The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1891-04-09
PIERRES FOUNDING.

Il was Pierre who first called her that,
and Pierre was q creole. and Felice, his
wife. was q creole, and % they both
said, "Snow wide" but then they meant
"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, a heecy 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 II in TO his wife. "a
little snow white baby"
And Felice turned back the shawl
from the baby's head. and there. pinned
10 her little dress, was q card. and rs
Pierre bent down TO see he read. For
Pierre and Felice."
did not say, Felice, he cried. "See,
II IL for us-the good God has sent Il.
When Felice bent down to kiss the
rosy lips that cOOed and smiled up Mt
her she smelt the perfume on the little
baby's clothes, and then she thought OF
ths sweet, pale, gentle lady whose hair
Ehe 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
Il 10 the priest, and Pierre-goOd. simple
hearted Pierre-went along very close
beside Felice, wishing nightly that he
could take the little white, soft bundle
in his own arms.
And Pere Martin, when he looked into
the little baby's eyes, remembered the
slight, graceful woman who had knelt
90 long at yespers the evening before.
and the sweet, gentle voice in which,
when the service wat over, she had
questioned him about the cOifeuse,
Felice, and Pierre. her husband. who
lived in . room in the crumbling gray
house beyond the church. He reInem-
bered also that the hand that dropped
into his the heavy purse Of gold, telling
him Il was 10 be given TO this same Felice
and Pierre, II they should need Il, had
no ring upon the third finger, and Pere
Martin sighed rs he looked into the
babyis 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 tn 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 he
christened.
And 81 they did and gave her the
name Of Snow-white No other name
would have SUITED her half 50 well.
Snow white she was when they found
her. and snow white FeliCe always tried
TO keep her. She was never too busy Ia
put few dainty tuCks in habys little
white slip. or to wash her face or TO curl
her golden l"rls And Pierre never
came up stairs without stopping to wash
his hands Mt the big tub down 10 the
court 50 that he might not soil the baby's
dress when he task her In his arms. and
when he kissed her he always looked to
see that he hal not left the impress Of
his lips on hers u WAS marvellous to
Sc what a change the haby's coming
made IN the lives Of the two. Pierre and
Felice. somehow PIERCE step grew
lighter AMI his laugh grew cheerier.
His fellow workers noticed 70 down At
the big warehouse where be hauled cot
ton on the dray, turning and pulling the |
bales with his sharp hook
.'Oh, ! must not he 50 rough he said |
% them. since Their, is now n little one |
! may disturb with nv big stepping
And FeliCe's songs were gayer ~ she |
tripped about NJ her tidy homework, |
and her fingers were DETER rs she did her |
hair dressing. and her coiffures were
more elaborate aud graceful than ever
before
1t makes = difference, is % not 50,
malamey she said ~ she was dressing
ne tnsir Of foul young mother. 40
at the wSilr gently swinging the cradle
Of her first bOru: lit makes q difference
that there h now q little heart for your |
big one 10 hold ! know. 10 Il all |
changed with me, now that the good |
9od has sent rs a little one. Il does not |
matter 20 much now that I must 90 mp |
and down the stair. that ] must bring |
the water from the cistern In the court, /
that ! must be forever crimping and /
curling and sticking In hsirpins-
Il did seem that all the little house
hold waschanged- There were not many, |
20 be sure. Tor heSides Pierre and Felice |
there were only Marta, and BAbette and |
Sisur Antoine in tbs little gray house
Marta lived IN the first door, and from |
her apartments there came always the |
plsasing oaor Of burnt sugar. for e was |
IN her own little back room that she |
made the white and golden ropes Of |
candy th1i ~bs sold upon the street every |
dag. AArsis delight kRrw no b. "a. l.
uhan EnOw-Whits was able 20 sit alone /