The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-09-20
NATHALIE.

IN AlnhDlb,
/ saw her first carrying n great fat
baby, apparently heavier than herself
thin. small.faCcd girl. looking about
ten years old, but, as afterward found
| out, nearly thirteen. ! shall always
/ think Nathalie was stunted by a per.
/ petuil baby burden. for her aunt, with
whom shc lived, had II frequent addition
to her family, and Nathalie had nuiscd
bah cs since she was seven years old
Abort that time her mother died, and
the little orphan was thrown upon the
tender mere cs Of her aunt.
Madame poirCn wa, stout, red faced,
loud.volced, aud with one ruling passion.
that all around her should earn their salt
by constant work.
/ She would have liked to rise at mid
night, and set her household their tasks,
but as that was impossible, she
contcnIcd herself with beginning at
dawn.
Her husband was a farmer and miller
near tho little town of Maplcton: her
two eldest sons worked in the fields
with the other laborerS, and woe t. any
OF them who did not obey the imperious
dame. She did not spare herself, for
B constant employment was her religion /;
but she had frame like iron, and the
strength Of n strong man.
As for Nathal @, had it not been for
the babies she was required To keep out
OF the way, she would have been driven
TO the grave by tasks impossible for her
puny frame to perform.
AS IL WnS she nip hpr hurrioJ ,,o,lo a
with the everlasting baby on her lap,
whom she was expected TO feed at inter.
walls, and attend to the wants of the
twins, about two years old, who sat be-
side her. she was then driven out, with
the three children. to be kept out of the
way until dinnertimc.
"lia, treat the little one we'll" Ma
dame Poiron would say to her gossips.
'Shc is my poor sisters child, aud have
pity for her. work myself, work my
children; but for Nathalie, all she has to
90 all day long is to play in the woods
with the little ones. 1t is play, play all
the time for her, and eat aud drink of
the best
Madame Poiron believed faithfully
what she said
II was during one Of these "plav'
times that / first made the acauaintancc
of Nathalie lhad been walking through
the pretty little woodland which sur.
rounded the town Of Naplcton, where |
was spcnuing the summer with friend.
cuuutnl! came upon two stout, stOl Il.
LOOK .ng children looking more like
Dutch dolls than anything else. Their
lapr were full OF flowers, and in front OF
them was lying the baby, growing and
kicking up its heels.
Nathalie was going through a kind OF
ac'obailc performance for the amusc-
mont OF her charges, while the twins
gravcly stared at her with their big cx.
prcsslonlqss blue eyes. have seldom
seen any one so active and daring n.
Nathalie was, as She sprang from one
gr ipe-vlnc to another, aud danced Il kind
OF pas 'oW on them
was hidden behind n ciump of
bushes, where the children did not sec
me; but noticed the little girls face
was pale, and big drops stood on her fore.
head from fatigue, Whenever she stopped
to rest, the Dutch dolls set up howl.
II, hush, Manctte, hush, Marie, OF
Tante Poron will come after usl Then
she Will not let us come here any more.
! am going to play again for you. Now
look, look, and see me ily!r
She made spring TO q high vine
, which hung Tar above the one on which
she was sitting. She missed it, and fel
to the ground. In a moment was be
side her, aud lifting her up.
"Are you hurt! / asked.
Il don't know" she said, rubbing hei
head. My head hurts, hut it has hur
me all day, Oh, Bebc, don't cry!" Tht
baby was yelling at the top Of its voice
and the chorus was swelled by the Dutcl
dolls, who were frightened by my sud
den appearance. Don't cry, M dar
ling Thalic is coming to you"
She rose to her feet, and sank dowi
again with sharp cry.
"Ah, my foot is broken. ! canno
walk What will Tanto Poiron say
What shall l do! oh, what shall
,, dor
"You will do nothing but lie here til
j come back | said. at is a shor
! walk to your aunt's and | will go ant
tell her, so that she can send for you
Perhaps these children will let me tax,
them home" But as ! approached IN
twins, they threw themselves Hat OF
/ their backs, and yelled a. If | had bee
the Giant Blundcrbore, ready to ca
them up,
r ".They don't like strangers :" Nathali
= gaspcd. 80 madam, must try t
Q walk But as she raised herself, sh
I sank back almost fanting with agony
walked rapidly to the house, and, as
| nelred it, saw Madame Poiron in tn
| front yard, washing some clothes.
@ knew her well by sight, and as / calle
! her name, she raised her monstroui