Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-05
FOR MARSE CHOUCHOUTE

TO remember is this--an take it fer 70
motto: No monkeyshines with Uncle
Sam.' You understand You aware now
o the penalties attached to monkey
shinin with Uncle Sam. l reckon that's
bout all got to say; 50 you be ON han
promp tomorrow mornin at o'clock to
take charge O the United States mail
bag"
This formed the close of very pomp-
ous address delivered by the postmaster
Of Csnterville to young Armand Yer
chette, who had been appointed to carry
the mails from the village to the rail-
way station. three miles away.
Armand-or Chouchoute, as every one
chose to cali him. following the habit of
the creoles in giving nicknames-had
listened little impatiently.
Not so the little negro boy who accom-
panied him. The child had listened with
the deepest respect and awe to every
word Of the rambling admonition.
How much you gwine git, Marse
Chouchoute~ he asked, as they walked
down the village street together, the
black boy little behind He was very
black. and slightly deformed; small
boy. scarcely reaching to the shoulder Of
his companion. whose east of garments
he wore.
But Chouchoute was tall for his six
teen years, and carried himself well
wy, I'm goin to git thirty dolla' a
month, Wash Wat you say to thata
BETA an hoein cotton, ant it?" He
laughed, with triumphant ring in his
voice.
But Wash did not laugh. He was too
much impressed by the Importance Of
this new function, too much bewildered
BY the vision Of sudden wealth which
thirty dollars month meant to his un-
derstRnding.
He felt, too, deeply conscious of the
great weight Of responsibility which this
new Office brought with 1t. The impos-
ing salary had confirmed the impression
left by the postmaster's words.
"You gwine git all dat money? Sakss!
Wat you reckon Maine Armand sayf l
know she gwine mos take fit wen abe
hcah dat"
But Chouchoute's mother did not
mos take fit" when she heard of her
sons good fortune. The white and
wasted hand which rested upon the boys
black curls trembled little, It Is true,
and tears Of emotion came into her tired
eyes This step seemed to her the be-
ginning of better things for her father
less boy.
They lived quite at the end of this lit
: tie French village. which was simply
two long rows Of very old frame houses,
facing one another closely across dusty
roadway.
Their home was cottage, SO small
and SO humble that 1t just escaped the
reproaeh of being cabin.
Every one was kind to Nine. Armand.
Neighbors ran in Of mornings to help
her with her work-she could do 20 little
for herself And often the good priest,
Pere Antoine, camo to sit with her and
talk innocent gossip.
To say that Wash was fond Of Nine.
Armand and her son is to be poor in
language to express devotion. He wor-
shipped her as IL she were already an
angel in Paradise.
Chouchoute was delightful young
fellow; no one could help loving him.
His heart was as warm and CHEEKY as his
own southern sunbeams. If he was born
with an uplucky trick of forgetfulness
or, better, thoughtlessness-no one ever
felt much Like blaming him for it, SC
much did it seem part of his happy,
careless nature. And why was tina!
faithful watchdog, Wash, always al
Narse Chouchoutes heels, If it were moi
70 be hands and ears and eyes to him,
rnore than half the time?
One beautiful spring night Chou.
ehoute, on his way to the station, wai
riding along the road that sIxirted the
river. The clumsy mail bag that Lay
before him across the pony was almost
empty, for the Centerville mail was 9
meager and unimportant one at best.
But he did not know this. He WA
not thinking Of the mail. in fact; he waa
only feeling that life was very agreeable
this delicious spring night.
There were cabins at intervals upor
the road-most Of them darkened, fol
thc hour was late. AS he approached
sne Of these, larger than the others, h
heard the sound Of fiddle, and saw
nghts through the openings Of the house
h Was 80 far from the road that whel
- stopped his horse and peered thfougl
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