Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1879-11-22

us, that gold and much prosperity closes
the heart against the cries of distress.
see too, that thou wilt never more be ask
ed to help the poor babe, with me shall
she live, ah ! little ono '!ooking tenderly
at the sleeping babe which was Graded
id her arms" Minette, the gray cat will
not grudge thee share of her cornel
in tho chimney, and the black hen wi
surely give to thee an egg daily for thy
dinner.
sAdieu, Mon. Martre, 60 thou, and tell
the good wife at home, that Josstte the
old and poor, and the good God will take
this child in charge" and OFT marched the
uettled old dame with little Marie, leav-
ing Ma;tre Christophe to all appearances
much chagined but secretly much pleas
ed that that burden was Off his mind and
hands. 'Indeed,' as he told his auditors
around, the old woman has taken IAN
cy to the babe, and when she asked per-
mission to rear it as her own, could not
say her nay, ah ines ames," he exclaimed
rubbing his palms gently together, my
heart is to good and tender, l much rear
it will bring me. to trouble yet, what VIII
the good wife at homo say, when she sees
me approach with but two children, and
hears have left hero the third, and 1t
too q tender young infant" A mournful
shake of the head, left his hearers, Cad
miripr lis disinterested affection for the
little orphans) firm in the belief that
some terrible fate would surely overtake
the Maitre so soon as his wife should have
learned of its disposal
Mere Josette proved kindly Gtoster
mother under her caro- tho child grew
we'll and fast. What matter, if often the
soup pot contained nought but a few
beans or carrots, or the black crusts were
few and hard to get, she had kindly
| honest hands and u loving heart upon
which to rely, and the chilus needs were
few and simple. Nature spread her low
lest store before her wondering eyes
and no miser's gold was so bright ano
dazzling as the sweet sunshine that lay
aro,lnc her. Like the fragrant lilies thai
grew so luXuriantly in the little croft
Marie bloomed into maidenhood, as fair
as pure and as slender. Old JoSette NAG
one crony, the housekeeper OF the parlsi
priest. a withered. ancient dame, nu
scarce moro infirm than the master II
whose wants she minis cred, and through
her kind intercession, Marie was brough
to the priests notice. Beside the week.:
catechising which she shared in common
with the other village hi!dren, the goo
! ! to- 1,ypht, her II
spell her way slowly through the -4bcdasrt
a miracle of learning as the deliShte
Josette thought it, and her twelfth let
day. in addition to the little thin cah
of wheaton fioul swcctcncd with honey
which Josctte baked to celebrate til
anniversary, she gave to her pro'ege a
old and well worn copy of tho Lives
tho Saints which !she bought at sta
in the market town, and whose nume
Gus wood cuts had captivatcd her unit
tored eve. "'Tis for me mother, it's Il
mer cried the delighted Marie eHlbraclh
: lcr foster mother with rapture, tho
hast bought it for thy Marie,' adm
with sorrowiul reproach, 'and denle
thyseli the new stuff pctticoat thou we
boarding money for, ah! who so good
, thou art p 'Chut., chut, pauvfett'
& answered the old woman, wiplng IL
eyes suspiciously, if thou secst any go'
in the book, twill please me better I'll;
: five new pctticoats What ought one II
:, to do for so good and dutiful IL child
l. thou, nv Marie Thereafter, all t.
q orr winter evenings when the day
f. tolls were over, the faggots gathered, t
4 roat safely housed, Josette nodding
s the spindle, and Ninette, now gray !"
O toothless with age, purring with 1eli
= honpincss at her feet, Marie was SPELL
a bv til tlickcring blaze of tho pine tor
" the old time legends of Saint and Mart
~ One especially she delighted in, the
u tory of a certain st. Elizabeth, saint
"a for good deeds done the poor and nee
= for devotion to tho church during
" long dark days of christianity, when
II faith was tested by the ordeal OF the
~ plough shares and divers other tortul
9 This lcrcnd Marie read and rc-read, sol
;, times to tho wondering simple hear
Vi Mere, but oftencr to her self till she '
- as familiar with every detail, as with
- words of the Crcdo, and frou, each
L. hearsal the longing grew stronger to
90 as St. Elizabeth. A simple little peas
ma no wonder that even good Joscttc lau
~ cd tho idea to scorn. But Dedec, the !
50 little cripple whose home was one OF
VIC tention and blows, the .jeored and moe
" of father, mother and six strong brett
,s would stroke tendcrly tho little brt
il, sunburnt hand, that gave to him
III black crust saved from her own sin
he meal, or the cup or sweet goats III
Mt denied herself, and cry plaintivcly, !
. Maria who so kind of heart as thou,