San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-06-01
CHAPTER V.
TREASURE TRovE.

The doctors carriage was a two wheeled
gig with hood, a kind of vehicle in much
favor among country doctors. On how many
roads has not one seen it, great way of be-
tween the poplars-in how many village
streets, tied to gate post! This sort of
chariot is affected, particularly at the trot,
by a kind of pitching movement to and fro
across the axle, which well entities it to the
style of Noddy. The hood describes con-
siderable arc against the landscape, with a
solemnly absurd effect on the contemplative
pedestrian. To ride in such a carriage can
not be numbered among the things that ap-
pertain to glory; but have no doubt it may
be useful in liver complaint. Thence, per-
haps, its wide popularity among physicians.
One morning early, Jean-Marie led forth
the doctors noddy, opened the gate and
mounted to the driving seat The doctor
followed, arrayed from top to toe in spotless
linen, armed with an immense flesh colored
umbrella, and girt with a botanical case on a
baldric; and the equipage drove off smartly
in a breeze of its own provocation. They
were bound for Franchard, to collect plants,
with an eye to the Comparative Pharma-
copeia."
A little rafting on the open roads, and
they came to the borders Of the forest and
struck into an unfrequented track; the noddy
waved softly over the sand, with an accom-
paniment of swapping twigs. There was q
great, green, softly murmuring cloud Of con-
gregated foliage overhead. In the arcades
of the forest the air retained the freshness of
the night. The athletic bearing of the trees,
each carrying its leafy mountain, pleased the
mind like so many statues and the lines Of
the trunk led the eye admiringly upward to
where the extreme leaves sparkled in patch
of azure. Squirrels leaped in mid air. 1t
was proper spot for devotee of the god
dess Hygeia.
"Have you been to Franchard, Jean
Marie?" inquired the doctor II fancy not"
''Never, replied the boy.
at is ruin in a gorge" continued Des-
PREF, adopting his expository voice; ''the
ruin of a hermitage and chapel History
tells us much of FranSIard; how the recluse
was often slain by robbers; how he lived on
a most insufficient diet; how he was expected
to pass his days in prayer. A letter is pre-
served, addressed to one of these solitaires
by the superior of his order, full of admira-
BILE hygienic advice; bidding him go from his
book to praying, and so back again, for va
rietys sake, and when he was weary of both
to stroll about his garden and observe the
honey bees. 1t is to this day my own sys-
tenn. You must often have remarked me
leaving the 'Pharmacopoia"-oft even in
the middle of a phrase-to come forth in the
sun and air. 1 admire the writer of that
letter from my heart; he was a man of
thought on the most important subjects
But, indeed, had lived in the Middle Ages
Il am heartily glad that did not should
have been an eremite myself-if had not
been professed buffoon, that is. These
were the only philosophical lives yet open:
laughter or prayer; sneers, we might say,
and tears. Until the sun of the Positive
/! arose, the wise man had to make his choice
between these two" .ssn...
81 have been a buffoon, of COURSE OBJ
served Jean-Marie.
81 cannot imagine you to have excelled in
your profession" said the doctor, admiring
the boys gravity. "Do you ever laughr
"Oh, yes" replied the other. 81 laugh
often. I am very fond of jokes"
singular beingp' said Desprez 'tBut I
divagate Il perceive thousand ways that 1
grow old, Franchard was at length de-
stroyed in the English wars, the same that
leveled Gretz But-here is the point-the
hermits for there were already more than
One) had foreseen the danger and carefully
concealed the sacrifcial vessels These YES
sells were Of monstFous value Jean Marie
monstrous value-priceless, we may say; ex-
quisitely worked, of exquisite material And
q. n