Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-04-23
81 wouler what il can bel" ] said
to mvsn1f than hin,

IL CHI OGt Q1l6
o to myself than him.
lie diable!" promptly responded
"NonsenseH" 1 said again, this time
quite sharply; for, though 1 had a
vague idea in my own mind that per-
haps sic diable" was at the bottom of
it somehow, my honor and self-respect
required me to keep up an appearance
OF courage l was far from feeling be-
o these timid Indians, who all looked
to me as u rock of dcfense-an infalli-
BILE authority as well as a most welcome
outlet to their feelings as IN audience.
10 their mistress they did not attempt
to speak, for she was too frightened by
the whole proceeding to listen even to
my experiences.
"S', Ma'amselle, 81; there is a little
book" continued Djuman; "they con-
suit. and it is someone in the house who
is doing II, and the little book is called
the Petit Albert, and there is only ono
copy in the island"
was much interested in this relation
and noted the fact, and the reader can
judge my surprise when. long after, in
reading a book of P. Hamerton'S called
Ground Ny House," I came upon the
following passage: "In one part of
France the peasants have the fullest be-
Lief in sorcery. They believe that the
secrets of sorcery arc contained in a
mysterious volume called an Albert, and
they are convinced that certain persons
possess the book, though 1 never could
see a copy of it, MOI ascertain if it really
Had | known the fact at the time my
interest would have been doubled, as
MIR. Hamerton's testimony shows that a
book OF divination or emonology, called
lie Petit Albert, does exist in other
countries, though whence it derives it's
rather peculiar and somewhat modern
name l have never found out.
Next day, Manuel, his wife and chill
dren, took French leave, and went off
for the day without Il having any
clew to their whereabouts. The place
was quiet during the day, but while we
were at dinner, between eight and nine
o'clock, Il servant cam to say that
Manuel had returned, and sent in a
message to ''tell massa he was drunk"
Dark though it was, the instant he and
his family turned from the highroad
into the avenue the stones ratified round
them IN the path.
Next morning, as l sat in the stope-
room. giving out rice, flour, curry-all
the articles necessary for the days con-
sumption, Ibegan to Manuel thus:
Cook, L am very sorry indeed to
think that, after being a trusted servant
here for nine years, you should come
home in such q state as you were in last
night. l can assure you that, if it eve
happens again, your master will not
pass it over, but you will have to go"
Manuel, who, like most Madrassees,
spoke a little broken English. replied:
"What me do, Missy? Me no eat:
me children, wife miserable; they no
eat, TIC sleep, no noting. There is not.
ing to do bat get drunk"
/ remember that I read him a moral
lecture, and said by adding the effects
OF drink to his present misery he was
not doing much to improve his condi-
ton, but all the time I felt deeply fol
the poor man.
Slightly infected with my brother
reiterated suspicious of his two children
who bore a name for mischief, I asket
him earnestly if he thought they mac
really any thing to do with it. and see.
ing the success of their tricks in the
general terror and mystitication, were
induced to keep it up. 1 did not add
that G. insisted that | was very much to
blame in the matter, as my evincing sc
much interest encouraged them to con.
tinue.
"Was it likely" said Manuel inreply,
Gttbaf ahilIroO of oir),t onH fo,, would rr
on doing a thing, even if itwere possible
for them to do it so closely watched,
which was making their parents miser.
able, involving themselves in punish
ment, and which would ultimately de-
prive them of house and home?:
"No, Missy; it will go worse, you
see; we will be pinch black and blue.
Needles will go through II tongues
when we sleep, and in two month we
die, if no one find out and stop" Then,
shutting the storeroom door mysterious
ly. he approached me and said in a low
whisper: ''Missy, some one in dis house
want to get rid me. l not know who.
1 tink; but 1 not sur If Missy will
give me-lend twenty rupees, I go see
woman j.. tow1 vbc will go sleep and
write names on paper, and l show
Missy in storeroom tomorrow morn
ing"
"No, no.. cook" 1 said; ''don't doany
thing SO silly as waste money that way.
She can't tell And don't suspect any
of the servants here. 1t is a mere mis-
chicvous trick. l am very sorry for you
meanwhile, but we will find it out by
and by. l could not lend you money
for such a purpose, and you must moi
waste your own"
But the poor wretch was too miser-
able to heed my circumstances. The
day following we had to trust oul
cooking to n of the boys, who were
all becoming quite d~emoralized in the
unusually exciting atmosphere in which
we liveo, for Manuel had again taken
French leave, and was absent all day.
Outwardly Indifferent, it was with
thrill of expectation l repaired to the
store-room next morning, when Manuel
Immediately closed the door, and glanc-
ing tearfully all round, and out at the
square grated windows, pushed a paper
into my hand, saying in quick, low
voice:
"Missy read that in room. No tell