Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-03-05
THE CHIFFONNIER.
A Little Chapter Of Life Trans
lated from the French.

poor old misers who haye died sur
rounded by abject poverty, and who
have left secreted in odd stockings and
ont 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.
NE matter how often, "exclaims the
impatient reader, "if you've got story
to tell. 60 ahead with it, and leave of
your dull speculations."
Well, my dear sir Tor 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
MOI tification of showing your ignor-
ance before your younger brothers and
sisters by allowing your dcting parents
n 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 verv good-looklng female
of about twenty summers, an orphan
from childhood, and indebted for her
bringing-up to an ugly old uncle. Slid
relative was a chiffonnier-we beg par
don-a rag picker, and to judge by ap-
, pearances he had followed that mean
of getting money all bis life.
Suzette's earliest recollections were
those of being perched upon heap of
rags in her uncle's garrett, and playing
with Misere, a large black tom cat that
old Gregory had kept by him from time
immemorial. Misere and Gregory were
enough alike to be blothers-if you can
imagine such phenomenon-both be-
ing long, lank and lean, with large star
ing eyes, and general grizzly appear =
ance. They had even fought for each
otter, for many an intrusive cur had
been driven yelping away from the vi
cinity of his masters premises by
Misere, and many scrape had the old
cat got his master into with his thiev-
ing propensities and midnight sere-
nades. Once the house took fire, and
these two friends, woke up by the noise
and confusion rushed outside their gar
ret dour and tumbled down three pair
of stairs together,a mixed combination
of human bones, cat fur and old rags.
Landing at the bottom of the third
flight, an excited member Of the fire.
police struck at the hobgobli appari-
tion with his axe, and poor Misere lost
bis candal 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 sufferers were, no
doubt, more fond of each other ever af-
ter.
At another time the house was inva-
ded by gems d. arms in search of an es.
capped prisoner, and while poking over
old Gregory's rags they were set upon
by the iufuriated feline, who used his
claws with such vlgor as nearly to
scratch the eyes out of two of them be.
fore he could be bagged and flung out
of the window. This latter piece OF
cruelty maddened the aged rag-picker
to such degree that he struck one OF
the soldiers, and was ignominiously led
off to prison. Mlsere, landing on his
feet with a triumphant howl, went back
to the dingy garrett and kept guard o.
yer its contents till his master returned
from durance vile. Here was another
cord that bound them together. So
YOU see how it came about that the old
fellow loved his cat about as we'll as he
did his n iece.
Suzette had now grown to be a wo-
man, and was quite tired Of the dull
life she was leading as a rag picker's
assistant. A good-natured girl she
was, and moderately fond of her uncle.
but what charms had such a 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, fully agreed with her on this i'm
portant point. In fact, little Annette
was kind enough to offer her position
behind her own counter.
'For you see, mon cher" she said
to her spouse, in private "SuZette
will attract customers with her pretty
face, while you, Henri, and myself can
attend to the ovens"
"Ab, yes," responded the amiable
Daddy, with a knowing leer, "she'll
do. Not bad match for our Henli
would that be, for saveZ vous, think
that old uncle of hers has money stored
away i"
'Go along, you old wretch, "rogulsh-
| lv replied Annette. s'yOu men are al