Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-05-17
FELICE.

u
She was obedient, long suffering and kind.
She had known what it was to toll and TO
bear burdens. Sometimes she had suffered
from hunger and from thirst, and before
she came into the possession of Jacques she
had been beaten, for Pierre, her former own
er, was hard master. But Fellce was al
ways kind faithful and gentle creature.
Presumably that was why they named her
that pretty name, Felice She may not have
been happy when Pierre owned and over
worked and starved and beat her. That
does not concern us now, for herein IL is to
tell of that time when she belonged TO
Jacques, and Jacques was n merciful man
Jacques was a farmer He lived short
distance from Cinquille, which, as you are
probably aware, is a town of considerable
Importance upon what used TO be the boun-
dairy line between France and Germany.
The country round about is devoted to ag-
rcufture You can fancy that, with its
even roads, leafy woods, quiet lanes vel
vety paddocks, tall hedges and beautiful
fields, this country was indeed as pleasant
home as Felice-or, for that matter, any
other properly minded horse-could hope
for. Toward the southern horizon there
were hills that looked grayish blue from
a distance. Upon these hills were vine
yards, and the wine that came therefrom is
very famous wine, as your uncle, If he be a
club man, will very truly assure you. There
was pretty little river that curled like a
silver snake through the fertile meadows
and lost its way among the hills and there
were many tiny brooks that scampered
across lots and got tangled up with that
pretty little river in most bewildering fash
Ion. So, as you can imagine this was "A
Cat. L
with so merciful "A master as Jacques our
friend Felice was happy.
But what perfected her happiness was the
coming Of her little colt, as cunning and as
blithe creature as ever whisked "A tail or
galloped on four legs. do not know why
they called him by that name, but Petit
Poulain was what they called him, and
that name seemed TO please Felice, for when
Farmer Jacques came thrice day 10 the
stile and cried, Petit Poulain, Petit. Petit.
Petit-Poulainn the kind old mother would
look up fondly, and with doting eyes watch
her dainty little colt 20 bounding toward
his calling master. And be was indeed a
lovely little fellow The cure, the holy
Pere Francois predicted that in due time
that colt would make great name for
himself and great fortune for his owner
The holy pere knew whereof he spake for
in his youth he had tasted Of the sweets Of
Partisan life, and upon one memorable oc-
casion had successfully placed 10 francs
upon the winner Of le grande prix. We can
suppose that Felice thought well of the
holy pere. lie never came down the road
that she did not thrust her nose through
the hedge and give a mild whinny Of recog-
milton, as If She fain would say, PRAY stop
moment and see Petit-Poulain and his
old mOtherp
What happy days those were for Felice
and her darling colt With what tender
ness they played together in the paddock;
OF, when the sky was overcast and a storm
came on, with what solicitude would the
old mother led the way into the matched
stable, where there was snug protection
against the threatening element! There
are those who say that none but human
kind is immortal-that none but man has
a soul. j do not make or believe that
claim. There is that within me which tells
me that no thing in this world and life Of
ours which has felt that grace Of maternity
shall utterly perish. And this / say in all
reverence and with the hope that offend
neither God nor man.
You are TO know that old Felice's devo-
tion 10 Petit-Poulain was human in its
tenderness As readily, as gladly and as
surely az your dear mother would lay down
her life for you would old Felice have yield
ed up her life for her innocent, blithe dar-
ling. So old Felice was happy, that pleasant
time In that fair country, and Petit-Poulain
waxed hale and ever more blithe and beau
tiful.
Happy days, too, were those for that
peaceful country and the other jewellers
- L.
there. The seasons were propitious the
vineyards thrived; the crops were bounti.
full As far as eye could see all was pros
perity and contentment But one day the
holy Father Francois came hurrying down
the road, and IL was too evident that he
brought evil tidings. Felice thought it
very strange that he paid no need to her
when, as was her wont, she thrust her nose
through the edge and gave a mild whinny
of welcome Anon she saw that he talked
long and earnestly with her master, JAG
cues, and presently she saw that Jacques
went into the cottage and came again
therefrom with his wife Justine and kissed
her and then went away with Pere Fran
co.'s toward the town off yonder. Felice
saw that Justine was weeping, and with
never a suspicion Of impending evil she
wondered why Justine should weep when
all was 80 prosperous and bright and fair
and happy about her. Felice saw and won
dered, and meanwhile Petit-Poulain scam
pered gayly about that velyety paddock
That night the vineyard hills, bathed in
the mellow grace Of moonlight saw a sight
they had never seen before. From the east
an army came riding and marching Oman
army of strange, determined men, speaking
a language before unheard in that fair
country and threatening things Of which
that peaceful valley had never dreamed.
You and Of course know that these were
the Germans advancing upon France-a ma
ton Of immortals eager to destroy the pos
sessions and the human lives Of fellow i'm
mortals. But old Felice hearing the din
away off yonder-the unwonted noise Of
cavalry and infantry advancing with muir
derous intent-she did not understand il
all; she did not even suspect the truth. You
cannot wonder, for what should a soulless