New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-11-20
PERE GOWN.

PERE GOWN.
CHAPTERI
Twas at the top of my cour-a grassy slope,
thickly set with apple-trees-we should call
it an orchard in England, where a 6 ourt''
seems to suggest pavement, which it is far
from doing in Normandy. Not but whatthere
are plenty Of stones in my cour, and Oracle,
nv precious, only daughter, sits in the sun
shine making Druidic circles with them
Oracle, who is a vision Of delight the small
tyrant of our fields and home. Mira, the big
dog, is watching her with grave and puz-
lied mein, some occult resemblance in the
flint stones to well-polshed bones seeming to
enchain his interest. There is another circle
maker close blythe cow-tethered by a
chain passed round her horns to an iron pin,
driven firmly into the soil. To give the cow
new center of operations is my present OBJ.
ject-but where to put her? She has eaten
up all my grass, and is now looking wist;ully
at the green yell tied round Gracie's hat, as
if she would like to eat that too
My speculations are cut short by low
growl from Mira, the object of which, see
next moment, a man leaning over the gate
the one that leads fore tward-a sallow,
heavy proved man, in the universal blue
blouse and closely fitting fur cap, this last
quite out of keeping with the climate. He
touched his cap politely.
Monsieur has nice COW; but she looks
thin. And the grass of the court is worth
nothing"
"The grass is not bad," remarked, "if
there were only more of it,"
"Ah! Monsieur should see the grass in my
cour, thick and luscious, and l have no COW
to eat it. Will Monsieur sell the cow"
No, would not sell the COW. It had cost
mo too rnuch tO acnI,ira q real nra ctioal uorE =
ingcow, whose milk foams in the pail, mi lk
that will develop into cream and butter.
would not part with the COW, but would my
new friend sell his grass?
"Oh" cried Oracle, running up at this mo-
mems, "it is my little pere Gown. BoJour,
you promised me?"
"Not yet" said Gown, STOPPING down to kiss
the proftered face. have not found piece
of wood suitable"
But there is wood everywhere"
Gown, in spite of his heavy and forbidding
look, is kind and obliging. He certainly has
got a nice piece Of grass, with not so many
at once, without troubling the notary to put it
into writing-alease OF his cour for an indef-
mite period, at Il rent Of 81 francs per year
payable quarterly in advance
AS we came out I saw the Professor coming
along, and paused to wait for him. The Pro,
town, our only Compatriots within circle OF
many miles. sr ,z
The character I heard of Gown from the
Professor, hardly tended to reassure me- He
was a fsherman,it seemed, having boat OIL
the river, and often sleeping on board it,. No
one in the village liked him; he was savage
morose and uncommnnlcatiYe, living an utter
ly lonely life. The only person who had a
good word for him was the cure. I "Covin,"
he said, us industrious and attentive to his
religious duties. have known him to spend
hours in the church, praying, his face working
with strong emotion, his eyes fixed upon the
sacred images"
But the cure added gravely that although
estimable in some points, he feared the man
was passionate and revengeful. His unbridled
temper had already brought him into trouble,
about which the cure declined to say any
more. g.
found out what the trouble had been from
another quarter. He had attempted TO assas
kinate his proprietor CHS landlord), and had
only lately finished a term of Imprisonment
for the offense. I %comforted myself by the
thought, tnat even the most ungovernable of
men would not assasslnate tenant who paid
his rentregularly, and determined that Gown
should get his quarterly payment with most
scrupulOls punctuality. z
Soon after this exchanged nv COW for a
pony, an operation which called forth many
jeers from the Professor. OF course, having
pony and no COW, / no longer wanted grass
but hay. And so next spring put down both
cours for hay.
One evening, soon after, wanted some
fresh grass for the pony, and took my scyuhe
and went mp to GOWNS cour to cut a swatha
of the rich, sweet herbage The clank Of the
scythe brought Gown ont of his cottage, and
he watched me for few moments with low
ering brow. .
1T is forbidden to cut this grass" he said
just as had finished.
Howl | cried, Il may not cut my own
COvinT' g ~
II did not lett for such purpose, forbid
you to cut any more" nj
II don't want any more at preasant. but in
9 fortnight's time began to cut the hay.n
-, ~ forbid you" he cried, in 3 voice husky
with passion
.All the same, shall begin.n
and 4 shall prevent you.''
NGood; we shall see!''
ne followed me to the gate, muttering and
talking to himself. went home with tho nm.
pleasant feelne that, it was my destiny to
have desperate feud with NJ. Gown. All the
same would not givesway. The hay should
De cut If had to cut it myself.
This turned out to be the alternative No
one would come to cut GOWNS cour. nor for
any inducement could offer. E
u was IN the prime of summer timen a
sweet, fresh morning, when Irose and shonl.
dered my scythe to begin on GOWNS cour. I
kissed my sleeping wife with kind of feeling.
that was Bound on a dangerous Grand. /
reached quickly the cour, and taking my
stand under tree, began to sharpen nv
scythe. At the sound of the MILESTONE and
scythe Gown appeare !. on the scene his face
white and wrathful, and began an haranplle
At last, with kind of a fierce ar-hoop. he
bounded forward and placed himself in front
Of me-. u n 8 IA q Is
Mot ct another stroke mot another blade Of
grass!' I.
Had been prudent should have should