The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-04-25
BRIGITTE'S FORTUNE.

Short, thin, dry and wrlnkled rs an
apple that lay withered during long
winter, such was the good man, Farmer
Landry. Indeed, he was one OF those
close-fsted old peasants OF whom 1t Is
graphically said that they can shave
something from an egg she'll.
Since the death OF his wife he had
retired from agriculture and lived alone
in little house ut tho end OF the viii
lage.
And yet, not entirely alone. 70. he
had with him his old servant Brigitte.
But the poor woman counted for so lit
tie In the household, little above the
dog, but not SO much as the donkey,
that cost a hundred and twenty francs.
She entered his family ut the age OF
twelve to guard the COWS. and had been
there ever since. She knew no other
family life than this one. and the ex-
ceeding parsimony Of the master seemed
to her entirely natural. She was now
tall, hale woman OF fifty, red-faced,
square-shouldercd, with feet and hands
that might have been the pride OF u
pugilistic trainer. While exacting very
little in the way OF compensation, she
drudged like pack horse; for indeed,
she could not do otherwise in Farmer
Landry's house. Besides in her sim
pie mind existed canine attachment
and real admiration for her master,
who was not ashamed to take advant-
age OF her good nature.
OF course in the service OF this miscr
Brigitte had not earned fortune. But
the honest creature was amply satisfied
when the old peasant in a patronizing
tone praised her zeal:. what q good
simple creature you arc, Brigitte, are
you notp
Then the good woman's mouth would
open into loud laugh.
HE! he! he! MASTER! You have
always your little manner OF joking; he!
he! he!"
One day while Farmer Landry was
himself replastering his garden wall,
30 as not to pay the mason, he made
false step and fell into the pool Just
over the point where the deepest hole
was. He splashed wildly about for a
few moments, calling vainly for help
with all the power OF his lungs. At
last worn out by his efforts, he was
about to sink from sight, when Brigitte
at last heard him. The devoted Great
ure courageously jumped into the
water, at the risk OF drowning herself.
She succeeded in pulling him to the
bank; he was entirely unconscious but
she raised him in her strong arms, as
she would child, put him to bed, and
with rubbing and remedies recalled
him to life. On seeing him open his
eyes, the good Brigitte shed tears of
Joy. -
''Ah. good master. how glad I am
that you are not drowned and buried
in that hole!"
The old peasant was glad OF it, too,
although he had one lively regret-the
loss OF his trowel, which fell into the
water at the same time with himself.
However, he had the decency not to
express the wish that Brigitte should
return and jump In after that also.
Indeed, in the first impulse Of graf
itude, he said to his servant with
touch OF emotion:
1T is you who pulled me out OF the
hole; shall never forget it, my good
girl, you may be assured of that. ]
am going to mako you present"
"Oh, master, indeed there is no need
OF that"
"But tell you ,oiH give you some
thing; don't doubt It'll"
And really, the same evening. after
a thousand hesitations he drew forth
his long. leather purse and called
Brigitte to him. While making
grimace like one having tooth drawn,
he selected silver piece of twenty
cents.
Here. Brigitte, is your present. 1t
shall not be counted in your wages,
you know. Oh, no, this is extra out
side OF your wages. Do not be ex-
travagant with it; that would be sin.
For the service rendered it was not
unbridled generosity on the part OF the
giver, and the former had some dim
intimation of the fact for he added Gas
II TO enhance its ySlue):
1T Is just the price OF lottery
ticket. Buy one, my girl, and you
may win twenty thousand dollars"
1t was the first time in his life that
the poor man allowed himself to be so
liberal, 80 the thought Of 1t haunted
him for a long time; he constantly
wondered about the fate OF his bright
silver piece. He often asked the
servant II she had yet bought her
lottery ticket.
mot yet, Master" was her unvary-
ing answer.
But at length she decided to end this
constant questioning by pacifying him.
So one day she replied;
Yes, Master, / have bought one"
Indeed! What numberp"
'Oh. the number Is a."
Very good!' said her MASTER re-
pcating the number to impress II on
his mind. BE careful not TO lose it!'
Never fear. master"
because II you do fear sometime to
lose it,"
The habits OF daily life In the little
household. disturbed by these events.
soon settled into their regular course;
eating spnrely, very temperate drink
ing, fcw hours for sleeping and many
for work