Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1895-10-11
MADELINE: A TRADITION.

Lying off 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, mono can question
the immortal intensity Of his faith.
One day recently pilgrim stood
looking off and over the vast, bright,
changing inland sea of Superior An
old man limped up and, after looking
ing at the stranger with curious air,
said:
''Sorter stranger hereabouts, Ell,
mister?"
''Yes," CURLY.
We'll, you needn't be huffed erbout
1t. I'm Yankee, you see"
The answer explained the curiosity,
and was so good-naturedly given that
the other gave way and held out his
hand. II was thinking he said, 'of
Madeline island over there, and of your
old church, where the seeds of Chris
tianity were first sown in the north
west"
'Thinking of The old church?'
queried the old man. "Wall, that puts
me in mind of err 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 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.
If 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 and Numbered outside of the
small, unchanging territory 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 inn
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, poor, little, unlettered child
on the day when this record OF his
tragic life begins.
A whirl of dust which got up from
the roadside brought his thoughts
back from their wanderings car
rage stopped in front of the old vine
yard gate, and little girl came up te
him, saying:
Please, boy, ain Madeline, and
will you give me some grapes?'
Pierre blushed holly 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, 81 nave better
fruit and he led her to another vine
'.Come any day and you can have al
the grapes you want"
"0h, thank you AGAIN. responded
the girl, II live in that great big hous,
over there" pointing to an old castle
across the river, "and II you will com,
and see my father he will pay yo,
we'll"
"Pay," growled Pierre. 81 want NJ
pay, gave them to you. Ne
''But father says must not take an,
gifts from his peasants"
~ don't belong to your father" re
piled Pierre, angrily.
''0h, yes, you do! Father says yo,
are one of his best men, or rathe
boys" and she laughed sweetly,
.yrcll him, then, for me, that l ar
no mans slave,p and without anothe
word, he left her there.
But the girl took no umbrage, an,
came again and yet again. On he
second visit she had gold piece, whicl
she offered to Pierre.
mo, will not take it." he said
1.-THE vineyard belongs to your father.
"Oh, know that; but he says tina
your father pays his rent on the YER
day and that you must make me n
gifts"
He said that, did hep" and his fai
face darkened with sudden unhappi
ness
Then something strange happened
for the girl caught his hand and kisse'
It. Pierre stood petrified. His Who'll
little world changed IN fash
"0h, If could only readl" he said
impetuously.
II can teach you, replied Madeline
not without a touch of pride in he
tone. "See, here is my catechism
This Is letter A, this is b, this is C,
and thus and there began the educs
ton of one who was destined to hav
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 pictur
first No pen can depict, no brush POI
tray, no thought evolve more than
faint idea OF her infinite ,ovelines'
Small marvel, then, that Pierre bt
came her slave; but If one had see