The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-01
PIERRE'S FOUNDING.


"Snow white" and everybody called her
that. And very white she did look to
Pierre that morning in the early spring,
many years ago now, when he found her
lying on the doorstep, feecy white
shawl all around her, and only her little,
round, baby blue eyes showing out of
the whiteness.
''See what the good God has sent me,
Felice," said Pierre, taking the little,
soft, white bundle in his big, brown
hands and carrying it in to his wife, "a
little snow white baby"
And Felice turned back the shawl
from the baby's head, and there, pinned
to her little dress, was a card, and as
Pierre bent down to see he read, For
, Pierre and Felice."
did ] not say, Felice," he cried. "See,
it is for us-the good God has sent it."
When Felice bent down to kiss the
rosy lips that cooed and smiled up at
her she smelt the perfume on the little
baby's clothes. and then she thought of
the sweet, pale, gentle lady whose hair
she had dressed few nights before, and
of the tall, dark man whom the lady had
not called her husband, but her ''friend."
But she did not tell Pierre all this.
What she did tell him was that they
would take their new treasure and show
it to the priest, and Pierre-good, simple
hearted Pierre-went along very close
beside Felce, wishing nightly that he
could take the little white, soft bundle
in his own arms.
And Pere Martin, when he looked into
the little babys eyes, remembered the
slight, graceful woman who had knelt
so long at vespers the evening before,
and the sweet, gentle voice in which,
when the service was over, she had
questioned him about the coiffeuse,
Felice, and Pierre, her husband, who
lived in a room in the crumbling gray
house beyond the church. He remem-
bered also that the hand that dropped
into his the heavy purse of gold, telling
him it was to be given to this same Felice
and Pierre, if they should need it, had
no ring upon the third finger, and Pere
Martin sighed as he looked into the
baby's face and murmured, Another
lamb into the fold" But he, too, did
not speak Of what he remembered. In
stead, he told them he would himself go
with them to the Office of the old notaire
on the corner and that all would be ar
ranged, and that the next day after
mass they might bring the child to be
christened.
And so they did and gave her the
name of Snow-white. No other name
would have suited her half so we'll
Snow white she was when they found
her, and snow white Felice always tried /
to keep her. She was never too busy to
put few dainty tucks in baby's little |
white slip, or to wash her face or to curl |
her golden locks. And Pierre never
came up stairs without stopping to wash |
his hands at the big tub down in the |
court SO that he might not soil the baby's !
dress when he took her in his arms, and !
when he kissed her he always looked to /
zee that he had not left the impress of |
his lips on hers It was marvellous to
see what a change the baby's coming |
made In the lives of the two, Pierre and |
Felice. Somehow PIERCE step grew
lighter and his laugh grew cheerier.
His fellow workers noticed it down at |
the big warehouse where he hauled cot
ton ON the dray, turning and pulling the
bales with his sharp hook.
"Oh, ] must not be 90 rough" he said
b them, ''since there is now little one
may disturb with my big stepping"
And Felice's songs were gayer as she
tripped about at her tidy housework,
and her fingers were DETER as she did her
hair dressing, and her coiffures were
more elaborate and graceful than ever
before.
1T makes a difference, is it not so,
madameT she said as she was dressing
The hair of fond young mother, who
sat the while gently swinging the cradle
Of her first born; sit makes difference
hat there is now little heart for your
big one to hold l know. 1t is all
,hanged with me, now that the good
God has sent US little one. II does not
matter SO much now that l must so up
md down the STAIR, that | must bring
he water from the cistern in the court,
hat l must be forever crimping anti
curling and sticking in hsirpins."
Ii did seem that all the little house
hold was changed. There were not many,
o be sure, for besides Pierre and Felice
here were only Marta, and Babette and
sieur Antoine in the little gray house.
Marta lived in the first floor, and from
Ter apartments there came always the
,teasing odor of burnt sugar, for it was
n her own little back room that she
made the white and golden ropes OF
ANDY that she sold upon the street every
Law. Marta's delight knew no bounds
yhen Snow-white was able TO sit alone
md hold in the little chubby fist stick
# her whitest and crispest candy, suck
M it till it ran down her wrists and chin
md upon her white dress in streams of
ticky sweetness
1T is by the reason that the little one
likes it that make this cream candy
aarta would say TO her customers. re-
nembering Snow-whites enjoyment or
he dainty viii yoo not try some to-
ay? 1t is nice"
And so she would go through the day
nth lighter step and heavier purse
han of yore.
But it was Babette who always took
are of Snow-white when Felice was
way. Babette was blanchisseuse, and
re- always washing, washing. washing !