Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-02-12
THE DANGERS or LIBERTY
The Story Of Monsieur

The Story of Monsieur seguin's Goat.
IAN ailegory from lies Lettres de Mon Moulin by
Alphonse Daudet, the noted French nOyelistl
To NJ. Pierre Gringoire, lyrical poet, Par
is:
You are as hesdstrong as ever, my poor
Gringoire. What You are offered the po-
sition Of reporter upon a successful Partisan
journal, and you have the Rudacity to re-
fuse
Reflect a moment, unhappy youth Oh
serve your ragged attire and your attenuated
form, speaking evidence of your poverty
See to what extremes passion for beautiful
rhymes has reduced you? See what you
have gained by ten years devotion to the
Tyre of your father Apollo Are you not
ashamed at last Become a reporter, sim.
pleton become q reporter. You will earn a
competency you will dine with Brebant,
and you can present a credtable appearance
to the world when occasion shall require it,
No? You will NOT You still insist upon
liberty TO rhyme according to your inspira.
tion Very we'll, listen for mo-
ment to the history of NJ. Seguin's goat. You
will see what happens to those who reckless
y choose freedom regardless of all conse-
quences.
NJ Seguin had never been fortunate with
his goats. He was deprived of them all by
the same means. Being independent ani-
mails, desiring freedom at any price, neither
the caresses Of their master nor fear of the
wolf could restrain them therefore, Que fine
morning they broke their strap, fed into the
mountain, and there we're devoured by the
wolf.
The brave NJ. Seeuin, notwithstanding the
nature of his beasts, was filled with conster-
nation. He said:
=. Al -
me. l shall not be able to keep one."
Nevertheless, he was not discouraged.
After having lost SIX goats in the same
manner, he bought seventh, being careful
to choose young one, in order that she
might more readily habituate herself to dwell
ing with him.
Alb, Gringoire, NJ. Seguin's little goat was
very pretty, with her soft eyes, her under
officers beard, her glossy black hoofs, her
zebra-marked horns, and the long white hair
of her great coat She was almost as charm
ing as Esmeralds's kid-you remember that,
Gtingoire and then 80 docile, so affection
ate, allowing herself to be milked without
stirring, without putting her foot into the por-
ringer-a love of little goat.
In the rear of NJ Seguin's house was a
field surrounded by hawthorn hedge. In
the most beautiful part of this meadow he
placed his new boarder, tying her by long
strap TO a stake. To his delight the goat ap-
peared very happy in her new surroundings,
browsing the grass so contentedly that the
poor man congratulated himself.
AT last here is one which will not become
discontented with me-"
NJ. Seguin was deceived, however his
goat was already dissatisfied.
One day, happening to look toward the
mountain, she said to herself
"Whst happiness to be up there What
pleasure to gambol on the heath without this
accursed strap to gall the neck.
1t is all very we'll for an OK or an ass to browse
in a field Goats should have lib
erty.
"A prey to discomfort" from this moment
the grass of the meadow appeared withered
to her. She grew thin, and her milk dwin.
died away. 1t was pitiful to see her pull all
day upon her strap, with her head turned to-
ward the mountain, her nostrils dstended
plaintively calling ma Ma !"
NJ. Seguin could not tell what troubled his
goat.
One morning, as hs finished milking her,
she said to him.
Listen, NJ. seguin. am pining away
here let me go to the mountain"
"Oh, heavens! She also z" cried NJ. Se-
guin.
Overcome with the blow, he dropped his
porringer and sank on the grass beside the
goat.
"How, Banquet, do you wish to leave
meP"
Banquet replied
Eyes, NJ. Seguin."
Have you not enough grass here? Or
perhaps you are tied up too short Shall
lengthen the cord ?"
THAT is not the trouble NJ. Seguu."
"But, unfortunate creature, you do not
know that there is wolf on the mountain.
What will you do when he comes p
II will strike him with my horns, NJ Sc
guin ?"
1.-The wolf would laugh at your horns He
has devoured goats for me with different
horns from yours. There was old Renaude,
who was here last year, mistress goat, strong
and wicked as a buck. She fought the wolf
all night in the morning the wolf
ate her."
'Pecaire! Poor Renaudel No matter,
NJ. Seguin, let me go to the mountain.
Divine goodness" !" said NJ. Seguin,
"what spirit possesses my goats Another
one for the wolf to devour. Ah WELL no.
l will save you in spite of yourself,
you jade, and, as you might break your strap,
will shut you up in the stable, where you
shall hereafter remain"
Thereupon placing the goat in dark sta,
| ly, however, be forgot the window, and hard
ly had he turned his back when Banquet
leAped therefrom.
You laugh, Gringoire Parbleu l be-
lieve it, You take Blanquets part against
good NJ. Seguin. Perhaps you will not laugh
by and by. When the white goat reached
the mountains, there was general delight.
Never had the old pines beheld anything so
pretty. She was received as a little queen
| The chestnut trees stopped to the earth to ca
ress her with the tips of their branches. The
golden broom, exhaling its sweetest odor
parted that she might pass through. The
whole mountain made festival for her,
Imagine, Gringoire, the happiness OF oul
goat No more strap no more
stake, nothing to prevent her frou
gamboling and browsing at her pleasure
Such pleasure Such grass Above th'
horns, my dear Savory, fine, toothsome
How different from grazing in the enclosure
And the flowers Great bluebells
long, oAlyxed purple fox gloves, whole for
est OF wild flowers, overlooking with lusoiou
I fuioaa