The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-08-31
FANCHETTE, THE GOAT.


When the German Army inclosed i'm
its iron grasp the most brilliant and
pleasure-loving city Of Europe, trans
forming in moment its epicurean pop
ulatiun into a people of heroes. the en-
virons once so gay and so beautiful had
experienced change almost a. great.
Most Of the detached villas were DESERT
ed. or occupied by the enemy. and the
villages, whose regular inhabitants had
either taken refuge in Paris or fled to a
distance, were repopulated by singu-
lar assemblage Of individuals. belong
ing to all classes Of society. and bound
together only by the tie Of common
nationality, and the necessity Of finding
shelter and providing for their daily
wants.
The hamlet of Boullainvilliers. which
had been thus abandoned. had received
an entirely new colony, and its beau
tiful avenue. carpeted with turf Of the
most lovely green, hat all the appear
ance Of a camp. As long as the season
would permit. cooking was carried Oh
III the open mir, and groups We're con-
stantly to be seen surrounding the fires
and exchanging accounts Of their mu-
tual mlsfortunes.
A painter of Fleurs. bearing the
English, or rather Scotch. name Of Mac
Henry, was among these refugees. He
had brought with him from Colonies.
where he had before resided, a remark
ably beautiful white goat called Fam
Ghetto. This creature, to which her
master was much attached. figures in
the most of his pictures Light and
graceful As gazelle, she is represented
sometimes cropping delicately the green
branches Of the hedgerows and bushes,
sometimes entangled in maize of brier-
roses, their pink blossoms and green
leaves falling around her in elegant
garlands, and contrasting well with the
snowy whiteness Of her skin.
Fanchette was a universal fayorite;
and few there were at Boulainyilliers
who would not have deprived them
selves of morsel Of the bread some
times 50 hard to procure, that they
might reserve mouthful for the goat.
which, however, the saucy thing would
only accept from her particular friends
The grace and rare intelligence Of the
animal frequently relieved the nliserics
OF the siege. All were surprised at the
wonderful education her master had
succeeded in giving her. lie had even
taught her something Of his art: and ii
was really extraordinary to see the
sensible creature busily employed in
arranging pebbles on the ground. 50 a.
to form a rude resemblance 10 human
profile, often grotcsque enough, but still
such ~ one occasionally sees on human
shoulders; and looking at her work.
one could not help thinking that after
all their lower animals are, perhaps. not
80 far inferior 10 Us as we suppose.
The art with which Fanchetle selected
from 4 bunch Of flowers each one that
was named u her was really marvel
Gus. Roses, wallilowers, tulips, came
las, were promptly chosen from the
number, and 1t was rare, indeed, that
she made the least mistake. Two cen
turtles ago they would have burned the
poor beast for witch.
The exercise which she preferred 10
al Others consisted in catching on her
horns series Of brass rings which her
master threw up In the air. This She
did with the greatest address; and when
she had got dozen or SO Of them en-
circling her brow like diadem she
would begin jumping and ga!lopinc and
shaking her head 10 make them Jingle.
till, over excited BY their rough music,
she would end by dancing in the most
fantastic style on her hind feet, till, tired