Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-06-11

the parish of Condo, aud have been sent
| by the Good Father, 10 see how my faith
ful ones practice charity, which is the first
OF the Christian virtues. have knocked
at the doors Of the burgomaster and the
/ burghers of Conde; | have knocked at
the doors of the lord and the farmers of
Vicq; the burgomaster and the burghers
Of Conde, the lord and the farmers OF
Vicq have let me freeze at their thresh-
olds. thou slone hast had pity upon me,
and thou at ss WI etched as |. God will
reward thee: make ii wish and il shall
come to pass
Misery crossed herself and fell on her
knees.
"Great Saint Wsnon, said she, Il no
longer marvel that Faro licked your feet,
but it is not for reward that DO char
ity. Besides. have need of nothing"
Thou art too destitute of everything
to have no wants; speak, what wilt thou
haveP"
Misery kept silent.
"Wilt thou have beautiful fsrm, with
the grSnsry tull of wheat, tho wood
house full of wood, the cupboard full ol
bread? Wilt thou have hOnors2 Wit
thou be a duchess? Wilt thou DO a
queenP"
Misery shook her head.
"A saint Who has any selt-respect
ought not to be under obligation TO a
poor woman" returned Saint Wauon,
with an sir OF pique.
Speak, or shall think thou refusest
me fIom pride
"Snce you insist upon it, great Saint
Wanon, will obey. have there in my
garden q pesr-,ree which gives me most
beautiful pears; unfortunately. the young
rogues IN the village come to rob me OF
them, and am forced to leave poor Faro
at home to moant guard. Grant that
whoever climbs my pear-tree may not
come down withou, my permission
"Amen p replied SAINT Wsuon, smiling
at her simplicity, and after having given
her his blessing, he Sc, out upon his
journey.
The blessing OF Saint Wanon brought
good luck to Misery, and from that time
forth, she never returned home with an
empty sack. Spring followed winter,
sumner, spring. and autumn, summer.
The little boys, seeing Misery 90 of With
Faro, climbed up the pear-tree and stuffed
their pockets; but, when they undertook
to come down they found they were
caught fast in tap.
Misery, on her return, beheld them
perched up in the tree, leis them there
good while, and, when in the kindness OF
her heart she let them go, set Faro bark
ing at their heels. They did not dare to
come again; the villagers themselves
avoided passing the enchaoted tree, and
Misery and Faro lived as happy as one
can live here below.
Toward the end of the autumn, Misery
was enjoying herself in her garden in the
sun, when she heard voice crying,
Misery Misery Misery" This voice
was so mournful tha. ithe good woman
began to tremble in every limb, and Faro
howled'as though there had been q corpse
in the house.
She turned around and saw man, TALL
lean. yellow and old, d,--old AS patriarch
This man carried scythe as long as
hop-pole.
Misery recognized Death.
what do you want, man OF GodF
said she in an altered voice, "and what
have you come for with that scytheF
Il come to do M work. Come my
good Misery. thine hour hath struck;
thou must follow me-
Already"
Already But thou shouldst thank
me, thou who art so poor, 50 old and so
crippled"
Not so poor nor SO old as you think
for, master. | have bread in the cup
board and wood in the pile. shall De
only nine,y-fve como Candlemas. and as
for being crippled, 1 am as straight as
you on my legs, without ofense be 1t
said"
go to {! Thou will be much better of
in paradise"
1--WE know what we lose. what we gain
bv change we know not" said Misery
philosophically. Beside, it would grieye
Faro so much"
Faro shall follow thee. Come, make
up thy mind
Misery sighed. Grant me at least q
few moments, till tidy up q bit. Iehouid
not like to make the people in the other
world ashamed OF me-"
Death consented.
Misery put on her best gown OF lowered
Indian muslin which she had had for more
than thirty years. her white bonnet and
/ her old Silesian mantle, all worn, but
without hole or q spot, which she never
wore except on the great saints days.
While dressing herself she cast last
glance upon her cabin and called to mind
her pear-tree. A strange thought came
into her head, and sno could hardly keep
/ back a smile.
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