Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1895-07-18
LITTLE FRENCH MARY.
hs SARAH oRNE JEwErr.

seeing seeing foreigners of anv sort DSuo or 70 "
nearing their voices in its s,roats ~ W W
a, sna, ~ was in some sense n mattor 81 .;
puoiic interest when n Conod;an ta,, -
ny was reported to have come 60 t tha
hams mso mouse by the bridge. This
' house' small and low-storied with -
uushy little garden in front, had boon
s'anu'ng empty several months Tlsroi-
y wnen house was left tenont1oas y,
daoa a'h !. remained SO and fell into
decay and, after some years. the cin, %
namon manor, rose bushes straggled into tho
. oeiiar and the dutiful grass grew over
.ne mound that covered the chimnou
bricks. Dulham was n oniot oIaoS
wnere the population dwindled stead
NY, though such citizens ms rena;pnd
hao more and more reason to think n
as peasant as any country town in
Some of tho old men who met
every day to talk over the town affairs
were much interested in the new
comers' They approved the course Of
.ne strengthening young Canadian
laoorer, who had been quick to seize
upon MS opportunity; one or two of
.hem mad already engaged him to make
'neir gardens and to do odd Jobs and
were pleased with his ouickness and
Willingness. lie had come afoot one
aay from q neighboring town, where
ne ana his wife had been made i'll bv
oad drainage and factory work, and
saw the little house, and asked the
postmaster Ii there was any worl, to
DC hal out Of doors that spring in Dull
NAM Being assured of his prospects,
ne rcappeared with his pale, bright
eyed wife and little daughter the yerv
next day but one This startling
promptness 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 small-paned win
dows; there were clean white curtains.
und 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
morning fire in the box stove to make
them form again into the close group
that was usually broken up at the APP
proach 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 it 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. fused to
be able to talk considerable French in
my early days when l sailed from
southern ports to Bavre and Bordeaux
but don't seem to recall it now very
we'll. 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
wav of assurance, when the store door
opened and bright little figure stood
looking in. All the gray-headed mer
turned that way, and every one'of then
smiled.
Come right in, DEAR" said the kind
hearted old captain.
They saw charming little creaturs
about six years old, who smiled bacl
apain from under her neat bit OF hat
she wore pink dress that made her lool
still more like q flower, and she said
"Bon jour" prettily to the gentlemen
as she passed. Henry Staples, the store
keeper and postmaster, rose behind th'
counter to serve his customer as II sh'
had been queen, and took from ne
hnnd the letter she brought, with th'
amount Of It's postage folded up IN
warm bit Of newspaper
The captain and his friends looked ol
with admiration.
"(iiye her piece of candy-no' Civ
It me an I'll give it to her" said TN
captain, eageriy, reaching for his can
and leaving his chair with more thr
usual agility; and everybody looke'
on while he took striped stick OF pep
,,ermint from the storekeeper and OF
fered it gallantly. There was some
thing in the way this favor was ac
cented that savored of the Frencl
court and made every man IN the stor
lover. .;.
The child not only made guam
how before she reached out her nam
w;tb childish eagerness for the unex
nected delight, but she stepped Tor
ward and kissed the captain.
There was a murmur of delight a
this charming courtesy; not a ma
share would not have liked to I'M
a,n,e excuse for walking away VIII
g. and there was general sig
~ eiI she shut the door behind her an
soo,sd s I back through the glass with
aTbat's little French Mary Alexis
little girl" said the storekeePer ,,,asig1 edgo
to his sSs sdvansnss Dsms here Us p!Ss. yss
dsI and did an errand for her motne
asy as nice as grown person could >.
81 never saw a little ,A creaturt wv w,I ~
prettier ways" said the captain am soor' oluSi
mo and tapping his cane on 'ne % nTG., ';t.,