The Newtown bee., 1904-10-28
stroying the vine? Was not the bread of her chil dren at stake?

StrOying the vine? Was not the bread of her chil dren at stake?
 AS usual, he waited for evening time before speaking to her. As usual also, Madeline, having put the chil- room and at once prepared to sew. Time had now come for action. My dear friend, I have something very important to tell You," began MT Cauche. somewhat heSitating and without looking at Madeline.
 Rather surprised at the solemnesS of the preamble, but yet undisturbed, Mrs Cauche took out of the work bas- ket the stockings to be darned, and said:-
 "What is it, Alexis?"
 "I almost fear-we cannot keep the vineyard" he answered.
 "Do you, truly?" she put in.
 "Yes, setting the good example you know" And he related, word for word, his talk with Tribolet. It was eyes, as if to better look into her in- ner self, but the quivering of her lips and the nervous way in which she was fumbling for her thread in the work basket, told the tale. Yet when her husband had finished speaking, she simply said, trying to suppress her emotion: "Y es you are right; we can not keep it!"
 There was then a long silence which was, so to speak, as the precursor of the hard and noble sacrifice to follow. "What will our brothers say? This vineyard represents the toll of the family" the pastor objected. "It is your property and you can use fo 3 Mol inO | with firmneSS.
 "They will say I am foolish. You l well know that a vineyard is almost considered a sacred legacy by the in | habitantS of our province. Does it not constitute the riches of the coun. try? Even amongst those that have | declared war on wine, have you evel heard of one bold enough to make the vineyard responsible for the evil?" ] "What do you care, or what have you to do with the what-will-they say?" courageously retorted Madeline ''The salvation of man is at staken
 "Yes, but suppose the man should not amend? Suppose he should break his pledge? We would have signed our ruin to no purpOSen' | "YOu would have done your duty husband, and the example would live!'
 There was another silence, after which the pastor sadly remarked "Poor little ones. We shall have noth ing to leave them.'
 "The Lord will see to that," Made line rejoined. "It is not for us to dis cuss his ways. This vineyard was not given to us to improve our condition but to further his kingdom. Let hiI will be done in all things" she fer vently concluded.
 l Brushing away tear and trying t( smile, the noble little woman bravely set out darning the little ones' stock ingS, while her husband, moved by St much courage and virtue, softly whis pered to her.
 "Let us return grace to him, Made line for the treasures in our keeping our children and our lOven"
 When John TribOlet heard the new: he positively refused to believe it Don't try that on me; it won't workn he swould irreverently answer. But when he saw the vines pulled up anc piled high in front of the parsonage to dry for kindling wood, he had to be convinced and to sign the pledge t( keep his word.
 AS for MT Cauche, he was compelled to look for another parish, opposed as he was by his parishioners, who through him had become the laughing stock of all the wine-growers of the vicinity. Speak of the inhabitants o1 Crepins, they would sneer:-
 Don't talk to us about those peo