The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-02-26
THE CUCKOO'S SONG.
Translated from the French By STELLA C. ArxEss

Ten O'Clock had Just struck in all the
clocks of the little town of H, in
the canton of Berne, and a metallic un-
dulation seemed still to vibrate in the
air, prolonging itself from house to
house, from street to street, to indicate
that the morning was advancing. The
streets were crowded with passers-by,
workmen, peasants, labJrers and idlers,
rich and poor. This little town was but
a great capital on small scale. The
merchants uncovered thir goods and re-
moved the dust of the night. The gos-
sips passed from one door to another in
the midst of the universal activity, and
each one on crying good said q
little evil of one, a great deal of another,
and thought still more of his interlocu-
torso yoa see it was the whole of
society in diminutive.
"Ten O'clock" cried the big, brawny
butcher Herman-whose sponge vigor-
ously welded was making the slabs of
white marble brilliant where we're ranged
the quarters of beef and mutton. "ren
O'Clock and our neighbor Samuel Stauf-
fer still sleepsl 1t is astonishing" His
face, tinged with red fbrils, with its
heavy, square chin and pale blue eyes,
expressed, in fact. complete amazement.
aThats 80 you are rightP' responded
the grocer, who came out on his door
step twisting long cornet of paper and
leaning forward little in order 10
penetrate more materially into the
phenomenon which curved and elevated
the brows of the butcher ike the arches
of bridge "The broker has not raised
one of his shutters, and nothing seems
to be moving in his house; yet his
domestic, Jean Muller, is habitually an
early riser, and this is the first time that
1 have ever risen before him."
"Bah! What trade could be make
this morning2 Perhaps the storm of
last nj hit hindered his sleeping, and he
is making up for it now"
"Oh, what a storm it wasl" remarked
the grocer. "I scarcely closed my eyes ;
The shutters ratified and the hinges
cresked, and bang, a chimney tumDled
into my court l have rarely heard
such a high wind since l have been in
business here"
"Without counting" added the
butcher, "the thunder, hail and rain,
one could almost say the devil was con-
ducting dance.' Aud he accentuated
his little Joke with loud laugh, which
shook his stomach and shoulders 30 that
the fat on his chin and cheeks had ter
rible convulsions.
"Hushl Herman, never say that! 1t
is an evil omen, Relieve me"
"Oh! what superstitious fellow you
are, friend Blochl One must have q
laugh now and then
81 admit that subject of conversa.
ton is repugnant to me, always; fol
every time that hideous name is men.
toned, there is misfortune lurking
somewhere"
The laugh of the butcher increased al
the sight of the pale face of his compan
ion.
"WelI, well, you are timid. 1 will
be still, Tor you will finish by thinking
me a scape-goat-but what can old Sam
mel be doing%
LET us rap at his door. What d.
you sayP
The grocer indicated with his fingers
without budging, the house CT Samuel
and the butcher, without speaking
directed his steps toward the littl
shop.
1t had two floors surmounted by a
attic, and seemed TO bury among tn
other buildings its pointed roof, covere
with tiles, and to conceal with a wor
and patchea air, the shop which occu
pied the whole of the ground-fool
The wooden shutters solidly fixed b
large bars of iron, and the front doc
with its tight bolts, kept an unaccui
toned silence. On the floor above, tn
blinds stopped up the windows hermet
cally, and this house with its eye
closed in the midst of the mornin
hustle assumed an ominous aspect. o
the rolf the weather. vane turned b
the wind emitted every now and the
a mournful cry, that resembled th
moan of sea gull across the hurricar
which agitates the sea.
The butcher slruck the bars with b