The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-09-20
tripping arms from tho suds, and turned

"what does madame wantl" she asked
curtlv.
"Your little niece has hurt herself
yonder in the woods. She has either
sprained or broken her ankle. she can
not walk"
"Oh, the miserable creaturew cried
the woman. " Forever and forever doing
something wrong And nothing to do
but amuse herself all day Has she hurt
my childrenr turning upon me fiercely.
"No, but she is badly hurt"
Saints be praised it Is not my angels !!
Nathalie is a stubborn, ungrateful girl.
And now to lay herself up, aud leave me
all to do Pity she hadn't broken her
neck at once"
"You ought to be ashamed of your
self, Madame Poiron!" | cried, ind G.
nantly. elf you do not intend sending
help to the poor child, will do so."
"And where does madame think can
get helpl Call the men out of the field
at this hour, and lose so much timer No ;
If anyone goes, must"
She strobe off, and followed her. for
somehow the idea of a dove in eulture's
claws pursued pe when l thought of
/ poor, trembling little Nathalie borne in
the arms of the unfeeling giantess
When reached them, she had the girl
/ by the arm, and had lifted her to her
feet.
"None Of your airs" she cried. "If
you try to walk, you can. You are pre-
tending. Stand upl"
/ caught the child as she fell back,
and at that moment saw man whom
! knew well coming down the road in
| his cart.
"Ah, here is Pierre lagrange l
cried, ioyfully. IL know he will take
the child home"
Pierre was good, humane fellow,
more than willing to do "A kind act, and
lifted Nathalie into his cart at once.
Ma1ame Poiron, growing like n bear,
had taken herself of with the baby in
her arms, and the Dutch dolls toddlng
after.
"But then this is bad business for
you, Nathalie, " Pierre said, as he logged
along. That old iire-cat is going to
give you hard times"
81 never have easy times, Monsieur
Pierre" she answered, with her patient
voice, the tears rolling down her white
face. "l would wish to he dead, and
with mamma, if il was not for t. chill
dren, but love the n, and they love me. "
Glove you! just listen TO herl The
little vampires that suck her life. blood.
The tyrants that get her more beatings
than can count. And, madame, you
hear her say she loves theml"
eyes, they do love me-" she sighed.
"Monsieur Pierre, they are all have in
the world. Tantc Poiron is not always
cross. She has good days, you know,
and is kind, but then, you see, she has
so many children, she has no love TO
spare for me-"
That's certain and sure" Pierre
muttered in his heavy beard. but we ha 4
reached the farmhouse, and he lifte /
Nathalie out tcnderly.
T Farewell, madame, and thank YOU"
she said, as he bore her into the house.
thought often of Nathalie during
the next few weeks. i heard her ankle
was sprained, but that she was doing
well. did not venture to call, for 1t
was evident that Madame Poiron had
taken an inveteratc dislike TO me. But
| was glad to see the little girl walking
out one morning with the baby in her
arms. | hurried forward aud inter
cepted them. Nathalie was thinner
than ever, but her cycs--lovcly eyes
they enlightened at sight of me.
"Are you quite well, Nathalie"
asked.
"My foot hurts me n little, madam,
but can walk. 1t is the first time
could carry Bcbe-sweet Bebe." kissing
enthusiastically the pasty- faced infant.
We are going to have a te'e in the woods,
Bebe and L. showing me little package
she held in one hand. "Ihere is slice
of uie and n picc OF cake, and oh,
madame, will YOU not come to our fe'e!'
said would, but | must run home
for something. That something was an
addition to the tca.party in the shape
OF some fruit had ust received. II
was good 10 see the delight in Nathalie S
eyes when | laid my contribution before
her
"Oh. Bcbc, Bcbe" she screamed, clap.
ping her hands. "Bananas, Bcbe
Oranges and lovely white grapes! Oh,
they are too beautiful to eat ;"
When The repast was over, Nathalie
wrapped what remained in her apron fol
BE and the twins.
"lou look quite happy, Nathalie
said.
"IIappy all, yes, madame, there is nc
one happier than | am to-day. Only
think, can walk again and nurse Bebe
love all children, but Bebe is a rea
angel of heaven"
sat there wondering over that starvcc
young life whose only modicum OF sun
light was putty faced Bebc, What wa
happiness after a'ii A poor, ill-treateC
waif, whose daily bread was Favored b!
harsh words, sat there under God
blessed sunlight and called hersel
happy. gave up the problem.
Several weeks passed, and although
was often on the watch, | saw nothing
of Nathalie. The house where my frienC
and boarded, commanded full view
or the Poirou farm; for some days non,
of the men had been working in tn
fields, and the loud voice of Madam
Poiron WAS silent.
"What is the matter over at Poiron's 2
, l asked our landlady, Mrs. Blake.
Mrs. Blake turned very red, and looked
confused.
"Well the truth is, didn't like t.
tell you, ladies, for thought you nigh
get scared, and there amt bit of dan
ger, for there's no communication be
twocn tho farm and anv bOusa in town