St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-01-14
PEASANT AND KING.

ALACxxXv1 nAND A1ANOs
How the Latter Was Made Known
to the Former.
i - 49,
One day in the far-away years of the
sixteenth century, when Paris was not
as third as large nor half rs beautiful
as it is pov. am the French court lived
almost half the year at the great hunt
ing chateau Of Blois, a poor peasant
was cutting fagots on the border Of .
small forest near the river Loire. lie
was dressed in ragged hempcn tunic
and had wooden shoes on his feet. His
cap was Of fur. which he wore alike in
summer and in winter. He was cutting
the wood with q small hatchet, laying
the sticks in pile. When he had made
pile As large as he could carry in his
arms, he bound it with green withes
and laid it.On the back of his donkey.
which looked quite rs forlorn and ill
kept as its master.
As he was binding one of the bundles
of fagots upon the animals back, he
was startled by the sound of hoof-
strokes near him. and. gazing sharply
around. he saw man approaching
mounted on = large white horse. The
horseman was small. thin person.
well advanced in years. whose profile.
once seen. could not be forgotten; a
hooked nose. . protruding chin. brow
full Of wrinkles. grisslcd hair. a short
grizzled beard. and stiff gray mustachc,
bristling like a cats. His alert up
right carriage bespoke mistaken vigor.
and his clear eye was full Of buoyant
life. He was dressed in . slashed' doub-
let and trunk-hose of black velvet; .
scarlet sash was over his shoulder. =
hat with long sweeping white plume
on his head. and he wore tall cavalry
boots that came up to his knees.
.-Some officer of the Kings guard who
has lost his way" thought the peasant.
rs he resumed his labor. perhaps l
can do him q benefit. A good turn will
help him. and it won't make my trouble
moro"
Meanwhile the stranger was glancing
doub. fully around. and seeing the wool
cutter, accosted him with a frank.
hearty voice. that yet had something Of
o tone Of command.
'.Halloa. my friend. can'st tell me
how far it is to the castle. and whether
this read will lead me thither?'
NAY; your honor has certainly gone
wrong. Blois lies in the opposite direc-
tion. at a distance. should say. Of half
a dozen leagues"
Il was pretty certain had lost my
way. but l did not suppose l had wan
dercI 80 far in the wrong direction"
said the officer. $50 it is near twenty
miles TO the chateau?"
"Ycs. all Of that by the highway"
answered the peasant. ''You must fol-
low this path till you come to tall
oak. and then take your right till you
come to wood where the road forks,
and you follow the left round q big
park.
Il shall certainly lose my way again
If try to follow your directions" And
the hor,eman shrugged his shoulders
and looked rather grave. Can you
not guide me to Blois?"
"Nay. l can not leave my work."
answered the peasant. lifting his greasy
cap and scratching his head obviously.
Il would cheerfully help your honor,
but my master would not pay me for .
days work when leave my tasks and
ride of to chatter with one Of the Kings
officers"
so thou knowest me then rs belong
ing to the court? VIGIL. my good fel-
low. il you will help me you shall not
lose by it What do you earn dsy?'
sometimes half q franc, and other
days twice that You see it depends
on the weather."
.'Well. here's ten-franc piece; so 90
with me- You need not lose your morn.
ing's work. for il mistake not, yonder
cot is yours. and our path lies past it."
The poor man demurred no further:
the gold piece the officer had given him
was more money than he could have
earned amy other way in whole fort
night.
..Ah. your honor" said he, wipinp a |
tear from his eye, '.you do not know
how much good this money will do me. |
would like to know the name of SO
generous > gentleman. SO that and
my wife might bless you in our |
prayers"
mo matter about my name. !" replied |
the stranger. with : kind smile. ..You
can pray as we'll without knowing. and
God will understand whom you mean"
But though the horseman smiled. his |
face was very grave and thoughtful As |
he noticed the mean and miserable |
abode Of the poor woodchopper. 1t was |
a small. tumble-down hut of mud and |
thatch. and Was hardly hsbitable. The
wooticutaer's wife. > pale. sickly looking |
woman. stood in the door with . CRYING |
babe in her arms. and . poor. skinny |
was bleating disconsolate-
", tied to > stake