, 1882-03-17
TWO GALLO COCKsEYS.
ruR1R IpYLIIc VIEWS OF THE COUNTRY
AND THE aUILELEss PEASANTS.

n fthe Ministry OF Commerce, anu "uei'
his feet touched the pavement, he
,kipped and bounded with a step so light
and agile that it would have prevented
Morpheur from sleeping. On the same
Sav at the same hour, Gabriel Rondeau
orossei the threshold OF the Ministry OF
the Navy, and no sooner did he reach the
street than he burst forth, with full
,yo;ce into q chromatic scale OF which
Mario might have been jealous. In the
evening these two men met at the Ma
s.Gabriel," said Mesnard, "the Minis
ar ef Commerce is a great minister"
"Alphonse," responded Rondeau, "the
Minister of the Navy must be greater
STILL
"Do YOU know what measure has
been determined on by the eminent ad.
ministrator under whose orders l work
: OF the rate Of eighteen hundred lives
year,"
'"And you, do you know the decision
taken this very day by the illustrious
mariner who employs me at his office at
the rate of one hundred and fifty francs
month" -,
"He has allowed me leave Of absence
Of six weeks" =.
"He has consented to deprive himself
of my valuable services for about thirty
days"
have six weeks ut my disposal, whence
consider that my minister is greater than
yours by sixth.
"a mistake, my dear fellow. 1t proves
that the government can more easily
dispense with your services and intelli-
oence than mine. That's the conclu-
"How do you intend to spend your va
cation?'
81 have only one desire. It is to flee
from Paris and its suburbs. Born in
the heart of the city, nearly twenty-six
wears ago, I do not remember to have
passed the limits of the department of
the Seine. Will you believe it2 am
acquainted only with sheep in the form
Of ieg.of-mutton and chop. l know that
it is quadruped which has wool on its
back, but I know il only by hearsay. 1t
is shameful to confess, but it is true. 1
am sick of politics, literature, civiliza-
ton, theaters, newspapers, and, above
all, the ministry. "Orus, quando te
aspiciam!' Which I shall allow myself
to translate in this way: when shall 1
drink some unadulterated milk in the
shade of an old moss.g grown treeP'"
"Giye me your hand," said Rondeau.
II, too, have hungered for verdure, for
the open air, and for the warm sun. If
you were born on the left bank of the
Seine, / was born on the right. My
long travels have been confined to the
subnrha of the city. Ossoo K --,snt sss,- fs,r-
as Versailles. Ny family accompanied
me to the depot, and our parting was
hsartrending. But, by my faith, to-day
that is OF no consequence. / have va
cation, you have vacation. Let US take
wing, and bless the ministers who have
given us this leisure" .tlt
where shall we go? Italy is very
far"
"Let me attend to that. A friend has
invited me to go and see him. You can
come to Mesangerie with me"
But do not know your friend"
II shall present you and then you can
make his acquaintance
"Will that sufflce?"
"'Parbluep Before we were intro.
duced to each other l did not know him
any more than you know him now"
"That is so. Where does he live?"
"In Poitou. Oh, Alphonse Do You
appreciate your good fortune You are
going to behold landscapes which will
not revolve on themselves like the
diorama. We shall roll ON the moss and
in the hay. / shall behold the woods
l, who to this day have seen the elm
only after being cut into laths."
Let us start tomorrow" exclaimed
Mesnard, enraptured with this rural
picture.
Agreed" said Rondeau. "To.mor-
row, then, at seven o'clock, at the Or
leans Station, and may we travel in the
esompany OF charming women, as do the
the day" -, >, 8. q.
"Alphonse, fore warn you that re-
serve the brunette for myself"
=, That Is fortunate, Gabriel, for ! love
blondes only"
Vain illusion They travelled with a
commercial drummer, tutor, an army
oihcer, and an insurance agent. As for
charming women, there was not shad.
ow OF one. The more beautiful half of
humanity was represented only by a
venerable gray-haired nun, buried under
the severe folds Of her robe. -,.
After short stay in the city, the two
friends intended to proceed to Mosan-
gerie. Between Alphonse and Gabrile
.ae following had been agreed upon (:
They would start the next day at five
o'clock in the morning precisely and the
nrst to arouse should awaken the other.
When separating in the evening, Rom
deau said to Mesnard
Remember, depend on your ac-