The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-07-30
NoIRAUD.
BY DOY

BY LUDOvIC HALEVY.
Don't be alarmed, monsieur, you
won't miss your train. I've taken pas.
sengers to the station for fifteen years
and nc one ever missed a train, sir,
never"
"But-"
mo use looking at your watch, sir
there is something you don't know and
which your watch can't tell you-the
train is always fifteen minutes late
there never was an occasion when it
has not been fifteen minutes late"
This day, however, the rule did not
hold good. The train was on time and
I missed it. My driver was enraged.
You ought to announce that the
trains leave on time all at once" he
cried to the stationmaster. II never
heard of such a thing!" and taking all
the porters as witnes ses he said: "Was
it ever heard of before9 I do not wish
to be at fault in this gentleman's eyes.
A train on time! Tell him for me that
this is the very first time it ever hap
happened"
There was a general chorus of so,
yes always late, always!'
So I only had three, long hours to
pass in this very melancholy village of
the Canton of Vaud, fanked by two
melancholy mountains, with each a
little patch of snow on it's summit.
How kill these three hours9 lin turn
spoke for assistance, and there was a
general cry of ''go and see the Chau-
dron, the only thing worth seeing in
these parts"
And where was the Chaudron?
ION the mountain to the right, half
way up, but the path is a little compIi-
Gated" Twas advised to take aguide,
and I'VE there, way over there in the
white house with green blinds, 1 would
find 1.-The best guide in the country, a
fine guide, Father Simon"
I went over to the little house and
knocked at the door. An old woman
opened it.
"Is Fainter Simon in7"
He lives here-is it to go to the
Chaudron9"
Yes; to go to the Chaudron."
well, he hasn't been himself since
this morning; his legs trouble him; he
can't get about. But don't be distur-
bed, we have some n to replace him,
Noiraud, only 1 must warn you that
Noiraud is not a person"
mot a persons"
mo; he is our dog. He is used to it,
and will guide you very well, as we'll
as my husband"
LAS well as your husband2'
Certainly. For years and years
Father Simon has taken him along, so
he has learned the places, and now he
does the business alor e. He has often
taken travellers before, and we have
always had compliments for him. As
for intelligence, don't be afraid; he has
as much as you and L; he only needs to
talk, but it is not necessary for him to
talk in this case. If it were to show a
monument and know history dates
and a speech it would be different.
Here are only the beauties of nature.
Take Noiraud. And then, monsieur,
he is cheaper. My husband is three
francs and Noiraud is but a franc and
a half, and he will show you as much
for the franc and a half as my husband
would for the three"
Very we'll. Where is Noiraud9"
"He is resting in the garden. He
has already taken some English up to
the Chaudron this morning. Noiraud
Noiraud!"
He came in through the window with
one bound. He was an ugly enough
little black dog, with long curly, woolly
hair; his looks did not speak for much,
but in his whole personality there was
a certain air Of gravity, decision and
Importance. He first gave me a pre-
else, clear, sharp glance which envel-
oped me rapidly from head to foot and
seemed clearly to say: at is a trav-
eler he wishes to see the Cheudron,"
Being left once was enough for that
day, so I was essentially careful not to
expose myself to a second such misad-
venture. I explained to the woman
that I had but three hours for the
walk to the Chaudron.
oh, yes" said she; you wish to
take the four o'clock train. Don't be
afraid. Noiraud will bring you back
in time. Come, Noiraud; start along
my boy start along"
But Noiraud did not appear to feel