The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-08-19
THE QUEENS LITTLE SHOES.
A Legand of the First EMPIRE

On the 9th Of January, 177G, at the feast OF
Epiphany, there occurred on the French irig
ate Heron, as she lay at the pier previous tC
her departure for France "a scene piquant
enough 10 merit recital.
All the officers whose services were not in
actual denalf a were promenading the quar-.
ter.deck, srn6klng, chatting, and otherwise
willing away the time, when suddenly a
young midshipman mounted the gang plank
from the pier, crying
"IIats off, gentlemen hats off the Queen
approaches" Yet, strange TO say, Marie
Antoinette had not yet quilted Versailles, for
at that moment she might have been found
in corner of the chateau, under the shelter
of etiquette, playing high comedy en- famile,
taking the cue from Count d'Artois and
having for her promper the Count deProv-
ence, her brOthcr.in-law She filled the
principal role in lie Deyrin du Village"
("The Village Soothsayer') and sang with
feeling
"ra perdu mon seryeur
J'al perdu tout mon bonheur-"
words which she had occasion often enough
afterwards to repeat, poor, unfortunate Queen
Who, then, was the usurper? Who, twelve
hundred leagues from Versailles, had taken
up the scepter the Legitimate Queen had for
an instant abandoned for shepherds crook
Let us hasten to assure the reader there was
no imposition, no crime nor high treason
there; the royalty that honored the Heron
with It's presence was only the fugitive "roy-
atty of tie beau" which by chance, had fal-
len 10 pretty creole of Martinique, a relative
of the captain, who, under the charge of an
aged aunt, was journeylng to the metropolis
in vague search for fortune and inheritance,
In truth it was to be regretted that the
young Queen was only playing Queen, tor
she carried her high and novel honors with
grace which Catherine III, or Maria Theresa
might have envied.
ION your knees, beautiful page" said she,
addressing the youth, "do you not see have
dropped my glover Approach my ministers,
and not smile, for the question TO be discuss
ed is a grave one. love my subjects, and
do you hear? desire above all things that
nv subjects love me IN return; We must
then, decide as TO whether | shall wear a
white or blue rosette to gain their homage
How is this? 1t seems that my Prime Min
lster permits himself 10 puff the smoke of to-
baccO into the nostrils Of his sovereign in lieu
of incense! And thus, with a thousand inno
cent salies did she cause the old sailors 10
laugh go heartily and so long that the fire in
their pipes died out, and they forgot to light
them.
But one who seemed to enjoy tho sport
more than the rest was Pierre Hello, a native
of Breton, IN old sea dog, with more scars
than wrinkles, who, upon that very morning
had received a medal of honor, q tardy ac-
Acknowledgement Of his long service, and
who, for that reason, had been admitted as
guest 90 the captains table for the day.
Marie Rose, as the little lady was called
listened bresthlessly TO the wonderful stories
related by the old man-oi-war's man, and had
complimenled and carressed him until the
heart of the old sailor palpitated with as
much emotion at the praises Of this young
beauty as a, the moment when he received
his medal He alone waited upon her, and,
indeed, upon him devolved the entire care of
The child, owing 10 the fact of her aunts
being a sufferer from govt, and unable 10
leave her comfortable chair, where she spen,
most OF her time reading the life of her favor
lite saint, Augustine, only looking up from
time 10 time to cry, This way, Minette. this
way, Marie Reset" as she saw her cat or her
niece chasing a sunbeam.
But Marie Rose, with that daring and per
feet freedom possessed by most young girls
of her age one moment would climb up the
cordage, balancing herself on the ropes
while brave Pierre watched from below
ready 10 catch her in his arms should she b,
blown down to the deck, or TO jump over
board should she fall into the sea; then, tiret