Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-12-20
THE LITTLE DRUMMER.
A Story, With a Christmas Flavor,
or the Days of the French Revolution
ton, and their Strange WhirIieie of

Change
On Christmas eve. 1888. a great
storm was raging. The rain fell in
torrents, the wind blew a gale kissing
as if in anger, swapping the branches
from the trees and crashing them
cracking and grooming, to the ground
Shortly after midnight a carriage
rolling along the road from CroiX-
Daurade. little village not far from
Toulouse. to the castle of Palificat,
was stopped by the wind and rain. and
the lights put out.
Hold, Jean" cried a voice.
The coachman obeyed, and. dis
mounting from his box, seized the
brides of one of the frightened horses,
talking gently to them to prevent their
running away.
Can you see a light anywhere,
Jean?" demanded the voice.
Yes" replied the servant, right
here at the Margaridetto's, but the
house is wretched enough and Mar
guerite herself very poor"
What does that matter?" asked the
gentleman in the carriage. I'VE shall
be better off there than here in the
midst of this tempest, with a wind
strong enough to tear the horns off
an OK"
The coach door opened, and a man
of great size descended, carrying a
heavy burden in his arms. He ran
to the house indicated by the coach
man, and perceiving a light through
| the cracks of the badly made door, he
| knocked. In a few seconds the door
was opened, by a young man. or
rather, lad of Is or IA years.
you, Monsieur lie Marquis" he
cried in establishment, lat our cot"
yes" replied the gentleman, set
ting down his precious burden upon
a rude straw settle. This burden
proved to be a young girl, apparently
the same age as the boy who had
| opened the door.
The two young people were the
same age, but what a difference there
was between them. The girl was en-
veloped in a rich fur, which partially
concealed a dress of garnet velvet
Her pretty blond head, with its great
black eyes, was covered with a fichr
of rare lace. The lad was thin and
pale, with an expression of sadness
and melancholy pitfable to see.
| ne HOuSt Which the lldlQulo ant
his daughter had entered was poor
cold and bare. An ancient clothes
press, a cuckoo clock gently ticking
the hour away in a corner, and an ole
table were the sole furnishings. A
the end of the room, in an alcove, OF
a wretched bed, lay a sick woman
ia Margaridetto," as she was called
throughout the country. A candle
stick with two tapers illuminated
this miserable interior with it's flick
ering, odorous flame. The marquis
cast a surprised glance at the povert.
about him. The boy, perceiving hi
establishment, anticipated his thought
ooh, it is not fine here, but yol
know maman is i'll, has been so for tw
years. and l, watching the fiocks, cal
hardly earn enough to keep her iron
starving"
The young girl began to shiver wit
cold, and the lad threw a fagot on tn
hearth, which, burning with a joyou
cacl1ling, filled the room with a dane
ing light. The sudden glare awok
the woman lying on the bed, who's
emaciated face resembled that of
corpse. The boy ran to her, announC
ing the visit with which they wer
being honored, and which seemed I
greatly surprise the sick woman.
Eyes, my poor Marguerite" sal
the marquis, Eve were surprised b
the storm while returning from tn
, midnight mass, and so came to she
, ter ourselves in your home"
The unfortunate woman had onl
strength enough to incline her head |
recognition of the honor of her lord
visit to her humble dwelling. TIL
young girl continued to warm herse
at the hearth fire.
What is your name?" the marqui
asked the boy.
Francois" was the reply.
"And you are a shepherd?"