New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-02

periodicals, which her young ladies wishes
bound with the plates, and called to se
Mrs. Folder, whom she had known for sew
eral years.
Antoinette La Vallejo was . woman o
color, but 6ien claire, showing little of Al
rican origin in hair, skin or features, sni
ever ything Of her French ancestry in he
mature beauty and ease of conversation
and manners.
MADAM Vallee," said Mrs. Folder, %
have . new trouble. Hero has been Mr.
Folder and taken an apprentice, so delicat,
and gentle that can hardly think Of put
ting her in the workshop; and, what il
worse, she can not speak one word that w
can understand. Before she came 1 made
Mr.. Folder 60 to see if We we're obliged to
take her. So he went, and they have told
him to keep her and the government will pay
for her keep, as it does for the niggers and
Indians. But now that 1 have seen the
motherless thing, will take care of her il
he never gets anything for it,"
Madam La Vallee asked what language
she spoke.
"Bless me- said Mrs. Folder, chow
should know9 l don't think its Dutch;
but her grandfather was killed, and che
taken prisoner down away South, and l
can't tell thing more about it,"
''Well," said Mrs. La Vallee, 81 under
stand some foreign languages. can speak
French and Spanish and some Italian"
lyon can" said Mrs. Folder, with as
tonishment, land you colored, amt you9"
| eyes," said Antoinette, "but we can hear
and talk like other people; but let me see
this little girl, will you not?"
Certainly" said Mrs. Folder, II will be
too glad if you can find out something
about her." So they went up stairs to-
gether.
There she u.s." said Mrs. Folder.
"Ah, mademoiselle, je suis bien contente
de vous voir."
"Merci, madame"
"Vous etes de France, n'est.ce pas?"
mon, madame; je suis de Ia Nouvelle-
Orleans.v
"Et moi suesi," said Nine. Antoinette,
taking her kindly by the hand.
The little girl stood before her with q
mournful smile. 1t was . voice and face
from home.
Comment vous sppelez-veue, ma petite
dame2''
"Je m'appelle Eloise Gaulon, madame"
"My God " exclaimed the woman, with
agitation.
EFT votre perez"
I'll sc nonmait Monsieur Prosper eau
Ion, madame; mails il est mort quand j'avais
deux ans"
"Et votre mere?'
'.Elle est morte sussi, Pannee derniere.
An commencement de ls guerre mon grand
pere est arrive de France, ct il ma amene
avec lui, ct il etc tue-il est mort aussi ~
said the poor girl, bursting into tears.
The colored woman took her in her arms
and Gained her.
ma chere, vous etes avec de bonnes
gems lei Je vous COMMAS, ct j'ai aussi connu
votre famille autrefois. Madame" said she,
"this child is of good family. l knew her
father we'll when was a slave. Yes, ma
dame, l have been . slave. This child will
be called for some day, and would rather
risk to pay her board than she should leave
you. Keep her, madame, for Gods sakew
Il will do my duty, though We do not
take children except az apprentices
"Oh, make her learn your trade. 1t is
good. She will pay you for your care.
veuillez, ma petite dame, TRAVELLER pour
cette dame. Savez-vous faire lee livree,
CONNIE cela!" pointing to book.
"C'est le meter de madame9" asked the
girl. "Oh, oui; je suis tres contente de re-
plier le papier pour payer ma pension. Oh,
oui, oui, je suis tres contente"
1T is not that exactly" said Mrs. Folder;
but we could not rear a girl as . young
lady. She must work. OF course, she will |
20 to school and to church-aRy church che |
may choose. suppose she is Papist.
shall dress her from the same goods a. my
daughter, but it will not be fine. Tell her
that will raise her, that she will have an
honest trade and good home and educa-
ton if she stays, and if she can be bettered
by going away to her people, l shall be
glad.'
"Uh, madam, bless you for that will
tell her all"
Eloise, the girl, understood perfectly. She
went to Mrs. Folder and kissed her, then
she kissed Mrs Vallee, whose cheeks were
very wet from old memories.
1t was not surprising that Mrs. Vallee
was agitated. She was a slsve-one of the
gems de couleur-ard NJ. Gaulon struck
with her beauty and docility had made her
his mistress. She had borne him two
children, when he told her, "Antoinette, l
have determined to return to France.
have amassed good fortune, and wish to
place myself in my native country; shall
liberate you, but under our law you can
not remain here. l have invested $4,000
in bonds in your name; wish you to take
the children to Philadelphia, where there
are good schools; shall pay all their ex-
penses, and perhaps aid to place them in
business. Teach them to work and never
tell them of any expectations. The money
is for you that you may never know to
want; l will take care of you though the
ocean and the years may be between u.s."
knew it was for the best; wept and
grieved, for he was good man, and had
never loved or known any other. l COM
piled with his wishes. The children have
been reared and placed in Ohio. He al
ways wrote to them and to me. He went
to France. Too active to remain idle he re-
turned to America. He married. knew