Year: 1874

put in it windows OF glass, and hne grass mat
ting on the floor, with tapestry on the walls
and wonderful clothes-press, and an i'm
mense bedstead with twisted columns for thu
posts, with curtains Of price; then would buy
many handsome mirrors which would multi
ply the beautiful form and face that he lovee
so dearly So fast would the good man
Imagination run that before he got to his forg
he was, in fancy, the father Of dozen chill
dren, the eldest girl already manageable
and the eldest boy famous goldsmith. Ar
rived at home, these visions would disappea
with every stroke of his hammer; his arden
imaginings, however, would find vent in hi
workings, and would appear in fantastic de
signs Of beautiful virgins walking in woods
or in groups of children playing with monster
of the sea and land. The seigneurs who pur
chased his imaginings little knew how man.
lost wives and children went to these pieces o
jewelry.


Up to his forty-first year the goldsmith re
NAMED virgin heart ignorant of love. On
Sabbath day, wandering along the left banl
Of the Seine, with his head full of dreams o
marriage, he came unwittingly into the mead
ow land, which has since been called Preau1
clercs, but which at that time was part Of th'
fair domains of the Abbey of St. German.


Walking through the meadow he stumbled
upon poor girl holding by an old rope {
poor, thin cow, who browsed upon the her
bage close to the pathway. Seeing a hand
some, well-dressed gentleman approaching hel
she saluted him, saying, "God save you, Mon
seigneur." Her voice was so full Of sweet
ness, so musical, and so friendly, that Anseln
felt his soul vanquished by the sound, and i'm
mediately fell in love with the girl, being, al
hewas, possessed with thoughts of marriage al
that time. Nevertheless, he passed her with
out speaking, being timid to the last degree
with women, and it was not till he had gone
by at least bow-shot that he reflected thai
master-goldsmith, kings retainer, and bur
lady if he felt like it. Having mustered uE
courage, he wheeled sharp round, and came
back to the girl, who still held her COW by the
cord.


"Ah my little one" said he, "you must be
very poor if you work on Gods day. Are
you not afraid of being put in prison ?"


"Monseigneur," replied the girl, casting
down her eyelids, 81 have nothing to fear
because belong to the Abbey there. The
Lord Abbot has iven us leave to Craze the
COW after vespers."


"Do you love your COW better than your
souls safety, my grl?"


"Ah Monseigneur, this poor beast is truly
the half of our poor life"


II wonder, my dear, to see you so poor and
so ragged, all in tatters, and with naked feet
in the fields on Sunday, seeing that you are
so beautiful. Have none of the young men OF
the city talked of marriage to your"


"Ah no, Sir, belong to the Abbey" said
she, showing to the goldsmith bracelet on
her left arm not unlike that worn by cattle
but without bell. And she smiled sadly at
Anselm, who became quite melancholy with
sympathy for her sadness.


"Why, what is all this?" he resumed touch.
ing the bracelet where the arms of the Abbey
were clearly engraved. but which he preten.
ded not to understand.


"Monseigneur, I am the daughter Of slave
So, whoever will marry me will become q
serf, were he burgess Of Paris, and would
belong body and goods, to the Abbey and on
account of this am abandoned by every one
deserted and desolate, like beast of the field
But that which grieves me most" said she
shedding few warm tears, "some day, when
it pleases the Lord Abbot, I shall be married
to another serf Even if were less homely
than am, no young man would look on me
second time, after he had seen this" touch
ing her bracelet, "for the most amorous would
flee from me as from the black DEATH


So saying, she sighed from the bottom Of
her heart, and gave a little pull upon the
rope, to make the COW follow her.


"And how old are you ?" said Anselm.


II don't know, Monseigneur, but the Faith
er Abbot has it in the registry"


This terrible misery touched the heart Of
the good man, who himself had eaten the
bread of misfortune, and knew how bitter it
was. But this was a depth of misery that he
had never dreamed of. He walked by the
side of the young girl, and they went toward
the Seine in complete silence. Anselm gazed
fxedly at his young companion, and his ar
lists eye noted her beautiful features, hei
queenly form, the delicate rounding Of hel
arms, and the beauty of her bare feet, which
though covered with dust, were small enough
for the slipper of Cinderella. Her head was
small and gracefully posed upon perfect
neck, all but the upper part being modestly
covered by her frock of vilainous material
His veins seemed filled with love instead Of
blood, and his heart came leaping into his
throat. He tried to speak, but his love and
timidity were so great that it was with diff
Guilty he could articulate.


"YOu have fine cow" said he.


"Would you like little milk p she replied
"It is so hot at the end of May, and you have
had long walk from the city"


In truth, the sky was pure cerulean, with
out cloud, and the sun burned worse thar
the heat of forge The air trembled with
love and youth, and the gracious aspect Of
Nature came to the heart of Anselm with E
hitherto undreamed.of significance. This in
genuous offer, without hope of profit, and tht
modesty of gesture with which the poor gir
turned to make it, quite overcame the gold
smith, who longed to have the power to make
her Queen Of France at that moment, so tina
not only her master, the Abbott, but al
France should be at her feet.


mo, my darling, am not thirsty. Tha
is, do not care for any milk, but care great
ly for you, and 1 would like to gain you you
freedom"


"It cannot be, and shall live and die be
longing to the Abbey. We have lived so TO
long time, from father to son, from mothe
to daughter. Like my ancestors, l shall pas
my days on these lands, and my children afte
me, for the Abbot will never permit me tt
remain SINGLE


"What," said the Tourangean, "do yo'
mean to say that no gallant has been tempted
by your sweet eyes to buy your liberty?
bought mine of the King"


"Ah it would cost too much. And thos