The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-06-24
The SACK OF DIAMONDS.

None but old inhabitants remember
Dr. Grambois, lie PhdrmdcicR, whose
drug store is mt the corner of Esplanade
and Burgundy streets. He was n native
of Marseilles, perfectly versed in the
science and practice of his profession,
and SO familiar with the diseases of this
country that he gave useful advice to the
poor who resorted TO his phdrmGcie.
The business of New Orleans drug
gist is in one respect somewhat like that
of n soldier. There are periods OF ac-
tivity and repose in both. When an
epidemic of any sort occurred, DIR. Gram
bois was necessarily employed. When
the public health was restored and the
city slumbered through her SicStd of the
summer, like an Andalusian beauty, Dr.
Grambois would sit on the banquette
before his phdIndcie, to enjoy la fr0iche
as the evening Gulf breeze swept mp the
noble Esplanade, while the Creole gos-
sips dropping in, one by one, would find
spacious chairs and hearty welcome.
There they would exchange greetings
and cigars, discuss the latest news from
France, or from the parishes. The solic-
itude of the Creole of that period rarely
went beyond home and motherland.
DIR. Grambois long since realized the
dream of every Frenchman. He has ac-
quired competency and returned to
France.
AS the topics of talk at lie Pharnlacie
Grdnl6oiS have become traditional, it
will not be unacceptable to those inter
ested in the earlier customs of our people
TO read sketches of those days from the
narration of the old men who have re-
membered them.
We give, then, as a veritable legend,
the history " Dun sac en- CUR piein de
didnldRtS"
''It was," said the narrator, sin the
year 1S42. 1 was clerk in the mercan-
tile house of Louisiana Creole, estab-
hshed in Rue Boule Rouge, Paris. had
been, as my old friends remember, sent
to France for education. 1t was a mis-
take common among our people at that
time. Ii is much better to train up
youth in the country in which they are
TO pass their lives. F"
'.je ne 1)eIlse pas CONNIE ca" inter-
posed lie Pere Renaud, ''Je prefere alIer
en- Mexique. Je maine pasles codui-f
Americans moi.
The old gentleman. arose. ~"aiked
few steps on his b0-fquetee, took pro-
longed prise of course grahulated Ter
iaue tobacco som a small silver box, and
sat down.
The ~drration of Mr.. Paul went on
ssTe was the custom of the Creoles of
Louisiana, of whom there were many in
Paris, to assemble in our counting rooms
after business hours, as we do here. to
hear and tell the news. A letter, or a
newspaper, was then special communi-
cation, and we would learn with interest
of the duel between the young bloods at
Ic Bayou dU CHeneS, with the scandal
on the sou6ict, which had occasioned it.
The marriage Of some, or possibly the
separation dU 6ieHS ct iu corps of some
homogeneous or improvident couple. or
the death of some old citizen, with the
shares of each heritier, all of which
would revive the memory of the persons
mentioned and furnish subjects of con
versation.
''The head of our house had transac-
tions in Mexico and South America. so
that some persons interested in that
quarter of the world came sometimes
to our house to learn casual news
or to talk about people or events
which had in former times interested
them
zone evening there came the citizen
j.. ROux. He was an H'tissie7., or an
officer corresponding perhaps with our
Constable. Anyway he had to sell the
chairs and tables of the poor, which duty
he disliked, and would say that he would
rather belong TO ie corps du DOudne,
and fight with the thieves and smugglers.
There no doubt such duty would
have suited him very well, for he had
been soldier of the Emperor to the last,
and though now advanced in years was a
man of strong frame, yet kindly in his
manners, as such brave natures usually
are
1--WE were speaking of the good fortune
of an acquaintance in the cochineal trade,
who had bought quantity of that COM
modify from Guatemala across to the
ports of Mexico during the war. between
Spain and England, and especially how
he had once drawn a mule load of silver
dollars through Mexico, through the
honesty of the ayTieros of that country
and in spite of the ladrones on the one
side and the Custom House officers on
the other.
MATS oui, remarked LIE Pere Re-
maud, you may trust los cargaderos, sans
recu, better zan re bon of re maudite
gouyernement of Pensilvanie, Arkansas
or Meeseeseepee. Je perd mon argent
wheech Mazereau, lie grand avocat, ave
tell me was safparfaitment. Mais oui.
lie arriero Mex;caine. he weel keel Ze
soldat du gouvernement or re brigand
pour proteger votre argent. Ze charge
du mulet of re silvair dollar is wiz i'm as
re prise du rabac
"The Pere Renaud illustrated the in
tegrity of the Mexican carrier by several
quick inhalations of Perique, and by
brushing from his vest the particles
which fell from his fingers.
''When the adventure of the cochineal
merchant had been discussed, LIE Roux
remarked, with a laugh:
"'I had myself chance to have made
a coup in the same manner, but my
mules were not protected so WE'LL
"'And your coup, Mons. LIE Roux?'
asked the head of the house.
sYou shall hear 1t was after the fall
of France into the hands of the barbar-
ians of the North. / had been brought
wounded into Paris. When / came out
of the hospital there was no employment
for me- Paris was in the hands of our
enemies. 1t seemed that our own peo-
pie were more jealous than others. All
wished to gain the favor of the Bourbons.
Merchants, mechanics, n1odistes, bar
bers, 6oRnes, all sought the custom Of
the Court. / do not blame them. All
must live. The Emperor and his SOL
diers were at the bottom of the well.