New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-01-09
BOBON.

him a wife, in the reign of the Sixteenth
Louis. His dog was large, brown,
shaggy creature, which many people
called ugly; but nobody ever applied
that epithet to Pierrot's wife, who was
young, sylph-like, pretty and fascina-
ting. Jacques loved two creatures
his dog and his wife. We mention the
dog first because he always did, and it
was the one of his two loves which he
first procured.
Now, though Jacques loved both dog
and wife, and the dog seemed to love
both master and mistress, the wife, for
some reason, did not love both husband
and dog, but dislikcd the latter ex-
ceedingly, perhaps because she fancied
he divided affections that should have
been all her own.
Jacques" she would frequently say
to him, ''now do sell that ugly brute, if
you can find anybody fool enough to buy
him-or, if not, give him away. He is
only in the way here and eats as much
as you or T.
'.Now, my dear jeanette" jacques
would reply, you'd be one of the
sweetest and most reasonable beauties
in the world, if you'd only appreciate
poor Bobon, who's dog that knows as
much as either of us. -
| "Speak for yourself, Master Jacques,
and not for me! It's no great compli-
ment to the dog to say he knows as
much as you. But if he knew ten times
as much, of what use would he be to
us? For he takes it all out and brings
nothing in
''But like company, Jeanette
''Well, haven't you me?''
'Yes-but you cannot follow me all
over the city as Bobon does"
II wish l could and make nightly
report for your benefit
Eyes, but don't want any report,
| and so prefer the dog, who's always
! discreet and keeps civil tongue. And
then, Jeanette, you know he guards
the house at night"
Guards fddlesticks, Jacques. Why,
we've nothing for anybody to steal.''
''But the thieves don't know that my
dear, you see. And then if some Of the
rascals should happen to hear you
talking SO sweetly to me who knows
but they'd just carry you off and leave
me to break my heart in solitude? You
see, got Bobon for some purpose
don't exactly know what-but it II turn
up one of these days as sure as l am a
prophet.
"Pshaw! you're fool, jacques"
Il know it, but can't help it, any
more than you can help being SO sweet
and pretty
"Well, then, jacques Jeanette
would generally wind up with kiss,
''you are dear, good soul, SO you are,
and if Quill only promise to like me
best you may keep Bobon as long as
you like"
This kind of a colloquy took place as
often as once, sometimes twice, week
Jeanette beginning with firm de-
termination to get rid of the dog, and
ending with permission for him to re-
main as long as he and his master
might think proper.
The subject of this family pickering
was avery sagacious animal, who be-
haved himself as all gentlemanly dogs
should. His master did not stretch the
truth much when he said Bobon knew
as much as himself or his wife-for the
dog was a remarkable dog, and would
seem to comprehend many things like
rational human being. For instance,
during the wrangle about himself he
would steal sorrowfully away under
the bed or, under the table, and there,
with his large, bright, noble looking,
brown eyes fixed earnestly upon the
contending parties, would seem to lis
ten anxiously for the conclusion; and
then, if favorable to himself, as it gen.
orally was, he would come forth wag-
cling his tail, and look up cheerfully.
almost humanity into the faces of both.
Time rolled on. France became as
a troubled ocean, and perfect tornado
of human passions swept madly over
the ship of state. The good but vacil-
lating king master was put under the
insanity took the helm, and ran the old,
leaky and crime-laden vessel upon the
breakers of faction, where she speedily
became a wreck, and engulfed hum
dreds of thousands of human beings
who had embarked on her for the voy-
age of life.
Speaking without figure, the bloody
epoch known as the reign of terror had
begun in France, and thousands of all
classes and ages were daily being drag
ged to prisons and dungeons, to be
thence conveyed to the reeking guillo-
tine and sinking hulks, or to some open
spots Of fiendish massacre.
But, so far, Jacques and Jeanette,
though often Mortified at what they
saw and heard, remained unmolested;
and Bobon still kept them company;
and at last even Jeanette went so far
as to say she was glad the noble brute
was with them and that she would not
part with him for any money.
Jacques Pierrot was smith by
trade-which was a good business in
those days when letters, chains, bolts,
swords, axes, knives and firearms were
in such constant requisition-and be-
lieving himself as safe at the forge as
elsewhere he kept steadily at work
from day to day, minding his own busi-
ness, giving everybody a civil word
and venturing no opinion on any sub
ject. Bobon regularly accompanied
him to and fro from his work; and as
Jacques was rather systematic and pre-
else on certain points, Jeanette might
look for them at q certain minute com.
ing up the street to their meals.
One day as the supper hour drew
near, jeanette glanced at the clock,
and then quickened all her motions,
for she was little behind time with
her meal, and as Jacques was always
SO punctual, she prided herself on be-
ing ready for him at the minute.