Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-03-01

BOUNDARY OF MDlcn the L TtllCCS Use llhC
IL wall of blue marble the houses are al
ways built facing the sunrise, aud nearly
very one of them has II guardian tree.
Sometimes it is Il fig tree, sometimes IA
pine or an oak. which grows near the door
way spreading its heavy branches over
the roof as if to protect the household from
blneful influences and from the evil spir-
lis which, the peasants believe, are float.
ing in the air.
Before one of these white houses where
lived an honest fellow named Luc Laborde,
an immense parasol pine had shot up ma
Jest ically to the height of SO feet or more
and spread its umbrella shaped branches
Just under the clouds, giving its name to
L9horde's cottage. which was known as
The Parasol" The great pine could be
seen from every part OF the parish, and the
birds which migrate in the autumn perch
ed fearlessly ON its boughs, feeling quite
safe so far from the pursuit. of men.
This tree brought good fortune to the
house. Luc Laborde, the young heir, who
was still bachelor. was almost rich. His
crops huurshcd, his granares were full,
his cattle were fat and healthy. and no con
tagious disease had ever attacked the i'll
mates Of the cottage, thanks to the patri-
Hrphal vigilance of the pine tree. whose
wholesome fragrance.
"Tou have fine tree, - said Cazadc, the
carpenter, who had recently installed him
self in the next house to LabOrde 5. Il
VIII give you 100 francs for it,.
He was Il stranger in the country and
did not understand the veneraton felt for
the guardian tree. Therefore Iuc forgave
him.
\ year later the same carpenter said to
his neghbor:
1T is urbe0rabel Your tree overshad-
)ws my orchard. and all my apple trees
are dying More than thai, the roots of
your ridiculous pine are upsetting the
stone wall. warn you. my lad, if you
VIII not sell me your tree, / will burn it
UOWu.'
luc I.aborde rolled up his sleeves, spat
Oh his palms enerYetically, after the Gas
roignc custom and prepared to send the
ir-olcut fellow back to his own house with
ont further argument. He was just going
to attack him furiously when frightened
Noice--such sweet Y dice was never heard
cried suddenly:
Help, help, lie will kill my fatherl'
y young girl witllia flushed face appeared
and luc stopped, 'disarmed by the flute
like tones of Mile. Louise CaZade. for his
ears were accustomed only to the lowing
of cattle, and the s~veet sounds gave him IA
strange SENSATION, making him think of
sugar and vanilla.
An afternoon in the springtime. The
parasol pine putting forth new shoo;s,
which looked like soft. green fingers trying
to steal the sunbeams that fell around.
The breeze, evidently charmed by the sight,
sang n Joyous song round the top of the
tree 1t was a special purring sound which
is never heard excepting in pine trees and
which still echoes in the ears of the Ian
dOi5 peasants when they are eXies in dis
tant cities.
Under the great tree Il woman's form
was seen against the sunset, STOPPING fur
tiVny to gather uptthe dried twigs, and
l.aborde hurried out,,as was his duty, to
tccost the trespasser. When she saw him,
She trembled yisibly and stalnmered with
fright:
II beg your pardon-I will give them
beck
1t was Louise, the carpenter daughter.
Thinking that no one would see her, she
had been picking up small branches witt
which to kndle her fire.
Here they are, sir, " she said, blushing
hotly as she opened her apron and held the
stolen treasures toward him. Luc felt mis-
heart leap as he looked at the girl, for her
eyes shone like rising stars.
ooh, keep them. keep them" he said
generously, land if YOU want any more
here are plenty.' And lie stopped and
picked mp a great arinful Of the twigS,
then, breathing very hard laid them gem
tly in her apron.
"Pray take them, " he began, but start
cd suddenly for-quite accdentally-t
zip of her finger touched his hand, and
while the pine tree which had been the
cause of this meeting, was humming
yogushly Iuc La horde ran away without
another word as if he had touched red
hot iron
As was to be expected, a few days later
the old tree saw the two young people meet
Oh the same spot, and this time they were
less tlmd ana more ncighb orly.
one evening when the diving sunlight
was rcddcning the tips of the pines branch
as as if with "a starry kiss Iuc made bold
to say to the pretty Louise. 81 love YOU
this with wretched French accent, but
SO tenderly
The next morning he stood, cap in hand
and with bowed head before the carpen-
ter, making formal proposal of marriage,
while the pine tree sang a magnificent.
'Why, you don't mean il, OF course,
my good fellow, shall he delighted" eX-
claimed the reconcled neghbur, with UNI
1eiSned satisfaction, for, to say truth, he
knew that Luc was well to do
The next minute, however, lac wnked
meaningy and said in whisper:
"Ihere is one condition. You must let
me cut down that stupid tree of YOURS
This Luc refused. The carpenter insist
ed upon his absurd condition, but The
young man would not give in. He loved
Louise, and was he to destroy the old tree,
the father Of their mutual affection? Never
After that he thought more of the pine
than ever and put an iron screen round its
trunk, so that the wagon wheels should
not scratch or bruse it, One of his anccs-
tors had planted that tree hundreds OF
years ago Iuc 5 grandfather had cared foi
it tenderly, and a swarm of bees had made
their home in its venerable trunk render
ing it still more sacred. Besides all this
Luc was afraid 10 touch the pine tree. fol
one of his forefathrrs had once determined
n .4ttt Il. i r..