The Forrest City times., 1891-04-10
BRIGITTE'S FORTUNE.

Short, thin, dry and wrinkled as an apple that lay withered during long winter, such was tho good man, Farmer Landry. Indeed, he was one of those close-hsted old peasants of whom it is graphically said that tkey can shave something from an egg shell.
 Since the death of his wife he had rotirod from agriculture and lived alone in little house at the end of the will lage.
 And yet. not entirely alone. fo: he had with him his old servant Brigitte. But the poor woman counted for so lit- tle in the household, little above the dog. but not SO much as the donkey, that cost hundred and twenty francs. She entered his family at the age of twelve to guard the cows, and had boon there ever since. She knew no other family life than this one, and the ex- ceeding parsinony of the master seemed to her entirely natural. She was TOW c tell. hale woman of fifty, red-faced, ouare-shouldered. with feet and hands that might have been the pride of Q pucilistic trainer. While exacting very little in the way of compensation, she drudged like n pack horse; for indeed, she could not do otherwise in Farmer Landry's house. Besides in her sim pie mind existed a canine attachment and real admiration for her master, who was not ashamed to take adyant- ago of her good nature.
 Of course in tho service Of this miser Brigitte had not earned fortune. But tho honest creature was amply satisfied when the old peasant in patronizing tone praised her zeal: "What a good simple creature you are, Brigitte, arc 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.n
 One day while Farmer Landry was himself replastering his garden wall, so as not to pay the mason. he made q false step and fell into the pool just over the point where tho deepest hole was. He splashed wildly about for q few moments. calling vainly for help with all the power of his lungs Al last worn out by his efforts, he was about to sink from sight, when Brigitte at last heard him. The devoted creat- ure courageously jumped into tho water, at tho 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 a 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 ono 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 tho wish that Brigitte should return and jump in after that also. Indeed, in the first impulse of grat- itude, he said to his servant with . touch of emotion:
 1t is you who pulled me out of tho hole; l shall never forget it, my good girl, you may be assured of that. 1 am going to make you present."
 Oh, master. indeed there is no need of that!"
 But I tell you ,ciN give you some- thing; don't doubt it!"
 And really. the same evening, after q thousand hesitations, he drew forth his long leather purse and called Brig,tte to him. While making Q grimace like one having tooth drawn he selected silver piece of twenty cents.
 Here, Brigitte, is your present.. IL 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 a sin.
 For the service rendered it was not unbridled generosity on the part of tho giver, and the former had some dim intimation of the fact, for he added Gas if to enhance it's value):
 1t is just tho price of lottery ticket. Buy one, my girl, and you may win twenty thousand dollars"
 It was the first time il his life that the poor man allowed himself to be so liberal, so the thought of 1t haunted him for a long time; he constantly VG hn fat Sxf E3 I,;e <, silver piece. He often asked the servant if she had yet bought her lottery ticket.
 Not 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. I have bought one. "
 ''Indeed! What number?"
 'Oh. the number is 34."
 "Very good" sad her master, re- beating the number to impress it OF his mind. Be careful not to lose itr
 ''Never fear, master"
 Because if you do fear sometime tc lose it."
 The habits of daily life in the little household. disturbed by these events soon settled into their regular course eating sparely, very temperate drink. ing. few hours for sleeping and many for work.
 Farmer Landry was almost consolet for his forced P odigality, whom one morning, in the barber shop, where he went from time to time to read gratis the Gazette. terrible emotion shool him. He read the result of the lotter,