Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1879-08-02

b0rs--wlth the women slttlng on
their doorsteps, knitting in the
peaceful twilight, their children
playing about them /; with the faith
ers returning from their work; with
the young men lettering about
smoking. for Rose had always a
bright word and look for every man,
woman and child she knew.
And they were all fond Of her ;
of this little foreigner who had come
amongst them four years ago with
an old mother, since dead, and who
earned her daily bread honestly
among them.
Then as it grew even darker,
] Haus Gottlilb wed( e6S lzS D@a10
that the day and it's work were
over, and would lay aside his chisel,
and also seek what little fresh air
there was at the door Uf his dwell
ing. he did not laugh or gossip
with his neighbors, as did Rose
Cordier; it was not his way, and
this fact was quite recognized by
the dwellers in Williams Street.
Beyond a "Good evening, neigh
bor," they did not seek to disturb
him in the enjoyment Of his evening
pipe, only occasionally Rose would
step across and ask him what he
was at work upon, or if he had a
good order, and then poor Hans,
flushing all over his fair face, would
proceed to describe his work, his
prospects, until Rose, with a pretty
shrug of her shoulders, would tell
him in her foreign German she
could not understand him 5 he must
speak slower, much slower; it was
too late now, but tomorrow, yes to-
morrow, he must try and explain it
all again, for it was interesting, so
interesting. But for now it must
be goodnight, "good-night to every
one," and the slight trim figure had
disappeared. and the door was
closed.
The neighbors, watching Hans as
he strolled up and down the little
street afterwards, pipe in mouth,
nodded and smiled to one another.
"Ah, when there is enough for two
over yonder, there will be we'd
ding !" Such was the form the
Whispering took.
Even the hardest workers take a
holiday now, and again, and the
feast of st. John the Baptist is es-
tsemed in Fred derickburg the legiti-
mate summer holiday of all it's in.
dustrious inhabitants. The happy
day is spent according to an old
custom at small village some three
miles distant from the town. where
time honored fair is held.
Lion-tamers, fat women, dwarfs,
giants, all the hundred and one
shows that are the rightful property
of fair are to be found there, and
and later on there is a dancing un-
der the soft evening sky, and after
that, home early, so as to be up and
about on the morrow, to work, if
possible, harder than ever, to make
up for the wasted day.
To Rose Cordier, with her quick
French blood, her youth, her light.
heartedness, this fete was one to
whice she looked forward for many
weeks beforehand, and the little
foreigner knew she was never likely
to want cavalier, and this was
looked upon as almost a sine qua
non of the entertainment.
The neighbors smiled more than
ever when they saw Rose come out
of her door the morning of the Oath
of June, looking as fresh and bright
as the red roses in her belt, and
Hans appeared Immediately after
wards. companion rose in his but
tOn.hOle.
They we're all standing about in
little groups, preparing TO start
themselves to the scene of festivity
many of them with babies in their
arms, and little things clinging to
their skirts, but they had time to
give an admiring glance at the 9TH
er couple first.
.'Before we start" said Hans,
suddenly, little constraint appar-
ent in his voice, "would you come
into my atelier, made-moisellei Il
have been working at something l
l should like to show yOu."
eyes, truly, should like it. 1
have never been there yet. Let us
CO."
They turned back as she spoke.
and he pushed open the door.
"See," he said. "it is not finished
yet, but it is to be a wreath of
roses"
He led her, as he said those words
to where on one side, out of the way
of dust and dirt, it lay-the half.
complete circlet of carved flowers.
"It is pretty" she said. And
then, "Is it an orderi What will
you get for it 7"
"No, it is not an order," he said,
a little sadly. II have been doing
it in the spare moments after my
days work."