Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-03-19
shelves. One would say notary,s office

snelves. One would say notary'6 office
and study.
Our good man breathes at ease. He is
at home. Before beginning his work be
opens large closet, takes out a pair of
heavy silk sleeves, which be draws on
carefully; also little red plate and
some pieces Of sugar. He then peels his
apples with an air of satisfaction. The
fact is. one could hardly find a more
cheerful little Office, better lighted OF
arranged in such good order. But, sin
guiarly enough, one hears the noise OF
water everywhere; it surrounds you,
envelops you, very eluch as if yon were
in the cabin of steamer.
Below you the Seine rolls and tum-
bles at the arches Of the bridge, making
heaps of foam at this point, always clog
ged by floating debris. Even in the
house itself, all around the Office, there
isanoise Of trickling water. | know not
why, but the sound makes you shiver.
1t drops upon a hard surface and, re-
bounding, falls upon broad stone floor.
There are marble tables which make il
seem still more cold.
What do they wash at this strange
laundry? What ineffaceable staing AT
times, when the trick ling and pattering
cease, down below we hear the sound
Of solitary drops of water, one by one,
like snow in thaw or the beginning Of
shower. We might think the fog was
condensing, gathering upon the walls
and continually dripping. 1t does not dis.
turb our good man. He is entirely taken
upwith his apples, which are beginning
to steam in the little red plate, giving
out faint perfume Of burned sugar,
and the pretty song seems to prevent
him from hearing the sound of the wa
ter-that horrible drippingl
Are you ready, recorder9r says d
hoarse voice from the adjoining room.
Our recorder casts a glance at his apples
and leaves them. with regret. Through
the half open door current Of cold air,
smelling of reeds and marshes, strikes
him, and vision Of clothes hanging on
a line - faded blouses, workingmen 4
garments, calico dress stretched at full
length by the sleeves and dripping,
drippingl
He has finished and re-enters. He lays
down upon the table some small objects,
all wet, and goes to the stove TO thaw
out his fingers, benpmbed and reddeneC
by the cold.
'They must have been mad in suct
weather as this, he said shiyering,
"What is the matter with them all?"
When he is again comfortably warm,
and when the sugar melts and runs oyer
the side of the plate. he breakfasts in 3
corner Of the Office. While eating be
opens one of his great books and com
placently turns over the leaves. This bis
book is beautifully kept the lines are
straight and headed with blue ink, with
little reflections of gold powder and 8
blotter for every page. Everything is il
perfect order,
Business seems TO be good. Our re
corder has the contented air of Hn ac-
conntant looking over good balance al
the end Of the year.
While he turns over the pages will
delight they open the doors of the ad
joining room. There is the sound of {
crowd upon the stone pavement anC
hushed voices as if in a church.
"Oh, how young she isl What pity 7
And there is hushing and whis
pering. What is it to our good mar
whether she is young or not? He tran
gully finishes his apples and draws to
ward him the objects which he placed
ON the table but a short time before.
A thimble full Of sand. pocketbool
containing son, little pair of rustet
scissors, SO rusted that they never car
be used again. Oh, something elsel
working girls book. all the pages stucl
together; torn, defaced letter-a few
words are still legible-tthe child-nC
money-a month as a nurse. 2
The bookkeeper shrugs his shoulder
as if to say, II have seen all that be
fore. - Then he takes his pen, blow
away carefully the bread crumbs which
have fallen upon his book. makes lit
tie preparatory gesture before getting
his hand in the proper position, anC
then, in large round letters. he writes
s'Felicie Rameau, metal burnisher, agt
--l7 years. From the French of Al
phonse Daudet in Short Stories
LEATHER NOVELTIES.