Year: 1865

NAECEL1NE.


Madcmoiselle Picard had been at the
head of an establishment of embroidery
and lingerie for Is years. The estab-
lishment had first owed its popularity
to Mile. Picard's good looks. grace and
neatness, and at the end of Is years
Mile. Picard could not forget that she
had been courted, and she could never
make up her mind to remember that
she was - years old when she had at
tracted the attention Of and secured the
custom Of the best people in Paris, when
gentlemen brought more pocket hand
kerchiefs than she could embroider, and
when bouquets and bon bons had been
daily offerings. Mile. Picard's remain
ing good looks were not improved by
her ill.temper; and when cavalry
sergeant, who had been her faithful
adorer for five years, began to neglect
her, she grew furious, and seeking on
whom to vent her fury, had fixed upon
the prettiest girl in her shop as her nat
.ural enemy on whom to vent her rage.
She had, however, neither the pleasure
of long nor furious fight, for Marco
line, her victim, was a gentle, unofend-
ing creature, who had submitted to fate
from the hour she was boyn,-a fate that
had never known anything but toll, a
sorrow and privation sometimes border
ing on starvation. No affection had
sustained her, no mothers care had
watched and waited for her on her re-
turn from her days labor. A little OIL
phan, living on the poor charity of poor
people, she had then thought herself
rich when she obtained a situation as an
errand girl. From that position, Mile
Picard had taken her as apprentice, and
finding her endowed with patience and
nimbe fingers, had patronized her.
Marceline had then soon six francs a
week. Then she had taken a little
room Of her own, and by dint of extra
work after the usual hours, she had
contmved to furnish it.


Marceline was the type Of Partisan
grisette. She had an intuitiye love for
all that IS refined, graceful and elegant.
She, herself, with her small features,
her delicate complexion, her small feet
and hands, were all in keeping with her
taste; and when in her well-made
chintz dress, her little collar and jaunty
black apron, Marceline sat in her tidy
room working, her delicate embroidery
in her hand, she felt perfectly contented
and happy. No anxiety for the future,





no thought of illness or'want ef employ
ment crossed her mind she lived from
day to day. All at once she finds her
self in few moments thrust to poverty
and uncertainty. She had laid by no
money, for she had just paid her rent,
for which she made weekly provisions !;
and all she possessed in the world was
the FIVE francs Mile. Picard thrust into
her hand as she turned her from the
door.


Mareeline went silently back to her
room. She had no friends; she had
never had lover; she had no friend to
take counsel of. She was timid and
retiring; she had never had to solicit
work, and she shrank away from the
task; indeed, she had not the remotest
idea of how TO begin to solicit.


Neither Of a strong mind or constitu-
ton, but of a gentle nature; formed to
bring blessings to the usual routine OF
woman's life, but utterly unable to
cope with extraordinary difficulties,
Marceline looked TO the future with a
shudder; and so, weeping all day. and
spending sleepless nights, she fell i'll Of
a low fever, that laid her helpless on
her bed.


Week followed week, how many poor
iMarceline did not know, until she found