The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-03-10
THE LITTLE SHOES.

THE LITTLE SHOES.
The 9th of January 1876, the festival
OF the Epiphany, scene occurred on
the quarter deck OF the French ship
] Heron. which is worth relating.
All the officers not actually on duty
were walking the deck, smoking and talk.
ing, when young cadet assembled the
ladder leading from the captains cabin,
and cried:
"Hats off, gentlemen. The queen is
coming"
And still Marie Antoiuette had not
vet Quilted Versailles and by the aid OF
the lame demon Asmodeus, or OF second
| SIGHT. she might at this moment have
been described in secluded portion OF
the palace, where, free from the etiquette
of her deadly enemies, she was engaged
IN amateur acting in her family circle.
Who. then, was this fair usurper, VIII" at
A distance of twelve hundred miles from
Versailles, assumed that ceptre which
the rightful Queen was onl y too G lad to
exchange for few moments TOR shep-
herds crook? We will only say, briefly,
there was no crime in the usurpation, no
injury to Majesty.
The dignity to which the crew OF
the Heron paid homage was only
the innocent and transient royalty OF a
dave The person on whom the dlstinc-
ton had fallen was pretty little Creole
from the Island of Martinique, relation
of the captain, who like the Nirginle OF
of Bcrnardin de St. Pierre, wished to push
her fortunes in the chief city OF the world
under the protection of an old aunt.
1t was pity that the young Queen
held only mock rank, for she discharg-
ed her duties with q decision and vlyacity
that Catherine the Second or Maria
Theresa might have envied.
'On your knees, my pretty page, she
said to tie young cadet who had an
nounced her approach. "Dont you see
that | have dropped my glover Here,
nv ministers OF state, this way, and do
not laugh, for the case is serious. love
NV people; remember that l wish my
people to love me. We must now de-
eide whether. in order to secure their
homage, blue bows would look better ON
my shoes than white ones.
And so a thousand jests and thousand
childish tricks proceeded from her, till
the honest tars laughed so heartily that
they suffered their pipes to go out.
An old Brenton sailor, named Peter
Hello, seemed most of all to rejoice IN
the triumph of the artless maiden. lie
was covered with more wounds than
wrinkles, and had that day received Il
medal, as tardy recognition of his long
services.
On this occasion the captain had in
yited him to the table at which the two
ladies', his relatives, presided. Marie
Rose-such was the young girls name
would listen with amaZement TO the reel
tai of Peter Hello's yarns. She had so
fattered and caressed the rough old man,
that his heart, moved by such unwonted
sensations had beaten rs quickly at the
child's kindness as it did when ne receiv-
ed the medal.
He alone waited on her; he was almost
her only protector; for her aunt, good
old soul who was chained to her char by
the govt spent her whole day in the pc
rusaI of st. Augustine's writings, only
VARYING her occupation by occasionally
exciaiming, "Come, Mlnette! Come
Marie Roser whenever she detected her
cat in the pursuit of mouse, or her niece
chasing sunbeam.
Marie Rose, however, as independent
as most colonists, daughters, either did
not hear or assumed deafness.
At times she would amuse the crew
with singing and dancing; then old
Peter would be all attention; he seemed
suddenly to be imbued with understand
ing to appreciate the songs, and with
taste to admire her animation.
The day succeeding her brief reign
saw the poor child in very sad and
penslve mood. The old sea.bear posted
himself in front of her, restless and silent
ms a faithful hound which sees It's master
weakening. She could not refrain from
giving him her confidence, he looked so
full of inquiring sympathy.
An old negress, who commonly passed
as a witch, and used secretly to bring
bread to Marie Rose when she played
about MS a child in the forests of her ma
tive island had once given utteTance to 4
remarkable prophecy, which had given
the child food for much reflection. Part
of il she remembe word for word:
"My good little lady, | saw great
condor in the clouds, rising higher and
higher. with rose in It's beak. Thou art
the rose; thou wilt be very unhappy;
then thou wilt become QUEEN then
comes a great storm, and then death.
Yesterday was queen she muir
nered, land now have nothing TO en-
/ pect but the storm that is to destroy me. ~
"lIave no fear, mademoiSelle.' said
Peter Hello. If the Heron does meet
| with a miShap. YOU have to do nothing
! but lay hold OF the end Of my jack
e., With Co.'s help, and the aid Of my
patron saint, you would reach land as
! easily as little schooner taken in tow
! by n three MASTER
Marie Rose WIS little paciHed, and
rewarded the old man by singing son :
which no one had heard before. 1t was
y farewell greeting from young Creole
friend. who, when the departure Of her
little PLAYMATE was decided upon, had
nut her lament into verse, and SET II 10
s,usic. But there is an age at which al
sorrows are transient The sorrow OF the
night disappears with the morning, as
the dew yields its sway TO the sunbeamS'
Marie Rose had not yet passed this age
Next day she was dancing as gsyly as
ever, and the days and weeks passed
without any termination being put to
her cheer!ulness Her shoes, however,
did not display the same endurance. One
little slipper was sent to its last resting
place by the final pass OF tarantella'
! Unfortunately, the ladies had brought a
scant wardrobe with them, as they wish
ed to place themselves upder the sway OF
/ the Paris fashions on their arrival.
! Naria Rosa vss soon comnelled 10 sit