Year: 1870







1T was Christmas eve in small farm il
the neighborhood of Plouhinec, beyond
Hennebont.


No one was at home the master, mis-
tress, children and servants were gone t
midnight mass. The sound of church
bells were still heard across the heath
now covered with thin layer of snow
Only an old woman, too old and infirm L
fire.


A beggar was in the stable, asleep be
tween lean OK that drew the little plow
and an old ass, worn with carrying bun
dies of heather or of rushes dried in the
sun. The poor man had reached the farm
after the departure of the farmer, and the
old woman had given cake of black
bread and a cup Of sack, and then allowed
him to go to bed in the stable.


He slept peacefully until he was awak
ened by voices near him. He listened
thinking it was the people of the farm
come homei but he soon perceived, tC
his amaZement, that the OK and the ass
beside him were conVersipg in good
Breton. The ass had turned toward the
OK, who was reposing on his litter and
the beggar Scrlven remembered he had
heard it said by old people that, in mem
ory of the hospitality shown by the OK
and the ass to the infant Jesus, once 6
year, at midnight, on Christmas eve, the
inhabitants of the stable were endowed
with the gift of speech, and were able tc
converse about their affairs like human
beings.


Scriven was sharp and clever. 1t was
not for nothing that he had carried his
wallet from parish to parish, making cap.
ital of his broken leg, and living as beg.
gar on the charity of kind folks. He did
not make the least movement that might
betray his presence, lest he should silence
his bed-fellows, whose conversation he
was so eager to hear.


The OK was saying to the ass. Zone
never does what one wants to do. If
were not tied here / would go and take a
walk on the heath, that might be at lib
erty at once; and if l met Beneadik, the
plowman of Pluvignor, would tell him
something"


"What would you tell him ?" asked the
ass, who seemed depressed by bad treat.
ment.


"Ah, you do not like BeneadIk as I do.
He does not drive you; and that good for
nothing Kaolo has given you 50 many
blows that you can hardly stand any
more. But the master has never had such





as if were Christian and if he pricks
me at all when go too slow, it is so
gently that scarcely feel it. He is al
ways afraid of doing harm, and has nc
wish but to do good. Ifhe looks often to-
ward Mariemik, it is no wonder, for he
wants to make her his wife. If he only
knew He would soon be rich enough
to buy the farm, the furniture, and all the
land and the master instead of snub.
bing him, would stand before him cap in
hand" ~ .r


Scriven began to listen with all his ears
and the ass, who was lying on his littel
of heather, turned himself languidly
around.


You mean that you want him to find
the treasure that the Stones of PlouhineC
viii leave uncovered one of these days
BY the stable of st. Joseph, if he had the
cross wort and the five.leayed clover, they
would be of some use to him when the
stones go down to drink at eIntel But
it happens only once in hundred years
and he will know nothing about it.


{" Besides" rejoined the OK, if there
can not be found in these parts baptized
Christian who will give his life for him,
he will be crushed by the Stones when
they come back. But, after all, he would
never let another be killed for him, and
the good God will show him some other
way of becoming rich enough to marry
Mariemik."


The ass had fallen asleep, and all was
again silent in the stable. Scriven alone
was awake, with a terrible temptation
gnawing at his heart. Why should he not
profit by the knowledge Of the existence
of this treasure which had just been re-
vealed to him in so strange a manner {?
He was tired of begging. Itw no long
er the good trade that it used to be; the
times were hard, and although charitable
people might still give the beggar the best
place in the chimney corner, and the
largest piece ofbread, ill-natured folks often
let him wait at the door, and after all
threw him only a dry crust. He knew
very well where to find the magical herbs
ION the way as you go from the sea-coasi
70 the country where 1t never freezes,
where the myrtles are in flower in winter,
and violets open in February in the
woods. Scriven stopped, however, in his
meditations when he came 20 the last con-
dition of the great enterprise. Where was
he to flnd a baptized Christian who would
give his life for himP


He did not yet dare to ask himself aloud
how he should delude any one, and allure
MIN to his death But the devil had al
ready suggested dark schemes to him. The
treasure glittered before Scriven's greedy
eyes. He fancied he saw handfuls of gold,
diamonds, and large bags of silver, and
between sleeping and waking he gave
himself up TO these dangerous dreams
After he was quite asleep, the master and
mistress, with their children and servants
returned from church.


When he awoke in the morning he saw
Beneadik, who was arranging the litters OF
the animals. He did not know him, but
the caresses he bestowed on the OK from
time to time, as well as the sweet words
he exchanged in low tones with Marie
mix, who was helping her mother in The
Kitchen, induced him to examine the
.plowman more carefully. Wickednes!
had already established itself In Scriven'i
heart When, he left the farm abou
midday his wallet was we'll furnished
He looked forward TO the Stones OF Plou
hinec, which stood out in the snow irregu
lar and clear, like a troop of soldiers
Rstanding still upon field of battle. HI
contemplated them for minute; then III
went back to take another look at Benea
dix, and ut last plunged into the heath
walking in the direction of the sea-


Three or four days had passed, and tn,
short winters day had begun TO close
The ground was stil covered with snow
and the OK ruminated softly in the stable
fhlfssipg Heaven that had wrapped eartl
In white shroud.


No work cOuld he done and Beneadik