Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-03-15
On Sunday next, at Quesne- Raoult.
Inquire for Jean Philippe, the farmer;
any one will show you the house."
ga bargain. Good night, friend I"
"Good night, Death"
/ Y

dOOd nlgnU, Deatn.
~.
Jean Philippe went home with a light
heart. "Wife," said he, "Tve secured
famous godfather, and if he only takes
an interest in the child, it won't die
teething.,' But as women, particularly
when i'll, are apt to be easily alarmed and
upset, he did not enter into any further
explanations.
When Sunday came round, Jean
Philippe donned his bottle-green velvet
breeches, his silver-buckled shoes and
his camlet waistcoat, to do due honor to
the distinguished godfather. His wife
and the boys, and the godmother as
well, were arrayed in their Sunday best.
In due course the godfather arrived
wearing long coat that tapped about
him like the sail round the mast of q
wrecked ship. He was universally voted
lean and elderly, ,ut it was admitted
that he had distinguished air.
After the christening, which took place
at Condo the little stone church at Ma
con had not then been built-and at
which Granther Jacob played "Kine
Dagobert " on the chimes, the party re-
turned to the farm, where a notable feast
was served. The farmer had killed his
latest pig to do honor to the occasion.
1t was pleasure to see Death eat. SIS TIC
his own plate he disposed of as much as
all the other guests-ffteen in all, and
all Flemings, and Jean Philippe could
not help envying him his appetite.
When at 10 o'clock the curfew was
sounded at Condo the stirrup cup was
drained, and the godfather, having
smiled benevolently upon his godchild
and embraced his gossip, babe the fam
| lily good evening.
Jean Philippe insisted on seeing him
home, at least part of the way, and they
set out, arm in arm, singing.
From time to time they stopped to say
their prayers, as the saying of the coun-
try is-that is, to toss off pint or light
a pipe at any house where there hap
pened to be light visible. I may add
that the whole country side twinkled
with chapel-hghts as the sky with stars,
for, you see, it was Twelfth Night, and
everybody was celebrating the Feast of
the Bean-even the policemen-so they
met no one on the roads.
"Say, friend" remarked the farmer,
as they walked along; " though you
have famous appetite, [ no longer won
der that you have SO little fat on your
ribs. You must have busy time of it.
How much-that is to say, how many do
you NOW day, eh?"
"Oh, bout sixty thousand day, I
should say, on an average; sometimes
more, sometimes less"
"Six-ty thousand day Dear, dear
and how many did you NOW down to-
day, if it's fair question:"
"Not single one.
"Not a single one! Dear, dear
Why, there are go, 1000 Christian fold that
ought to be under obligations to me-"
"Well, not exactly. You see take a
holiday now and then, and this happened
to be one of my lazy days; else could t
have accepted your kind invitation"
"But how do you tell whom to cut
down and whom to leave, because I don't
suppose you do it at random?"
"Of course [ don't, but if you will
come home with me I'll show you with
pleasure. Oh, no; it isn't far-a mere
bowshot from here"
Jean Philippe looked about him.
They were on the verge Of the forest of
Baudour. From chapel to chapel, as
the saying is, they had been walking a
good six hours, without his not notic-
ing it.
The residence of Death was mean
and poorly furnished hut, its sole orna-
ment the big scythe, which in the rays
of the moon, shown as if it were made
of silver.
For workman, such as you
are," quoth the farmer, 81 must say
that you are poorly lodged"
oh, that makes no difference. The
pot isn't the beer, you know. And, be-
sides, L am not married. But come
down stairs till I show you"