Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-01-12


away. the last leaves came fiutterinR
down. the gray sky limited Of the coming
snow, the sun sank low into the southern
sky And at last the clear cold Christmas
Eve was cOme-the wedding night.
Ono Pierre's cabin was gay with all the
greenery Of the winter woods, spruce and
cedar and ground-pine, and the vines Of
the partridge-berry, pulled from beneath
the snow on sunny banks. All the simple
folk OF the woodland were there, man.
woman. and child, for a wedding is a rare
thing with them. Charles had forgotten
the otter that Henri got from him for
doctored bearskin. and greeted him
with broad grin and hearty grip Of the
hand And Jean and Alphonse and the
rest agreed TO forget that dispute about
the cutting OF the hay In the intervale
meadow. Best Of all. old Pere Dubois
had come from the settlement TO lend the
sanction Of the Church to the occasion.
though he was short winded and had 10
walk the whole distance on snowshoes
He brought string of big gold beads for
the bride, whom he had held. a very red
and unwilling captive. at a christening
not so many years before. And Ono
Pierre received them all with the stately.
simple courtesy Of the true old voyageur.
Then Francois. joyous and grave at the
thought OF all the life before him, led
forth his little trembling bride, and they
were married.
When the priest had finished the simple
words Of the service and blessed them,
they all sat down to the feast and the
Pere's red. jolly face beamed radiantly
from the head Of the table as they ate
with the appetite OF the forest and drank
their toasts In the fiery whiskey which
Is the woodsmans wine. to the bride and
groom and to their happy life
trimming glass and said: Friends there
Is one whom we must not forget. who has
been to Marie all in all. and who took me
in when | was alone and friendless. and
made a man OF me \ health to One
Pierre. and may he live long to be happy
with u.s.
And in the shout that followed. Ono
Pierre reached out and gripped his hand
in silence.
Then they went out into the moonlight
that flooded all the silent forest sledge
was waiting. with a dozen stout runners
to bear Marie to her new home. But she
was pressed close TO the old mans breast
and the tear-drops sparkled in her eyes
as she told him how she loved him Just as
much as ever. And Francois trying to be
jolly though his deep voice rasped in
his throat. and his eyes were misty told
him he must come and live with them and
be their child now. The old man chung
ened. and asked him was he very sad
And he replied. Not sad at all. pitt,
but very, very happy" Then he pressed
Francois's hand again. and whispered,
God bless you and make you happy. my
children" And then Francois lifted his
bride to his broad breast and bore her OF
TO the night and the future. and left the
old man there alone.
Pierre watched the gay procession file
on into the moonlight. across the gleam-
ing ice. singing that old song OF the voy-
ageurs:
Derritre chez nous y-a-t-un etang,
En- roulant ma boule.
Then he turned back to his cabin. He
was not sad but very weak He tottered
candles, and then sank down on the heap
of furs that made his bed. II was very
quiet. The ticking OF the little clock, the
clock he had bought as a present for his
own bride, the crackle OF the fire, the
purring OF the kettle, all seemed TO say,
"Good-by, old friend: your work is done"
He sank back further on the furs, and
watched the shadows playing on the roof.
He seemed TO see there all the Christmas
Ewes he had known before. And then
there came into his mind the story-how
often II had come in the last few weeks
the story OF the great canoe, in which the
souls OF old voyageurs roam above the
forests that they loved, and how on Christ
mas Eve they had come to receive the
souls of other comrades, whose work on
earth is done He seemed to see them all,
the friends of his youth and prime
Jacques. and Baptiste. and Jules, and the
rest. Were they reckoning to him? His
work was surely done; his children were
happy He let himself sink into the soft,
warm fuds and crossed his toil-worn hands
above his breast. "Good-by, my little
ones, God bless your
A breeze came signing in from the
depths OF the forest, and murmured in the
branches Of the great dark pine that tow
cred over the little cabin. The last notes
OF the wedding song echoed across the
lake:
Rouli, roulant
Ma boule roulant
But Pierre heard them not; TO him IL was
the rush OF the great canoe and the call
OF his comrades. Here, friends, herev'
he cried family, and struggled up to a
sitting position. Here l am. To work
once more. En- avant. my braves en-
avant!'
He fell back, his brave old heart stin
forever. The last embers of the fire
fickered out; the moon swinging through
the sky, flooded the old mans quiet face
with its peaceful light, and all was still
save the little clock that had licked out
his life and the night wind in the branches
of the forest.-tThe Outlook.
-.