Year: 1861




Whilst was pursuing my deductions, l had
BACKED my boots, brushed my coat. and tied
my cravat: | had at last arrived at the impor-
tant moment when we pronounce complacently
that all is finished, and that we'll.


grand resolve had just decided me to de-
part from my usual habits the evening before,
| had seen by the advertisement, that the next
day was a holiday at Sevres, and that the china
manufactory would be open to the public.
was tempted by the beauty of the morning, and
suddenly decided to go there.


On my arrival at the station on the left bank,
| noticed the crowd hurryng on in the fear of
being late. Railroads, besides many other adj
vantages will have that of teaching the French
punctuality. They will submit to the clock
when they are convinced that it is their master:
they will learn to watt when they find they
will not be waited for. Social virtues are, in
great degree, good habits. How many great
qualities are gifted into notions by their geo.
graphical position, by political necessity, and by
institutions Avarce was destroyed for a time
among tn Lacedemonians by the creation of
copper coinage, too heavy and too bulky to be
conveniently bearded.


found myself in carriage with two mid
de-aged sisters belonging to the domestic and
retired class of Parisians | have spoken of
above. A few civilities were sufficient to gain
me their confidence, and after some minutes
was acquainted with their whole history.


They were two poor women, left orphans at
fifteen, and had lived ever since as those who
work for their livelihood must live, by economy
and privation. For the last twenty or thirty
years they had worked in jewellery in the same
house they had seen ten masters succeed one
another, and make their fortunes in it, without
any change in their own lot They had always
lived in the same room, at the end of one of
al. =. a. c. ~.
air and the sun are unknown. They began
their work before daylight, went on with it till
after nightial, and saw year succeed to year
without their lives being marked by any other
events than the Sunday service, walk, or an
illness.


The younger of these worthy workmen was
forty, and obeyed her sis or, as she did when
child. The elder looked after her, took care of
her, and scolded her with a mothers tender
ness. At first it was amusing afterwards one
could not help seeing something affecting in
these two grey-haired children, one unable to
leave off the habit of obeying, the other that
of protecting.


And it was not in that alone that my two
companions seemed younger than their years ;
they knew so little that their wonder never
ceased. We had hardly arrived at Clamart,
before they invountarily exclaimed, like the
king in the chds game, that they did not think
the ,corld 'raS so great!


1t was the first time they had trusted them
selves on a railroad, and it was amusing to see
their sudden shocks, their alarms, and coura-
geous determinations: everything was marvel
to them! They had a remains of youth within
them, which made them sensible to things which
usually only strike US in childhood. Poor crea-
lures they had still the feeling of another age,
though they had lost its charms.


But was there not something holy in this
simplicity, which had been preserved to them
| by abstinence from all the Joys of lifeP All !
accused be he who first had the bad courage to
to attach ridcule to that name of Old Maid,
which recalls so many images of grevous de-
| ception, of dreariness, and of abandonment
accused be he who can find subject for sar-
| casm in involuntary misfortune, and who can
crown grey hairs with thorns


The two sisters were called Frances and Mad
cline; this days journey was feat of courage
without example in their lives. The fever of
the times had infected them unawares. Yes
terday, Madeleine had suddenly proposed the
idea of the expedition, and Frances had accep-
ted it Immediately. Perhaps it would have
been better not to have yielded to the tempta-
ton afforded by her young sister; but 1--WE
have cur follies at all ages" as the prudent
Frances philosophically remarked. As for
Madeleine, there are no regrets or doubts for
her she is the liie-guardsman of the establish
ment.


"We really must amuse ourselves" said she
1--WE do but live once"


And the elder sister smiled at this Epicurean
MAXIM 1t was evident that the fever of indie.
pendence was at its crisis in both of them.


And in truth it would have been great pity
if any scruple had interfered with their happi-
ness, it was so frank and genial The sight o
the trees, which seemed to fly on both sides o.
the road, caused them unceasing admiration
The meeting train passing in the contrary d
rection with the noise and rapidity of a thun
derbolt, made them shut their eyes and utter {
cry but it had already disappeared! The!
look round, take courage again, and express
themselves full of astonishment at the marvel


Madeleine declares that such sight is wortl
the expense of the journey, and Frances woult
have agreed with her, if she had not recollected
with some little alarm, the deficit which such al
expense must make in their budget. The thre
francs spent upon this single expedition, wer
the savings of whole week of work. Thu
the Joy of the elder of the two sisters wa
mixed with rumors; the prodigal child now an'
then turned its eyes toward the back street
st. Denis.


But the motion and the succession of object
distract her see the Bridge of the Val sur
rounded by its lovely landscape: on the right
Paris with its grand monuments, which ris
through the fog or sparkle in the sun; on tn
left, Meudon, with its villas, its woods, its vines
and its royal castle; The two workmen ioo
from one window to the other with exclama
nations fdelight. One fellow passenger laugh
at their childish wonder but to myself it
very touching for | see in it the sign of Ion
and monstrous secusion they are the prisoner
of work. who have recovered liberty and fires
| air for few hours.


At last the train stops, and we get out.


show the two sisters the path that leads
Sevres, between the railway and the gardens
and they go on before, while inquire about tn
time OF returning.


| soon join them again at the next station
5 where they have stopped at the little garde
e belonging to the gatekeeper; both are alread


in deep conversation with him while he digs h
t garden borders, and marks out the places fc
fower-seeds. lie informs them that il is ii
I time for hoeing out weeds, for making graf
i and layers, for sowing ANNALS, and for destroy
a ing the insects on the rose tree. Madeler
r has on the sill Of her window two wooden bo,
$ es, in which for want of air and sun, she h'
d never been able to make any thing grow bl
= mustard and cress but she pursuades hersel
: that, thanks to this information, all other plan
= may henceiorh thrive in them. At last II
e gatekeeper, who is sowing a border with mil
nonelte, gives her the rest of the seeds whit
! he does not want, and the old maid goes G