Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-01-11

rbly swollen by the recent rain, and that
In making a desperate effort to cross II she
had nearly been drowned
The most dreadful thing of all was that
at this hour Of the night she could not
think of attempting to return to the farm,
for our demoiselle by herself could never
find the way by the short cut and | could
not leave the flock. The idea Of passing
the night upon the mountain tOrmented her
almost TO madness, particularly on account
Of the uneariness her family would feel.
As for me | treasured her the best | was
able.
I'm July the nights are short Mistress"
said /. ut will hardly seem more than
wretched moment"
And quickly kindled a roaring fire TO
dry her feet and her dress all soaked with
the water Of the Sorgue. Afterward :
placed before her milk and sleeps milk
cheese, but the poor demoiselle did not
think either Of warming herself or Of eat
ing, and at the sight Of the big tears that
gathered in her eyes felt like weeping
myself.
! Meanwhile the night had come on apace
| There remained upon the crests Of the
mountains only sprinkle OF sun, "A vapory
light toward the west. | invited our de
moselle to enter the fold and sleep. Hav
ing spread "A handsome new sheepskin over
the clean straw babe her good night, and
going out into the open air seated myself
before the door God is my witness that,
despite the fire of love that was scorching
my blood, no evil thought came 10 me.
nothing but an Oyerpowerlng pride at
thinking that in "A corner Of the fold, close
beside the curious flock that stared at her
as she lay asleep, my masters daughter
like a sheep more precious and whittier than
all the rest-was reposing, intrusted TO my
care.
Never had the heavens appeared 10 pos.
sess such depths; never had the stars
seemed so brilliant. Suddenly the door Of
the fold opened and pretty Stephanette
made her appearance. She could not
sleep. The animals ratified the straw M
they moved about, or bleated In their
dreams She preferred TO come to the fire.
Seeing this | cast my sheepskin over her
shoulders. l stirred up the flames and We
sat down side by side, remaining thus
without utterinR single word.
IL you have ever passed night In the
open air you know that at the hour when
we sleep "A mysterious world awakes amid
the solitude and the silence. Then the
brooks sing In their clearest tones and the
ponds are lighted up with tiny flames. All
the spirits Of the mountain freely come
and go; there Is rustling In the air; there
are almost imperceptible sounds, AS If W.
heard the tree branches growing and the
grass springing up. Day is the life Oi
creatures, but night is the life Of things
When one IL not accustomed TO this il fill
one with fear. Therefore our demoisell,
was all Of culver and chung TO me closely
at the slightest noise
At one time long melancholy cry aros,
from the pond that sparkled below us am
came rolling upward 10 our ears. At thu
same instant beautiful shooting sta
glided over our heads In the same direc
tion, a. II the lamentation we heard wer
bearing a fash Of light with IL.
what is thatp asked Stephanette in
whisper
"A soul entering paradise, mistress" an
swered !, making the sign Of the cross.
She made the same sign, and for mo
ment gazed meditatively into the heavens
Then she said 20 me:
us IL true, shepherd, that you people ar
magiciansY
Not in the least, our demoiselle. Blu
here we live much nearer the stars thai
the people Of the plain, and know bette
what is taking place among the sparkling
lights Of heavenT'
She was still gazing upward, resting he
head against one of her hands and wrappe'
In the sheepskin like little heavenl
shepherd.
"Ah, how beautiful they areI' cried she
81 never saw 80 many Of them beforei ID
you know their names, shepherdr
YES, indeed, mistressl Listen: RICH
above us Is St. Jacques highway II goe
from France straight into Spain IL wa
St. Jacques de Calico who traced IL :
show his road TO the brave Charlemagn
when he was making war upon the Sara
Gems. Further away you have the Ca
Of Souls, with its four resplendent axle
trees. The three stars in front are th
three horses, and that tiny one almoe
against the third is the car driver. ID
, you zee all around that shower Of fallin
sfarsi They are the souls the good Go
does not want In heaven.
"A little lower is the Hayrack, or IN
, Three Kings. The stars forming IL sery
as our clock. / have only 10 glance a
them 20 know that IL is now after mic
, night A little lower yet, still looking Il
} ward the south, shines Jean de Milan, th
torch Of the stars. Regarding that sta
this IN what the shepherds relate: IL al
: pears that one night Jean de Milan. wit
the Three Kings and the Ponciniere, wa
invited 10 the wedding Of star, one
, their friends. The Ponciniere, more In
hurry than the rest. started, they say, III
p first Of all and took the high road. Loo
? at her up there away In the midst of III
E heavens.
E The Three Kings went by lower roa
, and overlook her, but lazy Jean de MilaI
, who had slept too late, was left benin,
and In order TO stop them, in his fury
threw his stick at them. That IL why IL
r Three Kings are also called Jean de Milan
y Stick. But the most beautiful Of all ii
) stars, mistress, is ours-the Shepherd
0 Star-that lights us at dawn when "
drive forth our flocks, and also in the evei
{ ing when we bring them back. We hay
9 given IL another name-Maguelonne-
{ beautiful Maguelonne who runs aft
9 Pierre de Provence and marries MIN ever