The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-02-20
THE CHIFFONNIER.
A Little Chapter Of Life Trans
lated from the French.

HOW OIuen nave we read stories OF
poor old misers who have died sur
rounded by abiect 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 noyel-reading
public.
mo matter how Often" exclaims the
impatient reader, eff you've got story
to tell, go ahead with it, and leave off
your dull speculations."
Well, my dear sir Cor MISS, we have
got little chapter of life to relate, but
it is in French; however as your edu-
cation has been sadly neglected (P) 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 mp your "Keetel, " or to the
modification 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 u.s.,
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 cf
Paris. A very good-looking female of
" Nl,n~, f,.~
childhood, and indebted for her bring
ingup to an ugly old uncle Said rela-
tive was q cheaonnier-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 recopections 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 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
vicinity OF his masters premises by
Misere, and many a scrape had the old
cat got his master into with his thieving
propensities and midnight serenades
Once the house took fire, and these two
friends, WOKE up by the noise and con-
fusion, rushed outside their garnet door
and tumbled down three pair of stairs
together amiXed combination of human
bones, cat fur and old rags. Landing
at the bottom of the third flight, an ex-
cited member Of the fire-police struck
at the hobgoblin apparition with his
axe, and poor Misere lost his caudal
appendage, while Gregory was hereft
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 after.
At another time the house was in
vaded by gems arms in search of an
escaped prisoner, and while poking over
old Gregory's rags they were set upon
by the infuriated feline, who used his
claws with such yigor 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 sol
diers, and was ANONYMOUSLY led off to
prison. Misere, landing on his feet with
triumphant howl, went back to the
dingy garrett and kept guard over 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 well as he did his
niece.
Suzette had now grown to be q
woman, and was quite tired of the dull
life 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 herr
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 important
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 at
tend to the ovens.n
"Ah, yes" responded the amiable
Daddy, with knowing leer, ''she'll
do. Not bad match for our Henri
would that be, for sayez vous, l think
that old uncle of hers has money stored
awayr'
$50 along, you old wretch, roguish-
~ replied Annette, '.you men are all
for money and nothing else
So Suzette preached the subject to her
guardian, and after good deal OF
grumbling and consultation with his
cat he allowed her to take the situa-
ton IN Daddy Publice's bake shop.
Suzette went gayly to her new sphere,
and soon became proficient in the
mysteries of that little trade. The
young students of the neighborhood
were observed by inquisitiYe people to