Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-07-27

She extended her arm ana showed MN
in the distance, at the end of the valley,
forester's house.
81 am returning to my fathers house,
said she, "the forester, Neri Forester,
whom you know without doubt, monsieur
Judge
"What! you are the daughter of the
brave Ye1i? All! | know him well. \
very worthy man. Then you are the little
Charlotte, of whom he has often spoken,
when he brought me his official reports|'
Eyes, monsieur Judge. ! have been to
the city and am returning home
"Nou have a very nice bunch of straw
berries, said the old man.
She detae hed it from her belt and pre-
scented it to him.
''If it please you, Monsieur Seier?'
Iacharas was charmed.
"Ah, yes said he, 81 accept, and will
accompany you. wish to see that brave
Forester. He ought to be a little older
than when last saw him.
"He is very near your age, monsieur
judge said Charlotte, nalvely,-"from
tifty-ive to sixty years.
This simple response brought the good
man to his senses, and while walking, he
became pensive.
OF what thought he? No one knows
but how many, many times it has happened
that good and worthy man, who magines
himself to have fulfilled all his duties, has
finished by discovering that he has neglect
ed the greatest, the most holy, the most
beautiful OF all-that of loving! And
what he suffers, to think of it a little too
late.
Soon Master Iacharias and Charlotte
had made the d6tour of the valley, where
the pathway led over a little wooden bridge
to the house of the forester
They perceived, at a distance, Yeri Foer-
ster with his large old hat, his calm eyes,
his brown cheeks and gray temples, seated
upon a bench near his door; two beautiful
red hunting-dOgs We're extended at his feet;
and the vines behind him mounted TO the
top of the gable.
The old guard, with eyes as piercing as
those of an eagle, recognized at distance
Master IaCharias and his daughter; he
came to meet them, raising his hat
II salute you, monsieur Judge said he,
with the frank and cordial air of a noun
taineer. "What happy circumstance pro
cures me the homer of such a visit?"
Master Yeri, - responded the good man.
81 find myself little too late in the noun
tains. Do you not have a little corner
vacant at your table, and bed at the dis
position of your friends?'
All cried the guard, had we only
one bed in the house, would it not be at
the disposal of the best, the most honcred
of our old magistrates of Stautz? All,
Monsieur Seller, what an honor you confer
upon the humble dwelling of Yeri Foer-
stern'
Entering the house he cried, "Christina q,
Christina Monsieur Judge Iacharias
Seller wishes to repose under our roof"
Then good old woman, quite small,
with face wrnked as a vine-leaf. but still
fresh and laughing, and with her head sur
mounted by a head-dress of ribbons, APP
peared upon the sill, then turned imme-
diately, murmuring: "Oh.- it possible
monsieur the judge
And she descended very quickly to the
kitchen.
MY good people," said Master Zacha-
rias, truly you make me too welcome. l
was not eXpecting-'
Monsieur judge, even if you forget the
good that you have done, others remember
it."
Then little Charlotte, setting her basket
upon the table, appeared very proud to
have led such a guest to the house. She
drew forth the sugar, the coffee, all the
small provisions which she had bought in
the city for the household. And monsieur,
the judge, regarding her pretty profile, felt
again his poor old heart beating gently and
seeming to say to him, Love is beautiful
Zacharias Love is beautiful"
What shall l say? Master Seller passed
the evening at the house of Yeri Forester,
forgetting the anxiety of Theresa, his
promise to return before seven o'clock, his
old habits of order and submission.
Picture to yourself the large room, its
ceiling crossed with brown beams; the
windows open upon the silent valley: a
round table in the centre, covered with a
neat'white cloth, barred with red; the blaze
of the lamp, illumining the grave faces of
Iacharias and of Yeri Forester, the sweet
cOuntenance of Charlotte, rosy and smiling
and the little head-dress of Christina, with
its long, tluttering ribbons. Picture also,
the grand supper-table, Ornamented with
its large, tlOwer-decorated dishes, from
whence escaped an appetizng odor, the
platter OF trout, garnshed with parsley,
the plates covered with fruit, aud honey
comb, yellow as gold-then the worthy
Iacharias, presenting in turn the fruit and
the delicious honey to the girl, who lowered
her eyes, embarrassed at the compliments
and tender words of the old man.
The brave Yeri Strengthened himself,
quite proud of her praises, and Christina
said, "Oh! Monsieur judge, you are too
good. You do not know how much trouble
the little girl gives us! She is so gay, so
stubborn when she wishes anything You
will spoil her with so many beautiful
words ~
To which Zacharias responded "Madame
Christina, you possess treasure! Made
moiselle Charlotte deserves all that | have
said of her"
Then Master Yeri, raising his glass, cried:
"To the health of our good and venerable
Judge Zacharias."
Picture to yourself, also, the clock chant
ing the hours with hoarse voice; the
hunting-dogs under the table, swapping the
bones, ana throwing their odd shadows up
on the floor: while outside is the great
silence of the woods, the gentle murmur of
the river.
"How happy one could be living here,
and having plenty assured him, with a
young and pretty companion, calm, tran
quill, obedient a little giddy perhaps, ca
PRECIOUS, but cheerful. Not four steps from
the river where one could throw his line
from time to time; in the shadow of the
grand forest, where he could follow the
chase with his father-in-aw, Yeri Forester,
IL. L