Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1888-11-02
NATHALIE,


II Tim, smali-faccd girl, looking about
ten years old, but, us aftcrwurd found
ou', nearly th:rtccn. | shall ALWAYS
think Nathalie was stuntct! by 4 pcr-
pctual baby burden, for her aunt. with
whom shc lived, had frequent addition
TO her family, and Nathalie had nu,scd
Dnbici since she was seven vcaIs old.
About that time her mother d.cd, and
the little orphan was thrown upcn the
tender mcrc.cs of her aunt,
Madame Poircn was stout. red faced
ond-voiccd, and with one ruling passion.
tEat ali around hcr should earn their salt
by constant work.
Shc would have liked TO rise mt mid
night and set her household their tasks
but as that WIS impossible. She
cohtcn'cu herself with beginning Mt
dawn.
Her husband was farmer and miller
near the little town of Maplc,on: her
TWO eldest sons worked in the fields
WIN The other laborcrs, and woe to any
OF them who did not obey the impeiious
oaiho. She did not spare herself. for
constant employment was her religion:
out Snc had frame like iron. and The
strength OF Il strong man.
AS Tor Nnthal e, had it not been for
me babies she was required To keen out
OF the way, She would have been driven
10 the grave by tasks impossible for her
pnny frame to perform.
as 1t was. she ate her hurried meals
WIN the everlasting baby on her Ian.
whon she was expected to feed ut inter
valS, and attend To the wants OF the
Twins, about two years old, who sat be-
siue her She was then driven out with
inc three children. 10 b, kept out Of the
way until dinncrtimt.
Tia, ticat The lil;!c one wcll,n Mn.
came 'oiron would say TO her gossjps.
enc Is my poor sisters child uad have
ply Tor h.r- l work myself. work my
children; but for Nathalie. all She has to
90 ,ii uay long is t. play in the woods
Si'l the little ones. 1t is play, play all
thc time for her, and cat aud drink of
the BEST Vi
Madame poiron believed faithfully
what she said.
.. IL was during one Of these "piayn
tunes that first made the aconaintnncc
OF Nathalie. had been walking throunh
'hc pretty little WOODLAND which SUR
rounded the town of Maplcton, where |
was spending the summer with friend
suddenly came upon two stout. stolid.
looking children, looking more like
Dutch dolls than anything else. Their
laps were full OF flowers, aud in front of
mem was lying the baby, Growing and
Kicking up its heels
Nathalie was going through kind of
actobatic performance for the amusc
ment OF her charges, while the twins
Sravcly stared ut her with their bir cx-
pressionlcss blue eyes. have seldom
seen any one SO active and daring ms
Nathalie was, us she sprang from one
grapevine TO another, and danced n kind
OF pas scW on them.
was hidden behind n cIuun of
bushes, where The children did moi see
me- but noticed the little girls face
was pale, and big drops stood on her fore
hcau from fatigue. Whenever She STONED
TO res, the Dutch dolls set up howl.
>, II, hush, Mancttc hush, Marie. or
iantc po;ron will come after usl Then
shc VIII not let lis come here any more.
l am gong to play again for you. Now
look, look. and see me ily!"
She made spring to n hiph vine
which hung far above the ono on which
she was sitting. She missed it. and fell
10 The ground. In moment was be.
SIDE her, and lifting her up.
Are you hurt: / asked
don't KNOW" she said, rubbing her
head: my head hurts, but it has hurt
me all day. Oh, Bebc, don't cryl" The
on6y was yelling at the top of its voice.
ana the chorus was swelled by tho Dutch
dolls, who were frightened by my sud-
uen appearance. Don't cry, M dar
ing! Thalic is coming to YOU"
Shc rose TO kcr feet, and sank down
again with sharp cry.
An, my foot is broken. I cannot
walk What will Tantc Poiron saw
do2' "''
on Will do nothing but lie here till
come back" said. at is a short
walk to your aunt's and ! will go and
tell her, so that she can send for Won.
Perhaps these children will let me take
them home" But us approached the
twins. they threw themselves flat on
their backs, and yelled as if I had been
them up
They don't like strangers NJ Nathalie
gaspcd. 80 madam, l must trv to
walk" But as she raised herself she
sank back almost fainting with agony.
ttp'oi. W viz anu, rs L
neired it; saw Madame Poiron in the
front yard, washing some clothes.
knew her well by sight, and as | called
her name, she raised her monstrous,
dripping arms from the suds, and turned
10 inc.
"What does madame want" she asked
CURLY.
iolr little niece has hurt herself
yonder in tie woods. She has either
spraincd or broken her ankle. She can,
not walk"
sob, the miserable crcaturer' cried
the woman. "Forever and forever doinn
something wrong And nothing to do
but amnsc herself all day. Has She hurt
my children" turning upon me lierccly
40, but she is badly hurt"
Sainls be praised it's not my angels
Nathalie is stubborn, ungratcful girl