The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1896-01-02
A NElv "EAF'S STORY.

a WEI EAR > oIOhf.
Translated for N Zap From the French
Of Edward Cacol
The wealth. is lad, distressing
and cold; tn streets are dirty.
What of It'll 'ari ia all agog; it
goes, 1t comes, it p ,rambulates, and
all its carriage ere crowded. All
Saints is past-tLe day of the dead;
to- day is the day of the living.
Carriages and coaches throng the
Elysee, the Offices of the secretaries,
ambassadors, and the great adminis-
traditions. Through the windows of
the cabs one can see golden epaulets
upon military uniforms studded with
decorations, official dress suits, and
magistrates gowns. In other vehi-
cles, private or public, families are
espwde6, large, I'D euns'I lookius
lSsllsisssAlSk; vsfe.Si,ore A,ps" ribbons.
flowers and feathers for madame;
the children dressed like perform
Ing monkeys, with nurses on the
box seats and a whole wagon load
of toys between the legs of the
coachman.
On the sidewalk is a crowd of
people in their Sunday clothes,
loaded down with dainty packages,
and bags tied with multi colored
ribbon, surging, fastening, picking
their way, jostling and jostled.
Indoors, parlor foors are waxed
80 that you could skate upon them.
The covers have disappeared from
the furniture, new wax candles fill
the candlesticks, fire burns brightly
on the health, green plants adorn
the dressers, and an odor of good
things to eat greets one as soon as
he steps into the anteroom.
Early in the morning a worthy
fellow little old man, already
shaved and ''spick and span"-went
down his six fight of stairs. With a
little fat basket hanging from his
arm, and his pipe IN his mo lth, he
goes slowly through the neighbor-
hood, watching the display of eata-
bles, entering the shops and ask ng
prices. When he comes back his
pipe is out; but the basket is no
longer fiat.
"Ha, ha! It's easy to see that
someone is going to have his boy to
dinner to-day" said the janitor.
The old fellow smiles and climb,
up to his lodgings; two small rooms
and a kitchen to match. Once
there, he takes out, spreads and
gazes at the contents of his basket.
A brill-think OF it--wlth six sp.en-
did mushrooms3
"And that?"
}"Hush!n
f"A partridge,
s5-.-----se--oo= zss.oss;, ;,s.-as
iarded." -
"And what Is that over there
that black thing--spoiled fruit"
"No, indeed"
"Truffle, perhaps?"
GAS you say"
Why not, since his boy is coming
to dinner! And that is not all.
Smell that quarter of pound of but
ter; the real article; no margarine in
that; and fresh! Smell it, I tell
you! Its to 60 with those pink rad
ishes, the earliest of the season if
you please! And that, also-a head
OF salad, which will be followed by a
square of Brie cheese Gsn't it white
and creamyD "And-guess: two
punches OF grapes! What do you
think of it?''
"You must be quite a rich old
man?"
every, yes" His pension Of nom
commissioned officer, and what he
has been able to put aside and to
pay into an annuity insurance com
pany after leaving the army; in all
about thousand francs.
"Per month";"
"Per year. But when one does
not ask anything from anybody,
what OF it?'
And who is going to cook all that9
He himself! He knows; an old sol
dier is never embarrassed. And
then the worthy woman whose art
less picture is hanging on the wall
his wife, the mother of his boy-was
splendid cook during her lifetime.
He used to watch her, while smoking
his pipe. He learned from her,
You'll see If his boy does not lick
his fingers!
The time comesj the old mar
starts to work. With what care! II
must be good, and it must look good
He does his best, enjoying in advance
the effect produced upon the beloved
guest by these luxuries and thif
tempting food. The hours pass un.
noticed by him. Twilight is coming
fortunately night comes early in the
winter. He is not late; everything
is gong on well. What tempting
odor perneates the lodging!
The little old man is happy. Hi
son will be surprised. 1t will be I
treat for him. Still more than one
thinks; for, since the day before, q
long -necked bottle had been placed
ON the mantle piece, to get luke
warm. to bring forth the full flavor