Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-04-03
Town when. upon the waving of hand.

down when, upon the waving of hand
kerchief by the old sailor out of the win
dow, my husbands voice answered me.
The end came soon, and we were all again
happily united.
This simplest of simple stories went to
the hearts of the islanders, and from that
or four times during the year to give SINH
lar representations for the pleasure of our
selves and our friends. / was more than
satisfied with the result we had shown
ourselves in our true colors, and had won
approval.
At this time there traded to the isle a
brig whose captain was anxious to supply
many articles which he said would be
of use to the islanders. The brig, as |
understood, was supposed to belong to
Mauvain, and its visits were always re-
garded as an event in the peaceful land.
A proposition was made by the captain
that he should employ sculptor to cut a
statute in marble of that Evangeline whose
memory is cherished by the islanders, and
that it should be erected in the market
place as lasting memorial of the wonder
full and terrible legend connected with the
mountain of snow. He was to receive in
payment certain weight of silver ex-
tracted from a silver mine discovered by
Mauvain during his residence on >the isle.
The proposition was accepted, and the
commission was given. There existed on
the isle no picture of Evangeline which
would guide the sculptor to faithful
execution of his task, and the portrait and
figure of young and beautiful girl who
was often at our house was drawn by an
artist and given to the captain of the
brig. There was great deal of talk and
much conversation among the islanders
concerning this commission, and curiosity
was raised as to the manner in which it
would be executed. When the captain,
who came once in every year, was expected
with the statue, | was also in expectation
of new arrival-my second child, Ca
brielle. She was born, and was about three
days old, when my husband informed me
that the brig had come and gone, and the
statue of Evangeline was erected in the
market. place. had lost interest in it,
being occupied with my baby, to the exclu-
sion of all other Subjects 1t delighted
me beyond measure that had now girl
to rear and cherish. Still adhered to my
resolution not to call the child Clarice. l
chose Gabrielle, name, my husband told
me, derived from that hero of God who
strengthened Daniel and brought the
promise to Zacharias and to the blessed
Virgin.
"'It is also, said Paul, a promise of
beauty, for there was once a Gabrielle,
whose rare graces gave an immortal repu-
tation to one of the greatest countries in
the world
"But cared more that my child should
be good than beautiful. The sad reflection
has occurred to my mind that beauty is
misfortune it is most certainly a perilous
and sometimes a fatal gift.
"That my child Gabrielle resembles my
sister Clarice may be bred by my fancy,
for Gabrielle is dark, Clarice was fair.
"When | was strong enough, Matthew
took me to the market-p place and showed
me the statue of Evangeline. | gazed at
it in kind of worship, and yet with ter
ror and amazement. 1t fascinated me,
and | could not remove my eyes from the
beautiful and perfect work.
GO 1t appears, said Matthew, to re-
mind you of woman you have SEEM
"' 1t does, l replied : it reminds me of
my sister. Were it not impossible
81 paused the wildness of the thought
arrested my speech. Matthew prompted
me.
"'Yes. Were it not impossible
''' l should declare that the sculptor who
modelled those features had living being
before him, and that being was Clarice.'
ITO be eontinued.)