River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-03-03
TIE FISHERMEN OF sERONE.

In quiet valley, sheltered by two
hills. rising like sentinels on either side,
lies the small French fishing. village OF
Serene Although only "a comparative
ly short journey from town of no
small importance, Serene remains one
of the most primitive places extant In
this century of extension and improve
ment. Such an aspect of repOse over
spreads it that one could almost inn
agine it to be hundreds Of miles away
from the hustle and noise Of advanced
civilization.
NV soiourn there was from necessity
rather than choice. One of the horses
I had selected for u solitary tour of a
few weeks duration proved unequal
to It's work, and on the third day of my
expedition knocked up completely,
and [ was forced to make Serene my
headquarters while the animal rested.
After wandering about the pict-
uresque village for some time, and Gre
ating no small amount of wonderment
among the inhabitants by my unlocked
disappearance among them, | strolled
down to the shore, and stood idly
watching the numerous fishermen who
were preparing their boats for action
or hauling them up for the day. They
seemed to belong to brave hardy race,
these fishermen, and there was Il sort
Of froemasonry of friendship apparent
in their way Of setting to work, which
spole well for them in their social re-
latDns to each other suggestive oil a
chldlike good nature and unaeltiish-
n1ss which Is often looked for in vain
among Il more educated community.
Wearing ut length of watching the
iast-dimInishing number of boats start
ing on their daily journey, | began to
think about returning to the little inn
where | was to put up for the night,
with the prospect Of Il somewhat
1reary afternoon before me, when my
attention vas attracted by one of the
men who was working apart from the
rest, and endeavoring to haul up a
heavy boat unassi2ted He was 4
Young, well-built man, with
an open, face well tanned
by exposure to wind and weather.
Somehow or another his whole bear
ing pleased me, and | went up to him
with an offer of assistance in his 1t
borious task.
ne IBtktAl IdbliCl SUI lCtN thb l4IGAs
but assented pleasantly enough to my
proposal, and our united efforts soon
sawthe boat landed and secured to its
place on the sloping shingle. | began
a desultory conversation with my new
acquaintance, and soon accustomed
myself to his somewhat peculiar
patOiS.
On my informing him was about to
remain IN the village that day, and ask
ing him for information with regard to
places of interest in the neighbOrhood,
he inquired eagerly;
"Had monsieur seen the museum y
No. monsieur certainly had not a
museum being about the last thing he
would have considered it likely Serene
could have boosted. Without further
parley he turned abruptly on his heel
and walked away up the beach, evl-
IDENTIFY intending me to follow.
l did so, and my guide paused before
a low doorway, cut out of the cliff.
Turning a rude sort of key, the young
fellow pushed open the door, and we
entered a long, low room with white
washed walls and rough wooden raft
crs.
Inc SuHilSllJ WHICH CAN'T SNI CstillIliS
in Mt the open door alone lighted the
apartment-fo windows there were
none.
1t was curious little place, that
museum, and the collection my friend
exhibited with so much pride was ap
parently not of much interest, and o.
less worth.
A few relics from the occasiona
wrecks along the coast, some wood
carvings. roughly executed by the
peasants during the long winter even
ings when work was scarce some
pieces of ore from the neighbOring
hills. and Il few skeletons of various
animals-that was all j; but to see the
air with which the young Frenchmm
handled the different articles, and tho
wav in which he looked at me in evi
dent expectation Of the wonder trieC
in vain to evince, was alone worth th'
time devoted to the visit.
Suddenly, my rowing gaze and flag
cling attention were both arrested by al
object totally different from anythin!
else in that miscellaneous collection
On small stand covered with ;
very faded red cloth. and beneath ;
roughlv-made glass frame, lay mas
siye gold cross of curious workmanship
and design, surrounded by thlcl
chain of wrought brass. | made m.
wav at once toward it, and asked m.
guide how so beautiful an ornamen
had found its way to so strange rest
ing place. Without Immediately an
swering my question, ne raised III
GLASS frame from the stand and takin
np the cross and chain held them tC
wards me.
This Is our badge Of honor, mon
sieur,' he then said, quietly. "Thi
cross has belonged to our village 70
centuries past: it was hequeathed I
Serone bv a brave knight of old Franc
10 be bestowed rs Il reward for an
deeds of valor or bravery that Nigh
be performed by any inhabitant of on
village. Whoever gained 1t VS. t
keep II for the space of one year. an
to wear il daily. There was anothe
condition attached to the beques
which was, that to the fishermen
Serene should belong the eXclusiv
privilege of clecting the person VII
should bestow the prize on the on
whose bravery should deserve it.
| took the relic from his hand an
examined il curiously, saying as l r,
turned IL
In small place ike Serene sue
acts Of bravery, rs your old knigt
seemed to expect. must necessarily /
ofrnre occurrence. And | should thin
your badge of honor has not bee
claimed, my friend.
\ strangely sad expression passt
over his face rs he glanced throug
the open doorway to the bright sea b
yond and then answered me sorroN
fully enough.
Serene is only a village, monsleu
and although for many lorg years OF
cross lay UNDECIDED and unclaimed. y
not loIg since the badge was earned
an act ofeourage seldom eXcelled. w
monsieur hear the little story of tn
cross?'
He paused moment, and then to
me the following little life-study, h
earnest voice and simple manner il
fusing pathos into the recital impo
sible for written words to convey:
Monsieur he said, d" our maidel
are not beautiful here in Seron
though" he added, with an apolget
are. . they are good and honest AZ
true. But there came one from ov'
the hills todwell among Us so fair Al
gentle. that we rough fishermen ga'
bar n name that mas since beCon