The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-08-11
LOVE AS A PHYSICIAN.
BY EsTELLE GRAY.

IL the environs of Paris, a short dis
lance from Morfontaine and Ermenon-
Vile, stands a pretty country-house,
carefully quilt and tastefully ornament
ed; the traveller in passing stops to gaze
upon it with pleasure, as n would be-
hold an abode where seem to dwell COM
fort, peace and happiness This resi-
dence had neither the appearance of a
chateau nor the luxury Of villa; it was
not a farm, still less a cottage; it was a
citizens house, but had served as a re-
treat to an artist, and the inspirations OF
talent had passed by there, for persons
who cultivate the arts have a secret OF
giving a charm to the most simple things.
The house of the painter, the garden OF
the poet, the pavilion of the musician,
all unpretending as they may appear,
always have an aspect that the rich capt.
talist can never attain to in his sumptu-
Gus property. And what more beantl-
full residence could you choose, if you
would fy from the noise of the city,
than the country situated between Nor
fontaine and E~rmenonville?
Morfontaine! delightful place, where
so many sovereigns have come to lose the
cares of royalty, and seek beneath its
shade some hours of quiet, repose and
happiness! E~rmenonville! whose name
recalls the great writer, the celebrated
philosopher, and whose tomb is for the
French, and for the stranger, a goal for
pilgrimage.
Thus it was with joy that the poet re-
tired to this charming dwelling, all the
attractions of which I shall not attempt
to describe, because description gives but
a faint image of the reality. will only
say that nothing was wanting which in
the country could add to the happiness
of life. There was a pretty drawing
| room, with piano; a large hall, with a
t: UlS-lA e-1--: w;sh
gruUpoes and shady spots; q pond of
water, and all that was necessary for
fishing; it is no use for those living in
the country to renounce ali that can en-
belish or charm life. The true sage, it is
said, is he who uses everything yetabuses
nothing.
Delvigny left the city, after having
lost a wife whom he almost worshiped ;
though still young he could not be con-
soled for the loss of her whom he hoped
to have had for a companion and friend
until the end of his days. This will
prove to you that there are still some
husbands who regret their wives, True,
he was a poet, and that exalts the i'm
aglnation.
A son was the only pledget that Hymen
had left to Delvigny, a son beautiful as
his mother, and who promised to have
also her ~gentleress. The little Adolphe
was the idol of his father, who already
resolved to make him a celebrated artist,
and saw upon his forehead all the indi-
cations Of science, genius and art. With
a little willingness there is nothing so
easy as to find these indications in ones
children and ones friends. But death,
which SO often deranges our pro-
jects, did not permit Dslvigny 10 &C,
complish his plans for the education of
his son; the poet died three years after
his wife, leaving only to watch oyer the
little Adolphe two good aunts, who had
left their province to come and nurse
him during his illness.
Behold, then, a little boy Of five years
of age, left to the carr of two women,
one of whom has only a passion for
sweetmeats, the other a very decided in
clination for. the "game of the goose"
Do not think by this that the child will
be unhappy; on the contrary, his two
aants cherished, watched over and idol.
lied him. For the sake of little Adolphe
his Aunt Ursula sometimes forgot to eat
sweetmeats, and his Aunt Babolette neg
lected her favorite game.
Delyigny had left TO his son a yearly
income of q thousand crowns; this was
considerable for a poet each aunt pos
sesslng the same, and all that would one
day come back to Adolphe. He would
-
then be sufficiently rich to live happy,
and need only trouble himself to drive
away from his heart all wicked inclina-
tions, all ambition, and finally to be o n
tented with the lot fortune had granted
to him.
The two good aunts educated the lit
tie boy like a girl. They did not allow
him to read Greek history, for fear he
would have a taste for war; they kept
from him Roman history, fearing that he
might imbibe ferocious and savage fan.
cies; they did not give him mythology,
because the history Of the gods and god
desses seemed to them too ~scandalous
and they would not allow him to take
drawing lessons, because it would Be-
necessary that he should copy from
models.
These ~gentlewomen still suppressed a
crowd Of things which they judged as