The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-06-15
The Cure and Little Jean

The Cure inspected his garden rue
fully The season had been back
ward, the drought severe, and the
bits of vegetables made but a poor
showing
Nothing for the present, much less
for the winter he sighed, and the
good Julie-she is so provident. All
well, the cherries" he looked up
into the solitary fruit tree his domain
could boast and regarded with pride
the luscious fruit glinting rosily
among the leaves. 1--WE shall not lack
for conserve, at least"
The cherry conserve of Julie, the
Cures housekeeper, was celebrated
throughout the community. 1t was
| cOncocted of cherries and other sea-
sonable fruits, the secret of which she
jealousy guarded; and it was the one
thing in her fruit closet which she re-
fused to share with the sick of the
parish. Other jellies she would yield
up at the Cures request, proffered
humbly enough, but the cherry con-
serve was sacred.
''Is not the Cure to have anything,
then?" she would query Grossly.
Eth bien, | empty my shelves for the
so miserable people; and the Cure
what then shall he eat?"
| 'What?" the Cure would remon-
strate gently. is the good soup
nothing? And who can make such
nourishing soup. as Julie? To think
the Cure should want sweetmeats be-
| sides"
| An impatient exclamation from the
housekeeper. Here them" ungra.
ciously, "a glass. of plum jelly for the
widow Benoit. 1t will have to do.
Voila!" And the Cure was forced to
be content.
This evening smile came into his
eyes as he noticed the abundance of
fruit. The faithful tree has done
nobly," he mufmured. who knows,
there may be aefew extra glasses
See, julie he called, as the house.
keeper came around the corner of the
house with her basket on her arm,
what wealth of cherries! No lack
of conserve this year," slyly.
Julie, who was stout and solid, set
down her basket to wipe her brow
Eyes, / see,'' she made answer. more
work for Julie in grumbling tone
Everything -itmakes more work for
julie 8.
well. well, we must not complain
Work-the good God sends it to keep
us contented-and out of mischief, "
smiling gently.
Il wish then / had little time for
mischief" Julie muttered as she pick.
ed up her basket 1t was plain she
was out of humor CAS- much time
as those idle soldiers saw marching
off today, singing"
i The Cure turned a startled look on
the old woman.
| Soldiers? Where? What do you
mean?"
! What say" tartly. Did you not
know they are off to WARP"
The Cure was pale as he hurried
around the house and made his way
quickly toward the town hail. There
indeed all was confusion and excite.
ment, and the gendarme soon confirm
ed the housekeeper's incredible state
ment. 1t was la guerre of a truth
The news had come but short while
ago and the villages one contingent
of soldiers had already gone, made
ready in such haste as was never
heard of before.
''All while you we're gone back in
the hills to see Maitre Villesse,' the
gendarme said. THAT they had to &C
without your blessing-it was a grief
to many" he added as he noted the
Cures downcast face. .
: After a few moments the Cure
turned away with a strange heaviness
at his heart. Suddenly he stopped and
caught his breath sharply, then with
slow step. he sought the gendarme
i. / again. -
, And little Jean?' he asked hest
j tatingly did he"
The gendarme laughed, not unkind
: ly. Little Jean? oh yes, mon Pere
Little Jean went--he was obliged to
you know. but not singing like. tht
rest; no, NOT 98
] The Cure shook his head. ut isttot
: bad that he had to go" he said grave
!, ly. 1T is not that he is a coward
} but his nerves-Gthey have never beer
good. He is high strung. and still
: weak after his long Illness
"Oh, he'll be all right" consoling
: ly. After all, they will probably b
/ back in three weeks, or less"
/ Little Jean Picard, so-called to dis
: tinguish him, from his uncle, big Jeai
Picard of the hill vineyard, was al
: orphan who since his infancy 5hat
been the special charge of the Cur,
> of Palny, a small village set back il
' the hills away from the main Travelled
/ road. His mother, young woman 0
/ weak. constitution, had died in giyin!
J him birth, and the. father, following
3 shortly after, had commended tn,
: child to the care of the Cure who ha,
81 been a schoolmate and boyhoot
!, friend Little Jean grew up fdelicat
and nervous with no liking for til
r hearty pursuits of his cousins and. a
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