Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-04-28
THE WHITE HORSE
AND THE STRANGER.


A weary figure, bent under the weight
of the bullying valise she carried i'll her
right hand, and on her left arm sleep
ing child, trudged along the Rue Havre
toward the quai. Her Breton cap, once
Immediately white and starched, now
dropped sadly over her tired face, and
her shoes Of heavy new leather dragged
in and out from under the travel stained
skirt as though reluctant to carry their
wearer farther Now and then she
paused, turning to address the sorry lit
tie figure following her.
Josef! josef" she called sharply
Hurry up or we shall be late. Thy
father is even now waiting us at the
gate, and he will be angry. Come, Josef,
lust little while and we shall be there
Josef plodded on with all the courage
of his two and half years. always sew
eral steps behind his mother To him
the Journey just begun was already long
and tedious. His heavy little eyes could
not see the bright prospect his parents
looking westward over Il restless ocean
| beheld. They were going to America;
| happy, free America; where a man may
work and rest and be as happy as he
pleases Where there is always much
money to be paid for honest work, and
where man who is prudent may, in
time. own his own house, as big and
fine as the abbes at home
josef had heard the wonderful story
many times His mother had laughed
and cried over it, hugging him close at
the thoughts of the future waiting them.
Now the Journey had begun and Pierre,
Josef's father. who had gone ahead to
be sure that everything was in readiness
at the quai, now stood waiting for them
beside the great gray liner that was to
take them to their new home.
He is tired, madame, bebe there. May
| carry him?"
The mother turned at the sound and
faced the speaker He was Il tall. spare
man, clad in the loose, bagging clothes
of her countrymen. His speech, too, had
something of the Breton nasal quality
and he used the idiom. But it differed,
too; like one not used to speak the
patois
Certainly, if monsieur offered, but he
was very dirty, Josef there, and heavy.
too, Monsieur would rue his bargain,
perhaps"
But monsieur did not mind. He gath
cred Josef in his arms, and walked on
beside the mother, talking famihurly the
while.
They were going to America? Happy
chance, was it not? Monsieur was also
bound for America by the same boat.
They must be friends tc told her, for
he knew no one and the voyage would
be pleasanter so for all Little Josef
must he his special charge.
The child looked up at the sound of
his name. "Sir!" cried the stranger. I'VE
are friends already, Josef and /. Wait. /
think / have something for mon petit
ami that viii seal our friendship FUN
bling in his pocket with his disengaged
hand
All, yes. Here it is" and he drew
forth a package neatly wrapped in white
paper. This he uufolded carefully, and
Josef's eyes heheld the splendid contents
Il great white horse made of a hard
, sugarY substance, the body very lat and
the legs thick and stiff. 1t was heavy
too, for its size. and gaudiiy colored a.
to name and tail Josef graspcd il
q eagerly while the stranger smiled at hi,
baby delight. They were going to bt
good friends indeed
At the quai all was confusion and
hurry. Pierre was busy with his man,
+ belongings To be examined and slowed
/ away in the Storage The stranger had
. little luggage which was soon examined
I SO he stood aside with Josef and his
mother. waiting the signal to 90 on
, board. Then all was ready and the mot
ley crowd swarmed over the gang plank
/. the stranger in the midst of them carry.
. lng the child who still chung to his candy
: toy.
i In the excitement of getting under way
b Josef was forgotten for a time. his nor.
entS crowding with the rest to The side
, OF the boat for one last look at France
! When they found him later he was cry.
To- lng loudly: Mon chcval. mon petit chero
I ON est liE' Sure enough the little white
/ horse had disappeared Had il been
dropped overheard in the hurry To come
aboard he stranger was sure he had
seen II IN Josef's arms when they crossed
the gang plank. At all events it was
gone nov. and Josef was disconsolatc.
Hut surely in America are many such
White horses. and Josef shall have an
other directly We get there" consoled his
friend,
There followed weary bodv.rackipc
days for the company in the Storage.
There was little sunshine and morose
apathy settled on everyone Josef's father
q, and mother were i'll, and the stranger
cared for them. When at last the vovage
was ended and all stood huddled against
the rail waiting to land Josef was once