Middletown transcript., 1908-04-04


to US through the open windows;
and glancing out we espied the
oldest outfit ever seen in that
place.
There were two little black,
shaggy horses with brass mount
ed harness, collar and names, at
tached to a queer vehicle, half
cart, half-wagon. There was a
box in the back of it, on which
perched a black-haired boy wear
ing a fur cap-although this was
August! On the seat in front,
holding the reins, was an older
boy, dressed in much the same
way; and beside him sat young
woman, apparently nineteen or
twenty years old, soberly dressed
in black, except for her hat,
which was adorned with bright
red roses and a profusion OF light
green ribbon.
The entire "r;g" wore an as
pect so foreign to Maine that we
all rose hastily from the table;
and my cousin Addison went out
at once to see what was wanted.
For a moment or two not a
word was said. Our visitors
seemed at a loss how to make
known their business. 1t was
the young lady who spoke first,
choosing her words carefully,
and attempting to speak slowly
and very distinctly, as if she had
already rehearsed in her mind
what she meant to say.
Good afternoon !she said. Ees
thees the farm fere Meester
Benoit Lecharme did labor for to
make the hay four week ago?
Yes; Lecharme worked here,
Addison replied.
Eet was then here at your
school that a seraphine was los
las weenter? the young lady
went on slowly to ask.
Well-yes. We lost a me-
lodeon, Addison explained; and
we all pricked up our ears, al
though we had never heard a
melodeon called by that name be-
fore.
Eet ees the same, then! con-
tinued the young woman. We
have bring eet back to you.
Why, how did you come to have
| it? cried Addison, in astonish-
ment. You do not live here, do
you?
No, N 'sieu. We tteeff tteeff il il Can Can
ada. I am the school teacher at
Garthby. Las spring some lum-
bermans bring this seraphine to
US from their camp in the woods.
They think eet ees their own.
We have eet then in our school
house; and we have play eet in
our school effery day.
Well, well, we'll cried Addi.
son.
But now, our visitor contin ued.
Benoit he COM back, and he say
this seraphine, eet ees not for US.
Eet ees stole by some bad
peoples. So we bring eet back.
I am the school teacher at
Garthby, she explained again.
My name ees Marie Ladoucier.
And these boys are my pupeels
This one ees Marc Cassandiere
and this Cyrile Joigneaux. We
have COM to bring the mayloda-
yon back to you.
There was no mistaking the
honesty and good intentions OF
this young French schoolmistress
and her two pupils. We made
them welcome, and entertained
them for the night. In fact, they
remained three days.
| We found Mademoiselle La
doucier a very amiable, well,
educated young woman, high,
minded, and worthy to be a
teacher. The two French boys
could not speak English, but had
a good time, nevertheless. All
the scholars in the district came
to call on them.
We set up the melodeon, and
held a musical jubilee over its re-
turn. Despite its peregrinations,
it see med to be uninjured. Made
moiselle Ladoucier played very.
well; and she sang severa
French school songs.
She informed US that the young
; lumbermen who carried the me
lodeon to Canada had been afraid
when they learned that it was
stolen, that we might have then
put under arrest if they came tt
Maine with it. They all desired
her to take it back to us, because
she could speak English, ant
make US understand the circum
stances.
During the three days of theil
, visit, Mademoiselle Ladouciel
cana tn know all the Vnunp moo