The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-09-13

the beautiful country. She cried Ia
see Monsieur Jack, as she had named
her friend.
One dav madame slipped down stairs
to buy some apples. 1t was the day
for Monsieur Jacks appearance. The
young man bowed when he caught
sight of this princess from the Ton
fioor. Should lie carry the apples u1
stairs for her? Little Fifine, sittinq
flushed and feverish among q heap oil
pillows, lit up radiantly at sight OF the
sunburned face and the great straw
hat. sr~igse
4 "Ah man,an," she cried, clappiDg
her hands, "now we shall go In the
country"
But Fifine was Il. Not for day nor
a week. but for long, weary month
the little creature pinned and sickened
ii the upper story OF the tenement
house. And itifell out that nearly
every day the young mans step
sounded on the stair, and Monsieur
Jacks face became familiar to all the
neighb0rs as lie made his way to the
t0pmOst floor. He petted Fifine, he
cliatted to her, and charmed madame
by stepping softly In spite of his 81 4
boots. Fifine watched hungrily f.f
his coming, and thus IL was, doubtless,
that madame also found herself some
times listening for his footsteps on the
stair.
One sunny afternoon she stood
smoothing her glossy hair In the crack
ed looking.glass. The day was o hope
ul one. The air was clear, the sun
shone. sFifine was better. Madame's
eyes frightened as she stood at the
glass. She adjusted her knot of ribbon,
she touched up the white rufiie about
her eshapely' throat. Without, there
was q ereaking OF the rickety stair.
Theieyes shOnc brighter I'm the dim
little mirror. Madame stopped in her
toilet suddenly, seeing their expectant
glitter. ~
Can 1t he possible ?" she said TO
herself. Have come TO. this-to
sewing i'm garnet, to starving, to
begging almost. for Fifine, and to
looking forward every day TO the visit
of a young man who Is an apple ven-
dor? Is it that must ut heart belong
to the caaaiite ? Paul = Professor
Paul. was ever worthy Of thee?"
But when she opened the door. and
Monsieur Jack stood modestly on the
threshold, madame's eyes did not lose
their sparkle. He brought bunch Of
pinks for Fifine. -
-" ALL" cried Fifine, clapping her
hands, "they came from the country,
ma chere, T,dmdH! When shall Ue
gO-Oh, sohen shall we go, man.; ~
The mother looked at her tenGerly,
pitifully. The child had gown 30
thin with long Illness. Hsh- 5fNA
my little one" she said, I" L wish
I was back with thee In my beautiful
Paris, where we should have music
and flowers and parks, and--o .i'lsih
"You can have them all here, =" in
terrupted Monsieur Jack, quietly. I.
There were tears In maiamers eyes,
but she turned upon him hotly.
"What will you? she said. "Shall
| take shame to myself that 1 am poor?
1 was poor in Paris, but 1 named 1t not
so.,. In my own country I have pleas
ant, gentle life. My Paul Is very wise,
vel ! quiet. He will not have touch
himself with what is rude and rough.
The neighbors sly he will never be
rich. I'll ma pas in veDte la pOudre,'
they say, and laugh he was not Il e
inventor of gunpOwder.' But we also
laugh and are happy. have my pot
of flowers have my fete days. 1t
costs but few sous to be happy. All!
why did we ever come away, my
petite, to be reminded that we are
beggars ]"
Madame caught up her white hand
kerchief and wiped her eyes. There
was an awkward pause. Monster Jack
played with Fifine's long locks, look
ing down silent and reprOved. Fifine,
not knowing what was the matter, be-
gan to cry. .,...,.
=, ~ II W
seeing the child's tears. 1--WE can
have all things here, my Fifine, yet
thou hast nothing. In Paris we need
not be told that we are poor. III we
know that the last sou Is being spent,
we will buy some charcoal, we will
shut ourselves in the pleasant little
room with the flowers and the SUM-
light, and die decently, making no
1 trouble; but in America 1t Is not so.
Here It is rude and O,ttre. People will
NEEDLE. You cannot manage your
small scraping of life for yourself. You
must starva or beg--and steal IL need
be,-but You must live. 1t Is, there
fore, no fault OF mfrle, monsieur, that
my little Fifine Is i'll aud pinipg. j
cannot advertise that / must have her
helped; and am poor! II am poor
I am poor
VT seemed TO be u relief to madame's
mind that this well-kept secret was out
t.e1Ma,Iam,n said the visitor, rising,
~ also ann ,pOor."ss
EXCISE the, 4 pray you" said ma
dame, her face paling suddenly;
have talked too lnuch-it Is weak. /
ask yoHr PARDON" slhfI
sssaWhen- shall. we 90, when shall we
20 in the country" asked Fifine, see
ing ii pause. sh.9e t k.9
NSThou canst not go alone, little one"
saiti the mother, smiling, and raliying
herepirit. = 40 ~ +4-ltf y -
k4$hes reed net go nlonc, madam
suggested1 Monster Jack -patting the
ehIfd on the head-"not If you will go
Ali what can poor people dor Was
not Madam the wife Of a professor, and
Vas not her pride very great therefor
Gould shege out riding with an apple
ssWheh G'fepeateil the tiny invalid,
infperativeIy. ge ~,
1 And the mother, driven into a cor
nasa answered: ''To-morrow.' III
I. There was a little old wbinahs in a
yellow gown stepping. quickly about
mfn1-house kitchen. The yellow gown
wSs short, revealing her blue WOODEN
lOse and sturdy shoes. :, She was
making fine biscuit, her brisk horny
li1slds molding them deity and quick
VI 1 She has act 6uta round table with
a white cloth, taking down the shining
dishes from the old-fnshiOned dressey
- sSrhey will soon he here, 1 uiink, =
sile says, ever and anon looking from
Qts 0reat door. Of which the ilppel