The true northerner., 1898-01-12
Marie and Her
Little Ragged Doll.

gamins of the town, who, Ill band,
crowded around Marshal Castellane on
the 1st of January, 1857. The big
hearted man, who was at that time
military governor of the town, finding
himself surrounded by the young ur-
chins, conceived strange idea, which
was both the indication and the result
Of his nature.
"You want New Years gifts, my
boys?" said he.
Eyes, yesr' shouted the youngsters in
chorus.
Every we'll, my little friends; you
must win them. "
"Win them! How?
"By taking them by storm"
"How so?'
"The thing is very simple You see
that candy store there at the corner of
the street?'
"Yes, marshal.
Every well. Take it by storm, and
when you capture it you are at liberty
to sack it. Everything that it contains
will be yours. "
The youngsters were delighted. In
short order they picked upall the stones
that they could lay their hands OH and
sent volley after volley at the windows.
For a moment nothing could be heard
but the ringing clatter of broken glass.
Out bounded the proprietor with "A
big stick in his hand. He was about to
charge upon the young vandals when
he noticed Marshal Castellane, half
choked with laughter, endeavoring to
order a second bombardment. The Incl
dent Immediately became clear to the
shopkeeper's mind, and he, too burst
out laughing.
When the breach was made, the little
rascals rushed into the shop, opening the
door simply TO avoid tho necessity of
passing through the windows Then
they made furious attack upon the
candies and cleaned out almost the en-
tire stock.
When that expedition was over, the
marshal ordered a second one against a
cakeshop. The little army, command
ed by Castellane, won another victory,
the recompense for which was the alb
sorption of an immense number of
cakes.
The two battles and the damages cost
the millionaire marshal nearly 100, 900
francs. That was his contribution in
the form of New Years gifts for the
gamins of Lyons.
On the following year he had another
adventure. This time the military gov
ernor in the course of an evening walk,
stopped by chance i'll front of an an
tiquary's store, where there were some
curious old things displayed in the win
dow Among some objects of a rare
value was "a little ragged doll, well
worn and evidently of the cheapest
kind, just about good enough for junk
shop.
How it got there among the objects
of the antiquary was the thing that
puzzled the marshal. Just then little
girl came up in "a hurry, carrying a loaf
of bread under her arm. Shivering in
the cold January wind, she drew over
her thin shoulders little faded shawl,
while her dress, worn and light, clung
to her frail limbs at each step she took.
The little one opened the door, and,
without entering said to the shopkeeper :
."Mr. Antoine, did anybody make an
offer for my doll?"
"Five cents was all that 1 was offer.
ed for it, replied hoarse voice.
That's not enough" said the little
one. Then she closed the door, and,
with a sigh, continued her journey.
The marshal followed her closely, but
she did not notice him. She entered q
poor, tumble down house and mounted
the stairs. When she came to the gar
ret landing, the child opened a door
and disappeared. Castellane stealthily
crept up and listened at the door.
"You were very long, Marie, and the
little ones are dreadfully hungry" said
the voice of woman inside.
1.-THE baker refused to give us any
more credit, and had to talk to him,
replied the little girl. but anyway
here is the bread, mamma. Let me cut
it for the children. "
The marshal did not need to hear any
more. He understood the case thorough
ly In hurry he returned to the anti
quarry, and, pointing to the old doll,
asked:
"How much for this doll?''
Anything you wish, sir" said the
dealer.
"Well, let us say 100 francs. "
"You are joking, are you not?"
"Not at all. Here's the money"
"Oh, my dear sir, if you only knew
the good that you are about to do. :"
"To whom?''
"To a little girl in the neighborhood,
the eldest of numerous family in des-
perate straits. The father is at present