St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-08-10
LITTLE FRENCH MARY.
BY SARAH ORNE JEwErr.

BY SARAH ORNE JEWErT.
The town of Dulham was not used +
seeing foreigners of any sort. or t
nearing their voices in its streets, s.
that 1t was in some sense a matter O
public interest when a Canadian fam
lily was reported to have come to tn
white house by the bridge. Thi
mouse, small and low-storied. with
oushy little garden in front, had beer
standing empty several months. Usual
ly.when house was left tenantless il
Dulham it remained SO and fell int.
decay, and. after some years. the Gin
namon rose bushes struggled into tn,
cellar and the dutiful grass grew ovel
the mound that covered the Gimme,
oricks- Dulham was quiet place
where the population dwindled stead
lily, though such citizens as remained
had more and more reason to think il
as pleasant as any country town il
the world.
Some of the old men who met
every day to talk o-er the town affair.
were much interested in the new
comers They approved the course OF
the strengthening 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
postmaster il there was any work to
be had out of doors that spring in Dull
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
prc:nptness had given time for but few
persons to hear the news of a new
neighbor, and as one after another
came over the bridge and along the
road there were many questions asked
The house seemed to have new life
looking out of its slnall-paned win
dows: there were clean white curtains.
and china dogs on the window sills.
and blue smoke in the chimney-the
spring sun was shining in at the wide
open door.
There was chilly east wind on an
April day. and the elderly men were
gathered inside the post Office. which
was also the chief grocery and dry
goods store. Each was in his favorite
armchair, and there was the excuse of
a morning fire in the box stove to make
them form again into the close group
that was usually broken up at the ap-
proach of summer weather. Old Capt
Wcathers 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.
'Hclped 'em to lay a carpet yesterday
at our house, neat rs wax" said the
captain. with approval. Made the
garden in the front yard 50 it hasn't
looked so we'll 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 ou:
very well with his English. nsed to
be able to talk considerable French in
my early days when I 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 willing"
They say Canada French amt spoke
the same anyway" began the captains
devoted friend. Mr.. 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 ssid the kind
hearted old captain
They saw a charming little creature
about six years old. who smiled back
again from under her neat bit of a hat:
she wore 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 ac-
cepted that savored of the French
court and made every man in the store
. lover.
The child not only made a quaint
bow before she reached out her hand
with childish eagerness for the unex-
pected 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
her. and there was = general sigh
as she shut the door behind her and
looked back through the glass with \
parting smile
..That's little French Mary. Alexis
little girl" said the storekeeper, eager
Is nroclaim his advantage OF previous
.ennaintance. '.She came here yester-
a.r and did m errand for her mother
: nice = grown person could