The Northern Pacific farmer., 1882-10-12
The Little Daupllin's Death
BY Alphonsc Daudet.

DJ 1AApAlOuoC D"uAOVs
Translated from the French.
The little Gauphin is sick, the little
,}auphin is about to die. In all the
churches of the kingdom the holy sacra-
ment is exposed night and day, and
great wax candles are being burned for
the recovery of the royal child. The
streets of the old residence are silentand
sad; the bells do not ring; passing carri-
ages move sloWly-the coachmen keep
their horses at a walk; outside the palace
curious citizens watch from behind the
ratings the great Swiss guards with gold
laced paunches in the court~yards, talk
ing together with serious mien.
The chateau is all emotion. Chamber
lains and majordomos ascend and de-
scend the marble stairways at run.
The galleries are thronged with pages
and couriers in silken attire, who 60 by
turns from one whispering group to an
other, asking for news in an undertone.
Upon the broad steps the forlorn ladies
of honor make low curtesies, wiping their
eyes with prettily embroidered handker-
chiefs.
In the orangerie there is a large meet
ing Of robed physicians. Through the
windows they can be seen extending and
moving their long, black sleeves, and
doctorally nodding their periwigs. Be-
fore the door the little dauphin's tutor
and riding-master walk slowly to and
fro, waiting for the decision Of the facul
ly. Scullions pass by without saluting
them. Monsieur the ring-master swears
like pagan; monsieur the tutor quotes
ton of the stables, far off, comes a long,
melancholy neigh. 1t is the dauphin's
chestnut pony, forgotten by the grooms,
calling pIaintiVely from before his emp
ty manget.
And the king? Where is the king?
The king has shut himself up alone in
his rooms, at the other end of the chat
eau. Their majesties do not like to be
seen weeping AS for the queen, it is
quite another matter. Seated beside the
pillow of the little dauphin, she weeps
50 that her beautiful face is bathed in
tears; and she sobs aloud before every
body, like common draper's wife.
On his couch of lace the little dauphin,
whiter than the cushions upon which
he lies, reposes with closed eyes. They
think he slumbers; but no, the little
dauphin does not slumber. He turns
toward his mother, and seeing that she
wceps, he says to her: MADAME the
Queen, why do you cry? Do you really
believe, like the rest, that am going to
tlie?" The queen would answer, but
her sobs prevent her from speaking.
"Now do not weep, Madame the Queen;
you forget that I am a dauphin, and that
Il dauphin does not die thus" But the
queen sobs more passionately than ever;
and the little dauphin becomes really
afraid for the first time. "Ho! there"
he cries;"I will not permit Death to take
me away; and I know we'll how to pre-
vent his coming hither. Order forty very
strong lansQuenets to come here at once,
to mount guard about my bed. Let a
hundred heavy cannon be rolled into
the court under our windows; and let
the glnners stand by them, night and
day, with matches lighted! And woe to
Death if he dare to come near us!'
Then in order to please the royal child,
the queen makes sign. And in mo-
lnent is heard the rumbling of the heavy
cannon rolling into the vast court, and
forty tall lansquenets, armed with parti-
sans, range themselves about the room.
lnoustaches. The little dauphin clasps
his hands when he sees them. He rec
ognizes one, and calls him, "Lorrain!
LORRAINE The veteran makes one stride
toward the bed "IloVe you very much,
my dear old Lorrain. Show me your
great big sword. If death tries to take
me he must be killed, must he noto?'
Lorrain answers, eyes, Monseigneur."
But two large tears trickle down his
bronzed cheeks.
Suddenly the chaplain approaches the
little dauphin's bedside, and commences
to talk to him in very, very low voice,
and shows him crucifx. The little
dauphin listens to him while with a
very astonished look; then, suddenly in
terruptiig him, exclaims: IT understand
very well all you tell me, Monsieur PAb-
be; but pray inform me could not my
little friend Beppo be induced to die in
my place, supposing they give him plen-
ty of money!" The chaplain continues
to speak in very low voice, and the lit
tie dauphin looks more astonished than
before.
When the chaplain has finished, the
little dauphin responds with adeep sigh: ::
Gail this that you have told me is very
sad, indeed, Monsieur pAbbe; but one
thing consoles me. know that on high,
in the paradise of the stars, shall still
he the dauphin. l know that the good
God is my cousin, and that He can not
';iil to treat me according to my rank"
Then, turning to his mother, he says:
"Order them to bring me my finest
clothes-my doubct Of crmine, and my
velvet shoes; l wish to appear bravely
dressed before the angels, and enter Para.
Yet third time the chaplain bends for.
ward, and leaning over the little dauphin.
whispers to him for Il long time. In the
midst Of his discourse the royal child in
terrupts him with Il cry ofangcr: "Why,
then, to be dauphin is nothing at all!'
Aud, refusing to listen any more, the lit
tie dauphin turns his face to the wall.
But he does not turn away from the
wall. For the little Aauphin is dead.