Middletown transcript., 1877-09-29

liza AN-A@ - E--~J
tumble out and roll upon the floor.
The sunshine, cleaning on Madame's
scarlet sewing, seems to recognize the
ripe round fruit, and glows anew as
having met it elsewhere in sweet famil-
lar orchards and on sunny slopes Of
far-away hills.
"All for you, maman," cries Fifne,
looking down on the treasure. "And
: oh, maman, he viii give me ride in
the great wagon out to the beautiful
country and the little old mother p
!. Madame's cheeks flush, her eyes
scintillate with an angry light.
"What is it you say, Fifnea And
who gave you these? ?"
But the child only answered breath
lessIy and confusedly. The apples
. were delicious, and Fifne was happy,
but Madame did not like strangers nor
strangers gifts. She sat anxiously at
the high window next day, looking
down for Fifne as she came from
school.
The street was long and winding,
grimy and decaying but people
swarmed in it as if life was not unde-
sirable. They throve in the scents
and sounds and sitting air; they
laughed, they ehatted, they congregat-
ed in the tumble-down doorways; and
looking their poverty square in the
face, shook hands with It, as It were.
But the street had its pleasures too,
once in a while, and its pictures. As
at this instant, when Madame, looking
out from the high window, saw wagon
load of apples come jolting along,
ruddy, shiny, and mellow. A boy in
brimless hat and a blue shirt sat in
the midst of the heap, and tall, sun
burned young fellow, with trousers
tucked in his boots, walked alongside,
hand in hand with child, who danced
about him, with her golden hair fly
ing, and her pretty feet twinkling, as
she pointed up laughing to the far
window where Madame sat.
In one sudden moment she saw the
little one caught up, deposited in a
halffdll basket, and both, lifted on the
young mans shoulder, disappeared in
the house.
Up stairs they came, tramping, /,
laughing, and Fifne, eager, joyful, and
breathless, was deposited at the door.
@Oh, maman r. she cried, clapping
her hands, "see what we have brought 6
you ? And here is Monsieur Jack r !
Outside, abashed, blushing, stood
the young man with the basket. Mad
anne appearing on the threshold put '
him to utter confusion. She had the 7
bearing Of a duchess. i
"What will you ?" queried she,
haughtily. n
Excuse me, ma'am," was the stam-
mering reply, as the intruder dofed .
his great straw hat II meant did a
not mean-that is, l promised the lit b
tle one ride b
"And g' said madame, sternly. Il
"And,a2 answered the youth, gather b
ing up courage, his honest, kindly eye 81
looking straight into hers, "she needs Il
! little change ; a ride would not harm c,
her, madame" a
1T is liberty objectionable. In a
ny country it is not known that ven G
ler-a street venderAwilI intrude O
himself on ladys apartment. PeO- a
Die know their place, and" n
"I beg your pardon, madame. You m
ire right, interrupted the stranger, his il
heck flushing hotly. 'But this is Il
America, not Paris. Good day" p,
He was gone. The place was blank
nd desolate. The apples lay on the m
loor. The sunlight had faded from at
he widow. Fifne set up frightful
ny Of disappointment. All no ride, q
10 pleasure, no delights in prospect.
She did not go dancing off to school ar
lext day, singing as she went. She hi
anne back with headache, carrying "
gloomily up to the top floor and the
rafting mother. gc
Two days, three, passed Fifne was in
eally i'll. She chatted incessantly Of
be ride and the beautiful country sa
he cried to see Monsieur Jack, as she he
ad named her friend.
One day Madame slipped down su
tairs to buy some apples. 1t was the ch
ay for Monsieur Jacks appearance. wi
he young man bowed when he caught
ght Of this princess from the top floor. no
hould he carry the apples up stairs an
Or herr Cc
Little Fifne, sitting flushed and We
'yerish among heap Of pillows, lit
P radiantly at sight Of the sunburned pc
ice and the great straw hat.
"Ahl maman," she cried, cIapping an
er hands, nOK we shall go in the
ountry."
But Fifne was i'll. Not for a day ye
or a week, but for long, weary fal
lonth the little creature pined and wa
ckened in the upper story Of the ten no