The Washington times., 1895-05-31
Liffl6 Pr6nGh Mary.


Copyright, 1895, by Bachelor, johnson
& Bacheller)
The town of DuIham was not used to
seeing foreigners of any sort, or TO hear
ing their voices in its streets, SO that it
was in some sense matter of public in
terest when Canadian family was re-
ported TO have come TO the white house by
the bridge. This house, small and low
storied, with bushy little garden in front,
hadbeen standin gempt tyforseveralmonths.
Usually when a house was left tenantless
in Dulham it remained so and fell into
decay, and, after some years, the cinna-
mon rose bushes struggled into the cell
lar, and TIE dutiful grass grew over the
mound that covered the chimney bricks.
Dulham was a quiet place, where the
population dwindled steadily. though such
citizens as remained had more and more
reason to think il as pleasant as any coun-
try town in the world.
Some OF the old men who met every day
to talk over the town affairs were much
interested in the newcomers They ap-
proved 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 quick
ness and willin gaeSs. He had come afoot
one day from a ncighboring 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 if
there were any work to be had out of doors
that spring in Dulham.
Being assured OF his prospects, he re-
appeared with his pale, bright-eyed wife
and little daughter the very next day
but one. This startling prompIcss 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
aIung the TUau tnere were many quesiluirs
asked. The house seemed to have new life
looking out of its smail-paned window s;
I there We're clean white curtains, and
china dogs on the window sills, and a
blue smoke in the chimuey-the spring
sun shining in at the write open door
There was chilly east wind on an April
day, and the elderly men We're gathered
inside the postoffice, which was also
the chief grocery and dry goods store
! Each was in his fayorite arm chair, and
! there was the excuse OF a morning fire
! in the box stove to make them foIm again
/ into the close group that was usually
/ broken up at the approach of summer
Z '
! ing ebout Alexis, she new conner uhey did
! not try 10 pronounce his last namel and
| was saying for the third or fourth lime
! that the more work you set for the French
( man the better pleased he Seemed TO be
"Heloed 'em TO lay a carpet yesterday
! at our house, neat as WAX" said the
/ captain, with approval. Made the gar
( den IN the front yard so If hasn't looked
so wei for years. We're all goin' to find
/ him very handy. He'll have plenty TO do
among us all summer. Seems to kno w
what you want the minute you pint, for
1 he can't make out very Well with his
! English. / used to be able to talk consid-
cradle French in my early days, when L
sailed from southern ports TO Havre and
! Bordeaux, but / don't seem 10 recall it
now very well. He'd have made smart
/ sailor, Alexis would, quick an willing"
''They say Canada French amt spoke the
same auyway'-began the captains de-
voted friend, Mr.. Ezra Spooner, by way of
| assurance, when the store door opened and a
1 bright little figure stood looking in. All the
! gray headed men turned thatway, ,andeyery
| Que OF them smiled.
Come right IN, DEAR" said the kind
hearted old captain.
| They saw d charming little creature about
! SIX years old, who smiled back again from
/ under her neat bit of a hat; She wore a
/ pink dress that made her look still more
like a flower, and she said Bon jour- pret-
tily to the gentlemen as she passed. Henry
! Staples, the storekeeper and postmaster,
rose behind the counter 10 serve this GUS
! toner al if she had been queen, and took
! from her hand the letter she brought, with
\ the amount OF its postage folded up in
! a warm bit of newspaper
The captain ard his friends looked on
with admiration.
Give her a piece Of candy-no, give
! I-frf esafd fbe
captain eagerly, reaching for his cane
aud leaving his chair with more than usual
agility; and everybody looked on while he
/ took a striped stick of peppermint from the
| storekeeper and offered il gallantly. There
was something in the way this favor was ac-
/ cepted that sayored 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 child
ish eagerness for the unexpected delight,
but she stepped forward aud kissed the
| Captain.
There was q muTmur of delight at this
charming courtesy; not man there would
not have liked to find some excuse for
walking away with her, aud there was a
general sigh as she shut the door behind
her and looked back through the glass with
a parting smile.
That's little French Mary, Alexis lit.
lie girl" said the storekeeper, eager to
proclaim his advantage of previous ac
quaintauce. 'She came here yesterday
aud did an GRAND for her mother as nice as
a grown person could"
II never saw little creatur' with pret
tier ways" said the Captain, blushing
and tapping his cane on the floor.
This first appearance of the little for
eigner on an April day was like the coming
Of a young queen TO her kingdom. SHE
reigned all summer over every heart in
Dulham-not a face but wore its smiles
when French Mary came down the street
not a mother who did not say to her chill
dren that she wished they had such pretty
manners and kept their frocks as neat
The child danced and sang like fairy, and
condescended 10 all childish games, and
vet, best of all for her friends, seemed tC
see 20 difference between young and old
She sometimes followed Capt. Weather:
home. aud discreetly dined or took tes
with him aud his housekeeper, an honoreC
guest: on rainy days she might be founC
in the shoemaker's shop or The blacksmith
watching them at their work; smiling
much but speaking little, and teaching al
much French as she learned English.
To this day, in Duiham, people laugh ant
repeat her strange foreign words and
phrases. Alexis, the father, was stead,