Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-03-24

Ro"AS ohoh AA0s huu q phS0tIiSui VII
max!
The little girl gave scream, the big
book fell from her hands, the canaries
and the flies awoke, the clock struck. the
old man started up out of sleep in alarm,
while l, little confused myself, paused
on the threshold, calling out loudly:
Good morning, good people. am Maui
rice's friend!"
Oh, then If you had seen him, poor,
old man! If you had seen him run
towards me with his arms outstretched,
embrace me, press my hands, crying,
"My God, my God" All the wrinkles
in his face were laughing, and he red
dened, stammering out, "Ah, sir! All,
sir!" Then suddenly he hurried to the
end of the room, calling, "Mamettev'
A door opened; there was a short,
light, mouse-like step in the hall. 1t
was Mamette. Was there anything as
pretty as this little old woman, with her
cap and its loops of ribbon, her Car
melite dress and her embroidered hand
kerchief, which she held in her hand in
honor of me, according to the ancient
fashion! 1t was touching sight. The
two looked so much alike that with a
head-dress and loops of yellow ribbon
he night have been called Mamette too !;
only the real Mamette must have cried a
great deal in her life, as she had more
lines in her face than he. Like the other,
she had near her child belonging to the
Orphan Asylum-a little blue-frocked
custodian, who never left her. 1t was
the most touching thing ina ENABLE to
see the two old people protected by the
orphans!
Coming in, Mamette began to make
deep courtesy, but with word the old
man cut her obeisance in two. SIT is
Matrices friend!' Whereupon she
trembed and wept, losing her handker-
chief, and growing very red, even redder
than he, poor old souls! There was
and at the slightest emotion it flew into
their faces.
"Quick! quick a chair' cried the old
woman to her child.
"Open the blinds!' cried the old man
to his.
And each taking me by the hand, they
led me at a jog trot to the window which
they opened wide in order to see me
better. They drew up their arm-chairs,
and sat down between them on fold
ing-chair, while the little true-blues
stationed themselves behind US, and
then the examination began.
"How is he? What does he do? Why
don't he come here? Is he happy?' and
chatter, chatter, like that during several
hours. | answered their questions as
well as l could, giving what details
knew about my friend and boldly invent
ing those did not know, being careful
not to confess that l had never noticed
whether his windows shut we'll, or with
what color his room was papered.
"The paper of his room? 1t is blue,
Madame, light blue with garlands-'
''Really?' said the poor old woman,
with emotion, and turning towards her
| husband, she added "He is such good
child!'
sob, yes! he is fine child!' replied
the other heartily; and all the time
talked they exchanged mods of the head,
winking of the eyes, and looks of intell-
gence, with bursts of little shrill laugh
ter; while first it was the old man who
edged near me to say: "Speak little
louder, she is somewhat deaf;'' and then
she from the other side: Speak a little
louder, please; he doesn't hear very
WE'LL" At that I raised my voice, and
each of them thanked me with a smile
and in those faded smiles, bent on me
and searching the depths of my eyes for
the image Of their Maurice, I was
touched to recognize this very image,
vague, clouded, almost indiscernible, as
if | saw my friend smiling on me far of
in fog.
Suddenly the old man raised himself
in a chair.
''But, Mamette, perhaps he has MOI
brea kfasted."
Mamette was startled; she lifted hel
arms to the sky and cried ''Not break
tasted! Good heavens!" | thought
that Maurice was still in their minds
and | fastened to assure them that thu
''good child" never waited later thar
twelve for his breakfast. But no i
was of me that they spoke, and l coult
see how it distressed them when I &C
> knowledged that l had not yet broker
my fast.
"Quick. Lay the cover, little or
phans the table in the middle of tn
room-Sunday table-cloth-th lowered
} plates. Don't laugh so much !; and hurry
pleasew And indeed they did hurry
!, Before breakfast was served they hat
broken three plates.
: GA delicious little breakfastt' sale
: Mamette, conducting me to the table
, "Only you will be all alone; we have al
ready eaten this morning"
PoOr old souls! NO matter at VIVA
hour you surprised them, they had al
: ways eaten that morning. Mamette'
: delicious little breakfast was two spoon
fuls of milk, some dates, and bar
understanding like cracknel-
/ enough to nourish her and her canarie
for at least eight days. And will yo1
believe it? / alone-I came to the en'
: of all those provisions! What disma.
there was around the table! The littl
true-blues whispered and nudged eacl
, other, and the caDaries in the bottom 0
J their cage seemed to say: "Ho! just Sc
this g ntleman who eats all the bar
quetten'
did eat it all, in fact, but almost un
consciously, so occupied was l in look
ing around the bright and tranquil room
/ where an odor floated like the essence o
old things. found more absorbing thai
all, two little beds, like two cradles, TO
, which l could not take my eyes, musin,
, on them as they were at dawn when the,
were still buried under their grea
fringed curtains. Three o'clock strikes
it is the hour when all old people wake
/ care you asleep, Mamette?" mo, m,
, DEAR SIS not Maurice good child?