Year: 1870

The TREASURE STONES.


IT was Christmas eve in a small farm i
the neighborhOOd Of Plouhinec, beyon
Hennebont.


No one was at home; the master, mis-
tress, children and servants were gore t
midnight mass The sound Of churcl
bells were still heard across the heath
now covered with a thin layer of snow
Only an old woman, too old and infrm t
go TO church, was sitting up beside tn
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 tn
sun. The poor man had reached the farm
after the departure of the farmer, and TIT
old woman had given cake of blacl
bread and cup OF sack, and then Above,
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 home; but he soon perceived, t.
his smazement, that the OK and the as
beside him were cOnversing in gooC
Breton. The ass had turned toward the
OK, who was reposing on bis litter; anC
the beggar ScrIven remembered he haC
heard II said by old people that, in mem
. ory OF the hospitality shown by the on
and the ass TO the infant Jesus, once 9
year, at midnight, on Christmas eve, the
inhabitants of the stable were endowed
with the gift of speech, and were able &c
converse about their affairs Ike human
beings.


Scrlven was sharp and clever. 1t was
not for nothing that ne had carried hi:
wallet from parish to parish, making cap
ital of his broken leg, and living as a 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 be
was so eager TO hear.


The OK was saying to the ass. Gone
never does what one wants to do. If
were not tied here l would go and take q
walk on the heath, tia. might be at lib
erty az once; and if / 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 Beneadlk as do
He does not drive you; and that good for
nothing KaOlO has given you 50 many





more. But the master has never had such
plOwman as Beneadik. He talks to me
as if were a Christian and if he priclzs
me st all when I go too slow, it is so
gently that | scarcely feel IT, lie is al.
ways afraid of doing harul, and has no
wish but to do good. Ifhe LOOKS often to-
ward Marienik, il is 10 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"


Scriven began to listen with a i his ears
and the ass, y ho was lying on his litter
of heather, turned himself languidly
around.


You mean that you want him to find
the treasure that the Stones of PlOuhineC
will leave uncovered one Of these days :
By the stable of St Joseph, if he had the
crossword and the fiye-leaved clover, they
would be of some use to him when the
stones go down 10 drink st the Intel But
il happens only once in hundred years,
and he will know nothing about it.


Besides" Iejoined the OK, if there
can not be found in these parts baptized
Christian who viii 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 soma 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 be not
profit by the knowledge Of the existence
of this treasure which had just been re-
vealed 10 him in so strange manner
He was tired of begging. 1t was 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 tht
largest piece ofbread, .ll-natured folks often
let him wait at the door, and after al
threw him only dry crust. He knew
very well where to find the magical herb:
ON the way as you go from the sea coast
to the country where II never freezes
where the myrtles are in flower in winter
and Violets open in February in tht
woods. ScriTen stopped, however, in hi!
meditatioDs when he came to the last con
dition OF the great enterprise. Where was
he to find a baptized Christian who w0ulC
give his life for him?


He did not yet dare 20 ssk himself aloud
how he should delude any one, ard allure
him to his death But the devil had al
ready suggested dark schemes to him. The
treasure glittered before Scriyen's greedy
eyes. He flncied he saw handfuls of gold
diamonds, and large bags Of silver, anC
between sleeping and waking he gave
himself up TO these dangerous dreams
After he was quite asleep, tne master anC
mistress, with their children and servants
returned from church.


When he aWOke IN the morning he saw
Beneadik, who was arranging the litters o
the animals. He did not know him, bu
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 tn,
kitchen, induced him to examine th,
plowman more carefully. Wickednes
had already established itself in Scriven'
heart. When he left the farm abou
midday his wallet was well furnished
He looked forward to the Stones of PlOu
hinec, which stood out in the snow irregu
lar and clear, like troop Of soldier
standing still upon field of battle. III
contemplated them for a minute; then h
went back TO take another look at Benea
dix, and at last plunged into the heath
walking in the direction of the sea.


Three or four days had passed, and ia
short winters day had begun TO close
The ground was still covered with snow
and the OK ruminated softly in the stable
blessing Heaven that hal wrapped cart
in white shroud.


No work could be done, aud Beneadih