Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-06-11
Stlttte0 Storp.
MISERY'S PEAR-TREE.
Az ANCIENT LEGESp OF FLANDERS.

Once upon q time. there lived in the
village Of Vicq, on the banks Of the
Sche.dt, good woman, called Misery,
who went s5ou,. begging from door to
door. In those days the village OF Veg
was little better than q hamlet. 1t lay on
the edge Of marsh, and there were only
few miserable farms covered With
rushes to be seen. Misery dwel, apart
il 3 lonely hut p.as.ercd with clay. where
her sole companion was her dog, Faro,
and her worldly goods weoe staff and
a scrip, which too often she brought back
almos, empty. To tell the truth, how
ever, she had besides. in little enolos-
ure. behind her hovel, tree-A single
one. This tree was a Pear-tree, 50 beauti-
ful tha, it, ike was never seen since the
famous spple-,roe of the garden OF Eden.
The only deligh, ,hs, Misery experienced
in this world was 10 eat the trui. OF her
garden. that is Of her pelr-tree.
Unbappily. thel little boys OF the vii
lage came to rob her enclosure. Every
dsy Misery started forth with Faro TO
beg; but q the autumn. Fsro remained at
home 10 guard the pears, ..sud 1t was
heart breaking to both. for the poor wO-
man and the poor dog loved each other
with great affection.
Now there came q winter n which for
two whole months it hailed dt 70 break
the very stones. Then there fell such
snow that the wolves lett the woods and
came into peoples houses. Il wss ter
riole time for the whole country, and
Misery and Faro suffered more than the
rest. One evening when the wind bowled
and the snow piled up in grea: drifts, the
two uniortunates were nesting close TO
keep esch other warm before the dying
embers Oh the hearth, when s. knock wss
heard on The door. Always, whenever
any one came near the cabin, Faro barked
with rage. thinking that il was the little
maTauders. This evening, on the con-
trsry. de began to w1lmper gently and 10
wsg his tsil as q mark OF JOY.
For the love OF Cod, ,r,d q plead
ing voice, ''open your door to poor man
who is perishing OF cold and hunger"
Pull the la,ch-string." answered Mis-
cry. IL shall never be said that in such
time as this wou d keep one of the
dear Lords creatures outside
The stranger eDtered; he seemed even
older and more miserable than Misery,
and mad no other covering than blue
trock al in iatters.
Isl, you down. my good man." said
Misery. You have come 10 a very poor
place, out l have still something left to
wsrm you up with"
She pu, her last stick on the fire and
gave the old man three morsels Of bread
and a pear. which was all she had iett.-
very soon the flame leaped up and the old
man ate with hearty appetite. Now,
while he ate. Faro licked his feet.
When her guest had finished, Misery
wrapped her old coverlet Of fustian
around him aud forced him to lie down
upon her cot, while for herself, she settled
herself b s'eep with her head resting or
her stool.
In the morning. Misery was the first tc
awake.
Il have nothing LETT" she said to her
self, "and ny guest will 20 hungry. Let
US see If there is no way to 20 and beg
something 10 the villsge.'
She put her head out Of the door; The
snow had ceased to isll, and the sun
shone as if it were q spring day. She
turned back 20 Get her staff and saw the
stranger risen and ready TO leave.
What said she, "Sre you going
airesdv?"
"Ay mission is fulfilled replied the
unknown, land have TO 60 to give &C