Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1892-05-07
A MIsER'S DIPLOMACY.
Old Brtgitto and Her Lucky Lot
tory Ticket.

OAA o4I4ACto tAI1SA 11CT LUCKY AOJ>
tory Ticket.
rOld Landry was thin, shriveled up
little man. very rich, and so parsimoni-
Gus that people said he could shave an
egg.
Since the death Of his wife he had
lived all alone in tiny house in his ma
tive village. We say "alone." although
he had an old servant with him, but
-RriRittc was of small account, n little
more valuable than the dog, perhaps,
but less than the donkey, for that cost
forty crowns. She had entered the
Landry household as COW girl when only
twelve years old. and had remained
there ever since, and was simple, hon
est soul, with 4 boundless admiration
for ''thc master" lie did not hesitate
to turn to good account her blind, dog
like devotion: and, as a consequence,
Brigitte's savings were not large,
though her duties were arduous.
!"Io"- nrc a good old fool" he would
some dmcs say to her, by tho way OF
re'Jnrnperse for her ccaselcSs industry,
and then her wide mouth would expand
slowly in delighted grin, which dis
played her toothless gums as she cx-
claimed admiringly:
Ms.Ste.r loves 10 make Il Ittlc Joke.
Ono day the miscr thought he could
save .nason's bill by repairing Il
broken wall at the side of pond. but
while he was at work his foot happened
to slip and he fell into the water just
where it was most deep He went
floundcring about for minute or two
calling for help at the top of his voice,
but no one heard him, and his strength
being exhausted he was about to sink
for the third time when Brigittc caught
sight of him. and. lcapnG into the pond
ut the risk of her own life, she succeed
cd. after desperate efforts, in bringing
him to land. The old man was uncon-
scious, but Brigittc took him un-
der her arm as if he were a bundle of
straw, carried him home and rubbed
him so vigorously that animation was
restored. When he opened his eyes the
good creature shed tears of Joy. and
llc had the dclicacy not to mention the
fact of her having neglected to save his
trowel, which he had dropped in the
water and which was a great loss, be-
ing quito new. On the contrary, he
exclaimed, in burst of grateful gem
crosity:
"You saved my life, and I shall not
forget it. I shall give you present,
Brigitte."
True to his word, the next day he
called her to him, and after some hesi-
tation drew out his long leather purse
from his pocket. and then, with as much
effort as if he were pulling a tooth, he
took ont a coin and handed it to her.
Twenty cents he said, .'ovcr and
above Your wages, Brigitte: you under
stand, this is not to be deducted; it is a
present. Now do not spend it foolishly.
You can buy a lottery ticket with it..
and perhaps you will win a hundred
thousand francs
1t was the first time in his life that he
had been SO generous. and he could not
forget it, but seemed to take I; tender
interest in the fate of his twenty-cent
piece. Again and again he asked the
old woman whether she had bought the
ticket.
mot yet, master" was her answer,
every time he asked. but one day she
replied to his usual inquiry:
''Yes. master, ! hav bought it,
'.What number is it?' he said.
Number thirty four
Take care that you do not lose the
ticket. / will lock it up in my closet
for you, if You like
"Oh, no, master, l will not lose it."
After that excitement matters re-
suIned their usual course in old Landy's
house, plenty of work and very little
food continuing to fall to Brigitte's
share. The ruiscr was beginning to
forget his own prodigality in rewarding
the servant, when one day, at the bar
ber's shop, where he had dropped in. as
usual, to read the newspaper without
buying it, he caught sight of n para
graph which gave him terrific shock.
~ was the result of the drawing of the
lottery. and one line stood out in flaming
figures which nearly dazzled him.
Number 81 wins the grand prize of
one hundred thousand francs.''
The miser uttered such cry as he
read, that the startled barber grazed
with his razor the car of the school
master, who was being shaved at that
moment.
What is the matter?' cried both men
at once.
.'Oh, nothing, nothing answered
Landry, recovering his presence of
mind, and then he rcadiusted his'spec-
tacles and read the line again, spelling
each word carefully. There was no
mistake: number thirtyfour. Brigittc's
number, had won the grand prize! lie
pu, down the paper and rushed out OF
the shop. As he strobe along on his home
ward way, he became conscious Of the
feet tset cd fr!gittc, tho drudge, wax