The Van Buren press., 1895-10-12
MADELINE: A TRADITION.

Lying of the coast of Wisconsin and
In sight Of its wonderful shore are the
Apostle islands. They were discovered
by Catholic priest, and from him re-
ceived their name. While one may
question his creed, none can question
the immortal intensity Of his faith.
One day recently . pilgrim stood
looking of and over the vast, bright,
changing inland sea Of Superior An
old man limpcd up and, after looking
Ing at the stranger with curious air.
said:
..Sorter stranger hereaboutA oh,
mister?"
.Yes." curtly.
swell, you needn't be huffed erbout
it. I'm Yankee, you see."
The answer explained the curiosity.
and was so good-naturedly given that
the other rare way and held out his
nHnd Il was thinking he said, ..of
.Madeilne island over there, and OF your
old church. where the seeds Of Chris
tianity were first sown In the north
west"
'sThinking of the old church?'
queried the old man. "Wall, that puts
me in mind OF er story erbout it." And
this is it, released from the thralls Of
dialect and told in another tongue:
1t appears that Pierre La Fonte was
. pretty lad in his old day-a day
half lost in the midst of history, just
as this will be lost in time, but one
that left its touch upon our planet,
as the touch of this one will be left.
There is some preordained plan-but
there, this is a tradition, not preach
ing of philosophy. Little Pierre was
regarded by his dull, unprosperous and
unprogressive parents In the light of
other products and was kept from
morning until night in the vineyard
II this branch Of vine were too
premature or If that were too back
ward he was taught to apply the rem
edy, and therein lay the whole region
Of his knowledge.
He could neither read nor write. He
knew nothing of the world that
throbbed ami thundered,outside Of the
aIslai uIs naain tory Of the clois-
tered Vineyard in france until some
thing happened on his fourteenth birth
day-something that was destined to
change his whole life and leave an i'm
mortal impress upon the march for
ward of Christianity in half our world.
Pierre was sitting in the shadow Of a
vine one golden August afternoon
more than two centuries ago He sat
there, a poor, little, unlettered child
on the day when this record OF his
tragic life begins.
A whirl dust which got up from
the roadside brought his thoughts
back from their wanderings. A car
riage stopped in front OF the old vine
yard gate, and little girl came up to
him, saying:
''Please, boy. am Madeline, and
will you give me some grapes?"
Pierre blushed hotly on seeing the
vision and, acting on natural i'm
pulse, began plucking fruit from the
nearest vine.
''Oh, thank you" murmured Made
line.
NO. replied Pierre, II have better
fruit" and he led her to another vine.
'Come any day and you can have all
the grapes you want"
''Oh, thank you again!" responded
the girl, ~ live in that great big house
over there" pointing to an old castle
across the river, ''and il you will come
and see my father he will pay you
we'll"
"Pay," growled Pierre. II want nc
pay, gave them to you"
'But father says must not take any
gifts from his peasants"
II don't belong to your father" re-
piled Pierre, angrily.
"Oh, yes, you do! Father says you
are one Of his best men, or rather
boys" and she laughed sweetly.
Tell him, then, for me, that l an
no mans slave" and without another
word, he left her there.
But the girl took no umbrage, and
came again and yet again. On hel
second visit she had gold piece, which
she offered to Pierre.
mo, l will not take it," he said
sThe vineyard belongs to your father
''Oh, know that; but he says thai
your father pays his rent on the very
day and that you must make me nj
gifts"
''!ie said that, did he?" and his fail
face darkened with sudden unhappi
ness.
Then something strange happened
for the girl caught his hand and kissed
it. Pierre stood petrified. His whole
little world changed in flash.
''oh, if ! could only readr he said
impetuously.
II can teach you," replied Madeline
not without touch Of pride in hel
tone ''See, here is my catechism
This is letter A, this Is b, this is c.
and thus and there began the educa
tion of one who was destined to have
an immortal influence on his race.
The beauty of Madeline Necker be
came proverb throughout France a.
the years went by Her admirer.
learned the paucity of language, ar
and fancy when they saw the picture
first. No pen can depict, no brush por
tray, no thought evolve more than 9
faint idea of her infinite loveliness
Small marvel, then, that Pierre be
same her slave; but II one had seer