Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-05-06
Friends at Breakfast.

From the French OF Alexis Cleric.
1.-THE more we know men the me
we love beasts" said Gavarni.
And the old peasant, if he did d
say it, thought so.
He had hunted all morning in
woods, then about noon he had seat
himself upon a stone in the shade
the tall beeches, had laid his gun do,
beside him, a superb gun--"a prese
from Monsieur" He had killed
hare, a magnificent hare; he had plae
it on the moss beside his gun, TO emf
his success while he was breakfastil
Then he took from his game-bag a
piece of bread, some bacon, a q
gourd, and all three had breakfast
himself and his two dogs.
At the same time they tall
all three; they talked silent
without saying q word, speaking Cd
with their eyes. And they understol
each other; for gradually, as theirhu
ger was appeased, the looks OF
three became sad. The old nla1
brow had grown dark; black thougE
and memories were fitting befors b
and his friends, his two good ID
rubbed affectionately against
limbs. One sat back on his hannd
and his intelligent head rested on
masters shoulder; the other lay II
in front of him as though to rem
him that he was there, devoted
loving.
He was thinking.
"She is 22 now-six years ago
years already-she left me. Sac &
16 when the Countess took her avI
from me to make her her wait;
maid. l didn't want to give heI1
didn't. Something told me tha<
should never see her again. She
all that was left me to depend on
happiness and peace in my old da1
And now | have nothing to los<
nothing to love"
And his hands patted the two q
mails which seemed to be telling him
Courage, o friend"
He thought on:
81 had had a hard time. Thos|
called my friends deceived me; 3
nights fire destroyed the result OF 4
twenty years work. My poor 4
had been long gone; she had goneI
meet in the tlowery cemetery all /
sons who were sleeping under the s.
and whom she could not survi@
There were only the two of us. Emf
and I've were poor, very poor.
was not brave enough to endure p
erty with me; she wanted TO Cd
money, wear fine clothes, live in
rooms; she preferred to serve oth6
rather than to remain with me q
earn her daily black bread by farm
Dor. Poor girl!
There are so many who do like b
She didn't think that the Paris
was going to was a gull, and that tf1
gulf swallows up girls who are bead
full and who are led away by the u
of fine things. She didn't know III
a child's heart is q flower which n
have little respect for over there.
masters son was first to tarDish
purity, then she herself left her sedu<
and-now what has become OF her!
Does she even think of her pc.
father sometimes? Does she tha
that when he GO through the vili4
he holds down his head so that
won't see a smile or d look that wo4
tell him that people know what
daughter is doing in Parish Does
know that he dares not offer his iSs
to any one lest they should ask 4
for news about her? That he me-
goes on Sunday to the public ho5
with his cronies as he used to; tha5
does not go to mass to sing as he g
to-before that; chat he's even atfl
to go to the cemetery, where ne m
hear a voice from the grave of the
gotten mother reproaching him
having let her child go?"
Tears flowed last down the old ms
thin and weather-beaten cheeks,
his breast heaved with signs.
But suddenly the dogs Jump up, b
.uriously and plunge into co..
The old man lifts his head-and,
ing his tears away, bidding griei
gone, he grasps his gun.
"The DEVIL" he exclaims-"a ~
After him, Fox! after him, Towsef: