Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-09-16
THE BEST JEWEL

Il
on the Fete Dieu
She talked about her wish to her lit
tie child, too young 70 contradict or I'm
derstaDd it but when he dr. = ed on
the side OF his bread and m. basin
as sign that It was empty and that
be wanted more she accepted il as a
sign that he agreed with her and vould
do anything In his baby power 20 helm
her set the extra sous.
His mother kissed him. You shall
go with me- mon petit she cried.
When the serpent sees you be viii
rub his eyes and say: oh. there is a
beautiful something. ItS hair is vel
lower than the gold 1 guard. It's skin
IS smoother than the pearls 1 protect.
It's eyes are bluer than the sapphires 1
save Its lips are redder than my
rubies-' Then I VIII scramble I'D all
that I can Of the precious gems while
be stares so hard at you, when. presto.
we shall be coming home. too rich to
walk, and the old serpent beating him
self with bis own tail because his
| treasure was stolen while he caped at
a little child
on the day Of the great fete the
mother and child were ready for their
visit 70 the cave, starting just as the
sweet bells rang out their Come to
/ church"
Good day. Marie" said an old man
70 her. leaning across his gate as she
passed what has a cheek as round
and red as your boys and skin as
/ shiny and smOothY
Marie was startled. she was think
, ing only Of the Jewels In the cave.
AN apple he laughed and held
out one polished Ike wax TO the baby.
( Thanks, good Pierre. You are always
the one 20 jest kindly"
And she dropped the apple into her
pocket and FASTENED on with the happy
! baby. Quite breathless, she reached
the hill at length, 20 find the stone
rolled back from the opening Of the
cave, showing inside the heap OF pre-
cious stones on which the serpent lay
colled Gold and gems lay scattered
on the door. and a plain wooden table
stood In the center. The serpent raised
Its coiled head and stared at the child
with its emerald eyes as II fascinated
Tiptoeing In. the mother put the
child on the table, pressed Pierre's APP
pie Into its tiny hand and began a
scramble for as many Jewels as were
within her reach The serpent showed
no resistance Il still gazed In rapture
upon the little child. who stretched out
the apple as n inviting Il 70 come near
er.
Slowly uucoiling. the serpent cruwled
toward the table. leaving unprotected
It's bed or gold and gems Marie.
watching. made three quick thrusts OF
her hand into the precious heap. A
handful OF diamonds she thrust into
her pocket a handful OF rubies into her
dress and the third OF pearls she was
about 70 hide In her apron when she
saw the stone rolling 20 close the mouth
OF the cave aud shut her Ia. FORGET
ting everything but the dreadful dans~
ser on being buried alive I'm the cave.
she pushed past the stone and escaped
Just as IL bumped Into place, for the
Fcte Dleu service was over
Now only she remembered her dear
little child shut In the cave with the
terrible serpent Uttering sharp
cry. she flung the diamonds and ru-
bies and pearls on the grass Ike hall
stones, and. wringing her hands. ran
down the Hill 10 the village below.
Pierre was still NJ the gate when she
went past Co tell the priest Marie
be said, as II he knew all about her
trouble.
That will," she said. rushing on.
but when the priest heard her story he
shook his head and looked very grave.
as II nothing could be done.
The village people were all agog. A
thing 50 serious as this had mover hap
pened among them before and il
showed well that one should be con
tented 20 let other peoples caves and
Jewels alone.
Suddenly the priest made them
sign 20 stop their chatter.ng Come
with me" he said. eve viii 60 70 tie
cave and pick up every Jewel that the
chlid's mother has scattered"
The villagers could not but approye
this plan. They followed him up the
hillside 70 the cave looking under
every grass blade and flower bed for
the beautiful scattered Jewels. and
soon, because their eyes were so bright
and they We're so In earnest. they
picked up every scattered gem and bit
OF gold, which they 4Aut In the priests
hand
For year, TIL the next Fete Dieu.
the priest kept the treasure. Then he
gave 1t 20 the baby's mother. telling
her 10 tSSs IL 70 the cave and when
The stone roiled back 10 go In and re-
turn II 70 the serpent. Very early that
Fete Dieu day, carrying the serpents
treasure IN a silk bag. she climbed to-
ward the Hill TO the cave. sitting down
10 rest TIL she heard the bells. when
the stone slowly. slowly rolled from
The cave entrance Peering In. she saw
her little child stln sitting on the table
and playing with his apple The ser
pent lay coiled at the foot OF the
table. II seemed never 20 have gone
back to its bed OF gold and gems.
Marie went in very softly. First she
nut back the handfni ~ H{arpor,1s fhor