! It was comforting to feel
that, though for once had been guilty of
this oversight, still was much too old a
traveller to have an unnecessary article OF
luggage.
Such huge heap of boxes and trunks
came out Of the railway van that l felt
sure we could not be off just yet. The
boy and small bent man, who represented
the porter of Villedieu station, did not
seem in any hurry. They We're bending
over the luggage, turning and examining
curiously every bit Of it, without making
~
the Station wall. walked off disconso-
lately to the end of the platform, feeling
cross and very hungry. l would eat if
that were possible, but there is nothing to
eat at Villedieu Station. l suppose this
diligence will be more than two hours get
ting TO Avrancbes, though the distance is
only about twelve miles. and the table
d'hote at the Hotel de Londres will be
over when get there. l look round;
there has been rain, and the ground is all
in little wretched-l looking puddles The
STOPPING man and the boy have got through
their work more quickly than expected,
and am glad, for ! feel that l am getting
wet footed
The driver has come to me and is rails
ing his cap.
"If Madame is ready he says politely;
and see that the baggage is all on the
roof of the diligence. and got glimpse
of blue wells in the coupe. 1t was stuffy
little coach, lined with shiny black leath-
er; it was only big enough for four peo-
pie. although it was intended for six, and
ct first was so busy arranging my clock
and handbag beside me that did not no.
tice my fellow passengers.
A violent sneeze made me look up.
opposite me was solemn, smooth
faced, Mr.. Pecksnif-looking man, we'll
dressed, but wearing tall black hat; he
carried on his knees, half yellow leath
er. half crimson and green carpet OF the
gaudiest hue--an unmistakable Partisan
shopkeeper out on holiday. His last
pinch Of snuff had been too large, and his
suspended finger and thumb and comfort
ed face announced him as the producer of
that sneeze; but as looked at him and
noticed a peculiar fretful droop of the un-
der lip, become aware that he was not
the author Of small suppressed sound
that followed close on that sneeze this
came from close beside me. and looked
round quickly to see who was laughing,
for this was not wonderland; : | could
not hope to find the grin if the face had
time to grow serious. Twas disappointed,
for the Laughter had time to turn away her
face. only saw that she was big girl,
with a nice clean white cap, and tidy
dark brown gown and jacket, She was
bending down to speak to some one beside
her, but we were jammed SO close on my
side that could not lean forward. Atall.
sheep-faced gendarme sat next to the
sneezer, and filled the middle Of the coach
so rpplefalv with his lone lpoc and ac-