The Monticellonian., 1895-06-21
LITTLE FRENCH MARY.
BY SARAH oRNE JEwErr.

II
 BY SARAH oRNE JEwErr.
 The town of Dulham was not used to seeing foreigners of any sort, or to hearing their voices in it's streets, so that it was in some sense matter of public interest when Canadian fam fly was reported to have come to the white house by the bridge This house, small and low-storied, with bushy little garden in front, had been standing empty several months Usual l ly when house was left tenantless in Dulham it remained so and fell into decay, and, after some years, the cin- namon rose bushes struggled into the cellar and the dutiful grass grew over the mound that covered the chimney l bricks. Dulham was a quiet place, where the population dwindled stead fly, though such citizens as remained had more and more reason to think it as pleasant as any country town in the world
 Some of the old men who met every day to talk oyer the town affairs were much interested in the new corners. They approved the course of the strong-looiing young Canadian laborer, who had been quick to seize upon his opportunity; one or two of them had already engaged him to make their gardens and to do odd jobs. and were pleased with his quickness and willingness. He had come afoot one day from a neighboring town where he and his wife had been made i'll by bad drainage and factory work, and saw the little house, and asked the 1 postmaster if there was any work to be had out of doors that spring in Dull l ham. Being assured of his prospects. he reappeared with his pale, bright eyed wife and little daughter the very next day but one. This startling promptness had given time for but few 1 persons to hear the news of a new " can it be usedf Because it11other the stamp of government J"0S !" , legal tender. It is by vir- tbo d [ the coinage and legal tender gives of the country it possesses this West ion. The private paper of aaVa' Mauo. s eo is not roee;v- any ( for custom house dues and notb lore stands on very "liief' repr, is the promise of grap ponsible firm to pay some Pres' that is legal tender. It is ,' po., l them form again lnt3 the tlosp .ond that was usually broken up at the aI proaeh of summer weather. Old Capt Weathers was talking about Alexis, the newcomer (they did not try to pro nounce his last name), and was saying for the third or fourth time that the more work you set for the Frenchman the better pleased he seemed to be. "Helped em to lay carpet yesterday at our house, neat as wax" said the captain, with approval Made the garden in the front yard so 1t hasn't looked so well for years. We're all go. in to find him very handy; he'll have plenty to do among us all summer Seems to know what you want the minute you pint, for he can't make out very we'll with his English. used to be able to talk considerable French in my early days when l sailed from southern ports to Havre and Bordeaux, but don't seem to recall it now very well. He'd have made smart snilor, Alexis would; quick an wiling"
 "They say Canada French ain't spoke the same anyway" began the captains devoted friend, Mir Ezra Spooner, by way Of assurance, when the store door opened and bright little figure stood looking in. All the gray-headed men turned that way, and every one of them smiled.
 Come right in, dear" said the kind hearted old captain.
 They saw charming little creature about six years old, who smiled back again from under her neat bit of hat; she wore q pink dress that made her look still more like flower, and she said: Bon jour- prettily to the gentlemen as she passed. Henry Staples, the store keeper and postmaster, rose behind the counter to serve his customer as if she had been queen. and took from her hand the letter she brought, with the amount of its postage folded up in warm bit of newspaper
 The captain and his friends looked on with admiration.
 Give her piece of candy-no, give it me an I'll give it to her" said the captain, eagerly, reaching for his cane and leaving his chair with more than usual agility; and everybody looked on while he took a striped stick of pep permint from the storekeeper and of fered it gallantly. There was some thing in the way this favor was ae- eepted that savored of the French | court and made every man in the store a lover.
 The child not only made quaint bow before she reached out her hand | with childish eagerness for the unex- | peected delight, but she stepped for ward and kissed the captain
 There was murmur of delight at | this charming courtesy; not a man | there would not have liked to find | some excuse for walking away with |