The Osceola times., 1885-03-07
THE CHIFFONNIER.
A Little Chapter Of Life Trans-
lated from the French.


poor old miscrs who have died sur
rounded by abject poverty, and who
have left secreted in odd stockings and
out of the way places immense wealth,
opportunely discovered after their de-
mise. How often have these realities
been dished up by romancers in the
shape of pretty little sketches, and been
eagerly devoured by the novel-reading
public.
No matter how often" exclaims the
impatient reader, If you've got story
to tell, 60 ahead with it. and leave off
your dull speculations."
Well, my dear sir (or miss). we have
got little chapter of life to relate, but
it is in French; however as your edu-
cation has been sadly neglected (?) and
your school-day learning of that unique
language has long been forgotten. we
don't mean to put you to the trouble of
hunting up your 'keetel,' or to the
mortihcation of showing your ignorance
before your younger brothers and sis
ters by allowing your doting parents a
chance to request that you will "please
translate this French humbug for us,
my DEAR So we give it to you in plain
Saxon.
Suzette Borgne was one of the many
Suzettes to be found in the great city Of
Paris. A very good-looking female of
about twenty summers. an orphan from
childhood, and indebted for her bring
ing-up to an ugly old uncle. Said rela-
tive was chehonnier-we beg pardon
"A rag picker. and to Judge BY appear
ances he had followed that means OF
getting money all his life.
Suzette's earliest recollections were
those Of being perched upon heap of
rags in her uncle's garret, and playing
with Misere large black tom cat that
old Gregory had kept by him from time
immemorial. Misere and Gregory were
enough alike to be brothers-if you can
imagine such phenomenon - both
being long, lank and. lean, with large
staring eyes, and general grizzly APP
pearance. They had even fought for
each other, for many an intrusive cur
had been driven yelping away from the
Misere, and many a scrape had the old
cat got his master into with his thieving
propensitics and midnight serenades.
Once the house took fire. and these two
friends, woGe up by the noise and con-
fusion. rushed outside their garret door
and tumbed down three pair of stairs
together, mixed combination of human
bones, cat fur and old rags. Landing
at the bottom of the third flight. an ex-
cited member Of the fire-polce struck
at the hobgobln apparition with his
axe, and poor Misere lost his caudal
appendage, while Gregory was bereft
OF three toes. The old man was taken
to the hospital and the old cat nursed
herself; both recovered, and having
been fellow-suflerers were, no doubt,
more fond Of each other ever after.
AT another time the house was in
vaded by gems darms in search Of an
escaped prisoner. and while poking over
Old Gregory's rags they were set upon
by the infurated feline, who used his
claws with such vigor as nearly TO
scratch the eyes out OF two of them be-
fore he could be bagged and flung out
window This latter piece of cruelty
the aged rag-picker to such
Nat he struck one OF the sol
vas ignominiously led off to
ere, landing on his feet with
ut howl, went back to the
~ and kept guard over its
his master returned from
e. Here was another cord
them together. So you see
hle about that the old fellow
=, his cat about as well as he did his
niece.
Suzette had now grown to be
woman, and was quite tired of the dull
lie she was leading as rag-picker's as
sistant. A good-natured girl she was,
and moderately fond of her uncle, but
what charms had such life for her?
She must get out into the world, and
Annette. wife Of Daddy Publice, who
kept the little bake shop over the way,
iully agreed with her on this important
point. In fact, little Annette was kind
enough to offer her position behind
her own counter.
ror you see, mon cher" she said |
70 her spouse, in private: ''Suzette will
attract customers with her pretty face, |
wni!e you. Heuri, and myself can at-
END TO the oveus.
Al. yea" responasd Tie amiah'e |
Vsday, with . kncN1ng less, 'rhe'u
fI v. 4