Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-06-10
THE OLD PORTRAITS.

devoted to the pleasures of the present;
l had only contempt for the past.
Proud, like all of my age, with a
strength which life had not proved, l
doubted nothing and was we'll satisfied
to belong to our epoch; | admired my
self in my contemporaries. When [
looked backward; l saw only preju-
idices, superstitions or servility; my
generation seemed to me to open in re-
.ality history, and to carry the world like
Atlas.
Hence my extreme disdain for all
that was not of our time. l laughed at
antique fashions, shrugged my shoul-
ders at former customs, and avoided
the old.
Orphaned almost from my cradle,
had grown up among companions of
my own age, without parents and with
out friends, whose affection would have
reconciled me to oldage; so it displeased
me equally in persons and in things
when it did not make me laugh, it made
me fear.
My existence was joyous, though diff
fioult. Introduced into the feverish
activity of modern society, took pleas
ure,in trying my strength there. / was
like young swimmer who loves to bat
tie with the waves, but when wearied,
longs for the shores. and the sun to
warm him.
Obliged to exercise rigid economy, /
desired golden wings that might 1ise
above it. Compelled to think of N.Y.
self in order to live, wished for lei
sure to think of others that l might
serve them.
An unlocked for event forced me to
abandon my work and my dreams. l
was apprised of the death of a distant
cousin who had left me some property,
and the notary's letter stated that my
presence was indispensable for gaining
possession OF it. must, then, take
the Bourgoyne diligence, which would
convey me to the village where lately
dwelt the deceased. The journey was
accomplished without incident.
A genial autumn sun was shining,
the woods were crowned with their last
glories, and on all sides were heard the
bells of the cattle bringing home the
harvest, or the voices of the peasants
following the plow.
liked the country well enough, un-
til my arrival at -. But there |
was obliged to leave the diligence and
walk to the village where was expect
ed. 1t was two leagues distant, and
the roads were muddy from the late
rains. The day began to lower. and a
cold October mist had already crept
over the valley.
/ set out on my walk in q very bad
humor, giving to the devil the country
that had no tiacres, and stumbling on
as well as | could among the wheel
ruts.
Unfortunately, the directions which
had been given me at the relay-siation
were insufficient; all the paths through
the woods appeared to me the same,
and l lost my way many times. 1t was
night when approached the village.
was obliged to go from door to door to
discover the house of my cousin, and
when finally arrived there, wet and
cold, could find no one. A passer-by
told me that Nine. Felicia, the house
keeper, was at church. / must await
her return, and began to walk up and
down the yard, my hands in my pock-
cts, and my nose deep in the collar of
my coat This sentry duty at the door
of nv own house might have been
pleasant, without fatigue and the fine
rain which the mist had now become.
My patience was quite gone when an
old servant finally appeared. Seeing q
stranger standing at the door, she
stopped short, and demanded what |
wanted.
'tMme. Felicia" answered, shiver-
ing,
You should say mademoiselle, re-
piled the old woman, sharply; ~ am
she; what does Monsieur wishP'
First, that you open this door"
cried l; then that you furnish me the
means of drying myself;n and TO fore
stall any objection, l gave my name.
supposed that on hearing my name
the woman would make many excuses,
but, to my great astonishment, she re-
garded me with a sort of defiant hostil-
ity. a.aa
si"Ah!it is Monsieur, the heir" said
she, slowly; then l am going for the
notary"
"Zoundsp, interrupted /, inpatient
ly, 'tlet us first get under shelter; open
the door Dame Felicia"
Excuse me, have been given the
care OF the house, replied she, firmly,
land must be assured of my duty. Re.
main here, Monsieur; Master Boisseau
shall himself decide what / must do. -
And without waiting for my answer
she turned and disappeared by a mar
row lane. | resumed my walk before
my house. AT the end OF half an hour
Felicia reappeared with little man in
spectacles, who made himself known
as Master Boisseau, and to whom re-
turned the letter he had written ME and
gave the proofs Of my identity.
After examining these by the light ol
q lantern. he professed himself satisfied
that1 was the person in question and
ordered me to be admitted.
During all these formalities had moi
ceased to strike my foot against the
threshold of the door, and under my
breath to inyeigh against village no
tariesi #mrf ff
When. finally. the door was opened
announced brusquely TO Master Bois,
gaau thar Wnnld call unon him ths