American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-08-23
BEARDOM OR BOREDOM?

Ou the DOTutduN TOstu, at Iiu III the
French Pyrenees, there is a quaint, old
fashioned house standing little back
from the street, with a large garden at
tached, divided into terraces on the
slope of the hill and filled with sweet
smelling flowers such as our grandmoth-
ers loved. In this delightful abode lived
my dear old friend, Nine Du-Chesne,
with whom passed portion of every
summer.
She had lived there seven and twenty
years, and was called in Pau the good
little fairy" for every servant that went
into her household either left her to be
married or was helped by her to 90 bet
ter" herself in whatever trade she pre-
ferred.
The last time that l. paid her visit
she had in her household two very pref
to Basque maids, cousins, named Marie
and Louise; as unlike in character as
they were in looks. Marie was more
graceful than pretty, with hazel eyes
and chestnut hair, and a trick of hold
ing her head back like deer which was
especially taking, and, added to all
the rest very pretty figure. She
was very neat, as honest as day
light and as true as steel, but more
superstitious creature never breathed
than Marie Borthery. She believed in
every thing supernatural, from were
wolves to flying men and women. Lou
Use was really handsome and pictur-
esque, with her soft, dark eyes and
peach-bloom complexion. She was alb
solutely fearless, very coquettish, per-
fectly INSCRIPTIONS and much addicted
to storytelling. Marie was worth forty
OF Louise, but most people were at first
attracted more by her cousin. There
was one person, however, who truly APP
preciated Marie, viz: Jean Bantaa,
Mime. Du-Chesne's coachman. He paid
devoted court to her, and it was soon
understood in the household that they
were engaged.
Now jeans father was mighty hunt
er, and in one of his expeditions to the
mountains he had found and brought
home wee cub bear whose mother was
dead. The little creature was brought
up like puppy in their household,
learned to open the door, to hold plates,
and became quite an accomplished bear.
Jean always brought Bruno to the
house when he came in the evenings to
see Marie, but she eyed him with great
suspicion. She tried to make herself
like him because he was such pet OF
Jeans, but she could not get the idea
out of her mind that Bruno was some
thing supernatural changed into a bear,
and as Bruno grew larger and stronger,
she became absolutely afraid of him.
The bear seemed to divine that she
hated him and tried his best to lessen
her fear Of him by dancing and doing
his tricks for her, and sometimes would
poke his rough head between them when
they were busy talking, which used to
brighten Marie horribly.
One evening after Bruno had been
particularly lavish with his affectionate
manners, Marie could bear it no longer,
and burst into tears, to Jeans amaze
ment
Have said any thing to hurt you?''
he inquired, anxiously. "What is the
matter, Mariep can't imagine what
did to brighten you, but did not mean
t.
''Oh. it was not you, JEAN an
swered Marie between her sobs at
was that nasty Bruno. l am sure he is
the Evil One, he looks so wicked"
Jean laughed long and loud. allow
can you be 50 silly, ma belle?' he said,
when he could get his breath. Poor
Bruno, you don't look like Satan And
again he shouted with merriment, in
which Louise joined. She was not bit
afraid of Bruno, but petted him and
firted with his master and enjoyed her
self very much.
81 am not so silly as you think me, -
retorted Marie; '.don't You remember
the twin that was turned into a dog? If
n man can do that, what's 10 prevent
the devil from becoming any thing he
fancies?''
Jean argued the matter with her, but
in vain. She could not he convinced,
and for the time the matter
dropped. At last the time came for fix
ing the wedding-day. Marie wheedled
and coaxed Jean to put Bruno into some