St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-02-11
A PEASANT HEROINE.


1OCSO8O On HAC6.
4 little peasant maiden.
Scarce thirteen summers old.
Yet in her veins there ran the blood
OF saints and heroes bold.
And in The Book Of Life her name :,
Is writ in lines Of gold
Twas IN the drcary winter,
When the snow lay thick and white.
Two children at beside the hearth
In the 0ickcring areiighi:
While round the lonely house the wind
Went moaning through the night
Two sturdy peasant children.
Who kept their watch alone,
For the elders to the village
few miles on had gone
Sedate. housewifely little RcinA
And seven-year-old Antoine.
They SGT and talked together
In happy childish gicc.
The boy his curly head 1t rest
Against his sisters knee,
And Refine told stories while she piled
Her needles busily.
But bark! What sound comes up the wind.
From the great plain beneath.
The children started to their feet.
And. listening. held their breath
And then the two younS faces turned
As pale. . pale rs DEATH
" The wolrcs! II is the horrid wolves"
Reaue sprang toward the door:
With trembling hands she drew the bolt
More closely than before:
"Oh. Antoine. pile the logs up high.
And make them blaze yct more"
With red glare on the cleaning snow,
Shone out the lesping dame.
But 1t the door the bowling pack
With frantic clsmor came
They shook Il with their savage claws
II trembled In its frsme:
The children chung together
In mortal agony,
There Was no succor nigh II hand,
No place for them to fly
crazy plank between them stood
And the death that they must die:
'Oh. dear Lord save my broshcr:-
The elder sister prayed:
And then she started to her feet
And felt no more afraid:
For quick rs lieht sudden thought
Flashed on the little maid
The press beside the IRE!
II she could reach up there
There Was just room enough for one.
But not en- inch 70 spare,
She seized her brother In her arms
And struggled on chair.
Outside the beasts were clamor!ng
With howlings yet more wild.
Into the dark but safe recess.
She thrust the frightened child:
She turned the key and '9ainst the bars,
Some heavy logs she piled
Twas done! The deed Of rescue
II scarce was safely Ter.
When with grooming. awful crash.
Fell down the rotten door
The wolves rushed in: Did angels weep
To see such suffering sore:
Al last the village is astir.
The wolves are al 1t bay.
Forth from the little house they rushed
And left their senseless prey:
While after them with gun and spear
Men track their desperate way.
Across the blood stained threshold
The frantic parents 60;
And then upon the frosty air
Rings out vail OF woe,
As. BY the little mangied form,
The awful truth they know.
They clasp their other darling.
But ReiEe, our Rc:ne,' they cried
And then the little sobbing lad
Tells row she made him hide,
And face to face with hideous ceath
Stood calamity outside:
Why linger DER the story.
So full Of woe and pain.
At rest in the Good Shepherds fold
Is valiant little Refine,
Where never cruel providing wolf
Can harm or fright again:
But still. throughout the country.
Her name is honored long,
And the village people chant her praise
In native rhyme and song.
And tell about the Quenchless love
That made her heart SO strong.
A little peasant maiden.
Yet she 50 well had striyen,
That unto her glorious crown.
The martyrs crown. vas given.
And place among the deathless ranks
Or Gods dear saints in Heaven.
Christian Burke. In Argosy