Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutExeter Advocate, 1909-10-21, Page 6Baek to Life 1111(1 Loe; OR, WAITING TI:KouGtt VI ARY YEARS. ('HATTER 1II. Marie Serafinne lived near the small hamlet .'f Pine Cliffs, en the fbhenandoalh It it er. Though her father and her mo- ther had long passel) to the spirit world, she could nut be called an orphan, for she was tenderly cared for by her aged grandmother. They were very poor and lived in a hut of one ream with a loft above it. a shed behind it, and it rude fence enclosing a little bit of a gar- den around it ;—just so much land A, lay in the hollow under the lofty ',belting cliff that overhung the riv- er at that point, seeming ready to topple down and crush t he little hut like an eggshell. But as the eheli•iug cliff had over - }lung the river for thousands of years without falling, its great pro- tecting roof was trusted as a safe *heifer rather than feared as a pos- eibte danger. Here Marie and her granny lived. Here they cultivated their small garden, kept a cow, and raised poultry From these resources, garden, row and poultry -yard, t hey got fresh vegetables and fruit, intik, butter and eggs enough for their omit consumption, besides having a large surplus for sale, which Marie took in every day to the vil- lage and sold to the hotel during the whole of the summer season, whe'i the tillage was full of tour- \\itlh the price of this produce )Mario bought tea and sugar, flour and salt, and also other simple nec- essaries such as they could not raise or their own little place. The summer was their busy and profitable season. But it needed strict economy to enable them to lay up a little each summer for the coming winter. For in the winter their only source of revenue was from the woolen socks and mittens which they knit and sold to the villagers. Marie Seralinne was n favorite in the village, and, indeed, in the whole neighborhood -"welcome in hall and hut." AN loved the gentle girl. ilut meta especially-childreu loved her, for she loved children. Often when in sunlrncr she would return home front the village and bi ing empty buckets and a half fill - (d purse, her granny, counting the money with the asarice of age, would say to her: "Why. Marie. you took nut ten quarts of milk at ten cents a quart, And her you hate brought Ine emp- Iy pails and only ninety cents.'' -Well. but granny. 1 met Emma and Willy, and they .asked me fur milk and I gave them each a drink:* And then CI sanity Thompson would groan and declare it .was the French blood of her father, and it was a pity her own only "darter" had "mlarried of a Frenehman.'' One time. returning with empty bassets. Marie would be arraigned with: "Dear. dear me: Didn't 1 sen.( bun out with fifteen quarts of rasp• erries at five cents a quart, .I.ed here teen have brought me only six- ty -fete cents. Where's the ether ten "(cranny. I met Sissy and Nelly and fanny. and I gate each of 'em a handful of berries. I couldn't help it, grana» :•' Another time: "How is thin. Marie ; 1 sent you AIMINEIMMINOW . the hetet. and to get the tanner t., CLAM' and take away the body of poor Meeley. And s}ie succeeded iu beth mis- sions. Alter this Marie worked harder than ever, for she found washing Iand ironing more laborious than nti!king and butter making, while it w as not quite so profitable. Yet :Marie 'would net. for this • cast c, let her pour e!d granny sot fer for the want of any of her ac- - customed comforts. She bought milk and butter ecough for their simple meals from a neighboring farmer. And now iter busy life for a few days kept her thuughts from dwel- ling on the dark, handsome face that bad made sueh an impression on her imagination, especially as she had not seen that face since it first glowed upon her. But. one day, about a week after that first accidental meeting, sho %Neat to the village to carry a bas- ket of clean clothes, and she was returning with a basket heavily laden with soiled linen, when, feel- ing great fatigue, she laid down her burden fur a moment, and sat down to rest in the wood. She threw off her lent to cool her head, and as she did so she saw -What a mother she will make, seine day :' said her poor neigh- bors. "What an excellent nurse she would be; what a treasuec in a household of children!" said iier rich neighbors. But. Marie's chance of being hap- py in the position of either mother or nurse seemed very remote. 1t is true that many of the young farmers of the neighborhood were struck by her rare beauty, but part- ly because she was always so busily at work cultivating her garden, feeding her poultry, milking her (cafe, or carrying fruitand vege- tables, milk, butter, and eggs to the village, that she had no time for the first time, a young man to listen to them; partly because, seated on a rock near by, with a when she did play, she played with portfolio on his times and a pencil children only. so that she seemed in his hand. to be still hut a child herself ; and At. the same moment that she per - partly, also, because she was so ex- ceived hint, he also looked up. tremely shy, none of her young dis- And etch strangely blended emo- tant admirers ever approached her tions of delight and dread, she re - with words of love. cognized the dark handsome stran- But, ah ! there came a time when 1 ger she had seen at the hotel. the child -woman loved "with a love She quietly put on her hat, took that was her doom." ur her heavy basket and arose to One bright summer morning she go. went, as usual, to the village ho "Pray do not leave. If 1 disturb tel with a basket of fruit, to offer you I will nlyeelf move off," said for sale to the visitors there. the young elan rising. It was a simple, country place, "Oh, no, no, you do not disturb and ladies and gentlemen, nurses' me, but I was afraid -1 was and children, were gathered upon afradd—" site stopped and blushed. the front porch enjoying the morn- "Afraid 1" echoed the young man ,ing air and the magnificent moon- • with eta interest he could not con- tain scenery before them. teal. Marie, who went in and out the "Afraid 1 might be intruding on house like any pet kitten, stepped you. I mean to say," added Marie on the porch, as usual, and passed looking down. "If there be an intruder, it is certainly myself. 1 am a trespasser here on your native soil, and if you among the ladies. offering her fruit. While doing so, she overheard u voice murmur : "What (t be'ntif ill face! Just leave on my account 1 shall take my idea of the Virgin before too it as a rebuke," said the stranger annunciation, while she was sten gravely'. an unconecioua child in Judea! vh The simple girl did not more than serve that pure, white forehead, half understand h'.m, but she gath- w-ith its aureole of golden curls lik,'erect enough of his meaning to en - a halo around it ; those clean. able her to auswer 1•right-blue eyes, full of soft splen- "You i101e as much right, here as dor; that perfect mouth." 1 have, for 1 have no more than the Marie had no suspicion that the. birds. The Lord lets us all come.'' speaker was talking of her; out "Will you sit down then tied rest she involuntarily turned around, as you meant to e'o1 If you don't, and as she did so, she met the gaze I will go away," said the stranger, of a pair of large, dark eyes fixe••: gathering up his portfolio and pen- in adoration upon her face. ails. Marie blushed deeply. and ave:•t For all reply. Marie put down ed her head. And soon She took her her has!s,et and resumed her seat, basket and moved from the spot. and sat there blushing and 1rernb- But she carried with her a vision ,,f ling—half pleased and half fright - a fine dark Nee, shaded with silk ened. en black curls and moustache, anal And the artist resumed his seat, lighted by a pair of large. soft, re -opened his portfolio, and recom- deeply shaded black eyes. menced his work. And without suspicion of rong He worked on in silence for a kw r danger, she thought of that fine minutes and then loe,ked around at dark face with innocent delight. his quiet compirnion, and met her As she walked home with her cusp- eyes fixed in childlike wonder and ty basket, she wondered who the admiration upon himself. owner was, whether he was a vial- Shc colored deeply and turned tor at the hotel, and how long he away her head in confusion. was going to stay. and if she should Thr artist smiled, not without ever see him again. And then, with satisfaction. a slight feeling of pain fur which "Yon are wondering what i am she could not account. site tried to doing'•' he said quietly, to reassure guess which of those ri'1,. happy. her. "Well. Tittle daughter of Eve, handsomely dressed lady visitors it 1 will satisfy ybur curiosity. 1 am was whom he thought to be as bean- sketching from nature. I ant tnak- tiful as the blessed Virgin! • ing a picture. I swill %show it to you So deep was her reverie. t)iat she' and you shall tell me what you think reached home before she was o' it, for 1 know you will be a corn - aware. indeed. she alight have prteut and honest critic." passed the little gate. and gone on. 1n-1 he arose. and touk the sketch itmemo-ion sly. had she not heard iiou1 his portfolio, and came and cries of distress which immediatelyput in into her Hands. arrested her steps. She looked at hint in a seed sur - Thinking only of her granny then, prise, then fixed her eyes upon the she turned hastily into the garden, sketch. and then raised them to the and renewed the sound of the (•ries. scene fr•,m w hich it was taken. it It'd her through the lint into "Now (10 you like it !" he enquir- the back shed, where she (mind the cd. taking the scat by her side. nut with a peck et sugar pears. and eh! woman uttering loud inmenta• "It is beautiful! -she murmured. here you have brought back only 1 times. It is magical. 1 wish 1 could (to the price of three ttnartera Of a 1 ll:irie had scarcely time to ark it peck what the matter was when the old Then she stopped and flushed, ' (►, (ir8u11y : there eat,.le.lny and eeman exclaimed: rend taking up her basket. she ad - Ally 1111(1 Minnie and ida saw the • •Oh, Marie! Moolev • is dead! ded : pears. and 1 gate thein some: It %inlet is dead: And (low• w(• tvo "1 11111st go now." se natural for children to lute ;hall die: shall starve to death. -What. do I drive yeti away after fruit, grana% . And if tett had only - -Hew did it happen 1" (altered all IrelI (Len :1 putt ing tLr.irCelt- little the girl in well-founded fee r, for "Oh no; bud 1 must go now, teeth into the Pears. Y"11.41 a telt indeed the cow was half their liv- please. I must carry this basket of as if tent en's paid ing. (1(thes home.'. -No. 1 't,uldn't, neither : 1 dun t "Oh. she fell uses• the cliff ' She "What '. thin heavy basket 1 you sea:' it at all: And no more netIld fell over the cliff: She missed her eel faint by the way ! Let nlecarry Beta. onit for your father's French footing. and fell over the cliff and it for stet," he said. lifting it up(In bleed! Pity- »our mother esti mar- leeks. her 'leek. and (lied at once: 1.i, arm. lied of a ).alasette French ,ehl I ..vie. look at het • cried the &feel ''Oh, no. tie. p!•'ase: indeed, in - e t ! Mind, now. it's gulag to be the w.,man, ,ebbing and wringing her dced 1 wuuld rather you wuu{da't : is his help. Hc•r confidence was en-O+OIP° tirely uun. He walked by her bide', convers- ing pleasantly on such topics as carne by the way. 1 ani told that there is a very picturesque scene along this road, that has never yet been sketched. It is u tuck sheltie's' far oter the river, and having at its base and under the shadow of its shelf a small cottage melt a garden. 1)o you know where it is t'' he enquir- ed as they walked on. "Yes. sir; it is our rock and our cottage and garden that you mean. The rock is called the Anvil. from its shape, which is just like that of a hla:•ksrnith's anvil, reaching far forward and having a teat top. We live under it," anseered Marie. ":1h ! indeed! Then we are on our way there now." "\\'e aro very near it, sir." "How near 1" enquired the young than anxiously, as if he were not at al! desirous to shorten the distance, but quite the reverse. "About a quarter of a mile, air." "Ah!" he said, and slackened his steps, walking very slowly. During that walk, the artist man- aged to become possessed not only o[ the girl's full confidence, but al- so of her whole history, even down to the calamity of the cow's death. death. When they came in sight of the hut under the cliff, the artist broke out into enthusiastic praise of the beauty of the scone. "I roust cer- tainly sketch this, Marie," he said —"Will you permit me to come here every clay and sit upon that bank A cold draught all night is as dao there a.nd work until I finish the grrous as roosting in Inc open air; picture 1" he softly enquired. , corn fodder set np aroul:d the a ind- "Oh, yes, sir ; certainly. ('hat fest Fete. of a ben house Mill make is, I mean, 1 have got no right to it habitable. stop you. The place is free to you As for the reef, if no water drips us it is to all, sir." - directly on the roosts, and holes The artist was not quite satisfied are not large enough kr the hens with this reply, so he enquired far- to fly through, it will do. they. . '13ut, shall I be in any way dis- turbing you, :starlet" "Oh, no, sir ; no indeed," she an- swered earnestly. They had now reached the gate of the cottage and Marie Iospitab- ly invited her companion to come in and sec her granny. But the artist thanked her and declined the invitation. Ifo sot down the basket, lifter his hat and bowed to her as if she had been a princess. and turned and left the spot. Marie stood transfixed, gazing af- ter his receding form, until he sud- denly turned and looked back, when meeting 'his eyes, she started with some confusion and hurried into the hut. First she threw off her hat and went into the back shed and put the soiled linen iu soak. to be washed the next day, and then site went into the one room of tIt hut, where her granny was nodding over her knitting. She sat down beside her and told her all about the artist she had met on the road, and about his wanting to paint the cottage, and cspeeially about his kindness in bringing home her heavy basket, even to the oottago gate. "That's all well enough for a nig matt to gin a lift for a little gal. But if he wants to draw off a pietcr of our hottse, he's got to pay for it. Poor folks like us, as has lost our cow too, can't afford to gite away cveryt)l ng, even to the .very me- ter of our house," grumbled the dame. "Oh! granny : You would never want to take the gentleman's mon- ey for that said Marie, feeling deeply ashamed. "I would then: And I will too, before he gets a (•hateti:e to steal the Pieter ellen it. for nothing! Let him up with it indeed!" growled the old w•(nlan. Marie made no further answer; but meekly went about her little household duties. hanging the tea- kettle over the fire and setting the table for supper. (To be continued.) On the Farm +OK+tO♦0.4+'j WINTER (•ABF: O1' POULTRY Keeping fowls oxer winter costs money. Nothing should be kept that, does not pav its debts with interest. At the fall roundup make a thorough sorting. !:very fowl should stand squarely upon strong, well-developed legs, whose scales are clear and di.;tinct. overlapping each other neatly. Next in i111- portanee is the head. which should Defensive Means Employed .Against be rather small with a cutupact Ip$1ets, cotnb of clear, healthy rose color, a firm beak and bright eyes. Writing of the Italian catchfly in Though much more rare, there his essay, "Tho Intelligence of the are defects in the oudv to be looked Flowers,'' Maurice Maeterlinck, after, such as crooked backs, clog- the Belgian poet and philosopher, ged oil -glands, etc. The too num- shows how this simple little white erous males. and the late pallets) flown goes kith seemingly ititelli. that will eat all winter and then gent thought about the business of help flood the markets with nine- its own preservation. Apparently cent eggs in the spring. should be very timorous, very susceptible, to sorted (Jilt. if there i= a swelled avoid the visits of importunate and head or a consumptive have tt indelicate insects the Silene hasten ti killed immediately. It is the more furnishes its stalks with glandular merciful way. hairs, when ce oozes 0 viscid fluid With a flu'k of sturdy, healthy in which the parasites are caught fowls, not too numerous for their with such success that the peasants quarters, poultry keeping is usual- of the south use the plant as a fly - It successful; but to bring best re- catcher in their (louses. tints toting earn is needed. Loving Certain kinds of catchtlies, more- ls used advisedly. over, have ingeniously simplified Be careful of the roosting places. the system. Dreading the ants in particular, they discovered that it was enough, in cider to prevent them from passing. to place a wide viscid ring tinder the node of each stalk. This is exactly what our gardeners do when they draw a cir- cle of tar or other sticky substance round the trunks of the apple -trees to stop the ascent of the caterpil• Most important of all --teed and lars. water, water and feed continually. In a popular work. "Les Plantes Feed with a liberal but judicious Originates," Mons. Henri toupin hand as great a variety as possible, examines some of the defensive but regularly. means employed by plants. Some A good ration is to feed whole c•f these weapons are quaint and wheat one morning and on the next startling. a warm mash of table scraps, meat, Monsieur Lothelier. a student at cooked vegetables or anything ob- the Sorbonne, has made a number taiiable mixed up with hot water of interesting experiments with and meal into a thick mash, w-tt• thorn., resulting in the conclusion should be carefully seasoned with that shade and damp tend to sup - pepper and salt. This is a handy press the prickly parts of the way to feed a few red peppers oc- plants. easionally or poultry food, for a On the other hand. whenever the' tonic. place in which it grows is dry and Fiery night, half an hour before burned by the sun, the plant brist- sunset, give a good ration of corn les and multiplies its spikes, as if heated until some of the kernels it felt that, being almost the sole arc brown. survivor among the rocks or in the es. The fowls should have fresh era• hot sand, it is called upon to make tet or milk slightly warmed twice a r1 mighty effort to redouble its de - day and plenty of cracked aft( tenses against au enemy that no ground earth and bone, beside hay- lunger has a choice of victims to ing water -slacked lime by thein all prey upon. It is a remarkable feet, the time, moreover, that, when cultivated by If some snowy morning. the man, most of the thorny plants zephyrs are rather rough as you go gradually lay aside their weapons, forth broom in hand to sweep chins leaving the care of their safety to en paths. it may be some comfort the supernatural protector who has to remember that business is busi- adopted them in his fenced ness, and thet profit and pains tak- grounds. ing go hand in hand. Among the plats that have ceased to defend themsclvea the most striking case is that of the lettuce. "In its wild state." says Mon- sieur Coupon. "if we break a stalk or a leaf. we tee a white juice ex- ude from it, the latex. a substance formed of different matters which vigorously defend the plant against the assaults of the slugs. On the other hand. in the cultivated spec- cs derived from the former, the la- tex is almost mi.,sing, for which reason the plant. to the despair of the gardeners, is no longer able to resist, and allows the slags to eat lit." it is nescrtheless right. comrrents Maeterlinck. to add that latex ii rarely las•'.ing except in the y4..ug plants, ehr ea` it becomes quite abundant when the lettuce begins to "cabbage." and when it tuns to seed. Now it is especially at the cunllneneemont cif its life. at the pudding of its first tender leaves, that the plant deeds to defend it- self. One is inclined to think that the c•ultitate•] lettuce loses its head a little, so to speak. and that it no longer knows exactly where it stalids. ('etrtlain plants. among otters the Boraginaceae, supply the place of thorns with very hard bristles. Others, such as the nettle. add poi- son. °others, the geranium. the mint. the rue, steep themselves in powerful odors to keep off the ant- ras. i1,1 the strangest. are those which defend 1hem'elses mechanically. Monsieur Maeterlinck mentions only the horsetail. which surrounds itself with a vertable armour of microscopic silicae. Moreeser, al- most all the (Jran ineae. in erste.- to rder to discourage the gathering of slugs and snails, acid lime to their tis - 1110a. on the farm as in the city, but • men are able to save more of them, and at the end of the month or tear, the farm hand often has more mouey than had he been working i,► the city. Probably a reason why there is such an apparent antipa- thy to working on t -.e farm is the false opinion teen entertain that farm labor is degrading. At t present day, when farm work is performed by machinery largely, and business methods obtain to a. great extent, there is no ground for such a thought. A more logi- cal reason is perhaps the usually long hours for labor on the farm. PLANT INTELLIGENCE. ‘e SENTENCE SERMONS. Malice always nliscontrues. Long prayers often hide wrong practice• Formation is always better than reformation. No man tan save men without, suffering with men. It is hard work glowing saints in the soil of the pit. You can pleasure any 11)81's Oration by his perspiration. No man has n large mission eh • neglects the little tninistries. Religious fortns easily be:utile cas- kets in which faith is buried. This is n godless world whcn(•Ver the ditinc is all in the past tense ruin an »•til: Y•su can't .ray no to hands. she pleaded trembling. When a mita is ethically wabbly n.,11ed►: Andyou'd gist aa n» )4111r incl she led Marie Ilselt the "Child. 1 hese a little sister at le is usually theologically rigid. wary feet. if any bods tante,' them.' hack door of the shed. and alilong the nle just about your age. And 1 Ileal prayers and real mountain♦ and go MI(•relte•he. all sour life:' base of the cliff, until they cache to carry all her burdens. It w4,111(1 always put a pick in your hand. 1'I II Ras strongly put. but it was the -pet ''here the 110(15 mf the cow Rite ole pain to see her carrying You wwill not help t he man who (.oasis, (true et Slater i 1,, anything heat y. .ted it gives m e le )nuking to you by looking at �.•r.lfinnt`. self !lad no Pia"' 1n he, Marie knelt down end tenderly pain now l., hear »uu speak mf car le loo lf. soul. It 1114 til!c•d wi:!1 tilt "• s ( qtr„k(d the fare of her poor dumb vying this. \'oil tort!(' not wish to (lrcatness of (+arivter rises in rather'+. 1.. -sac vthrrs harps'' "•:t-. r •..Id. and sew that she wa•s dead give any one, eaten toe. Pain. would willingness to make small begin - with her. to he ter'. happy: t„ ser in(i^r11. you'.' pings. ethers mise re lee it 1-. tlth her. l'i •'I)„11't cry. clear I;"a11s)5 ' l nl "Oh. m•:” There's nothing a lazy man e.• - hr 5 er» mi -0r 111e. .1i d alta knew i sorry for poor Muoley : het don't "'then let me carry this for yon. j(.e, better than designing "Rus; 1, tuber 11:11.1,:I r-`. 11•, ether 1111•' 1 tee ibe afraid; we shall net st1,4e! .\11(1 see how strong 1 and in (•nal- sign.. ( ` 1 kers• they want another leen. pari -on to you'.' The worst feels are Dinar a 1 1:10 in the inllnr.••1 J,.'. ,11d H!,i.1 if (12,',: it the hetet, al:d i Can take .1nd a.) ':vying he earl -net the (las- worship a find in the hone re le, , tees et cle!di••n •!• •• lee .ie •' 4 •'.t e1 ea-hirg en,ngl• to rank• up for kee to the rock where he had leit ins him. IA', alt.) is) the', •... 1-.itT.1'II the 1. -s of the mill: sed hotter.” his drawing n1,►teriltls, and set if Seine men use the beam in ih'1r s'1(' •. _1,?er•"I i:.,.' .-t•', emit si'.e -111' said cheerful'). a,- she helped (loan there elide lie strapped his eye to pick out the mete In t 1'!r 4 1:':1 El't"' t'e'nt. 1 the .1:1111)` beck 1,, tee 1111t. eertfltlltl 1m his shelil(ler,. fife, I tether's. it •t•ws fr•.sn 1i,i- tied ••f florae .1n(1 that salve afternoonMarie lei took tip her basket and 1,l tined Tin marc neasl!re the.a 0)0,83 iti¢ the morn perfrtt will the nee) 1, r 11.,s1.,11:tr:A. 4.1» lite t kneull ande 1,r'lt 1)a(k t•t Inc tTag•' 4,0 a 41,11111e her. •(,IIliel•!('-5 by the entente of soq.t., Act. I.,, t t. f 4 rrnnd---t4 engage wash;ng frotn Site mad no further resistance tl.ey make. ! Tbo Mages may not be so higf, TELLING AGE OF ('ArrLf. At twelve months,. an animal should have its milk (calf) incisors in ))lace. Fifteen month. At this age the central pair of incisors (milk tc- may be replaced by a pair of per- manent incisors (pincers), these be- ing through the gums, but not in wear. Flighteen months. The middy pair of central inciters nt this age should be fully U. and in wear, tut the next pair (first intermed- iary) not yet through the gums. Twenty-four months. The mount at this age will show two nivel (permanent broad) incisors, fully up and in wear. Thirty months generally shows six broad permanent incisors, the middle and first intermediary fully up and in wear. 'file next pair (second intermediate ) well up but not in use. Thirty-six months shows three pairs of broad teeth. which should he fully up and in wear, and the corner milk teeth may be shedding with 'he corner permanents just appearing through the gum. Thins -nine months. Three pairs of bread teeth mill he fully up and in wear: the earner teeth (incisors) throng%) the gnus are notin wear. FARM NOTES. Keep the. churning -room 8s dear Gtr degrees as possible. Never till the churn more than half full of cream. Churn at medium speed. Always ore a thermumoter, and in summer churn at f,o degree.. Of the absolute necessity of pot- ash for plant food there can he nn doubt. it is essential to the life of plants. and there seems to he no end its ifs con)binafjong with other component part-. of the soil. which are thus dissol'('41 and made assi- milable. It would be folly for any farmer te attempt to manufacture arid phosphate or (lisselve hone fertiliz- er nt home. The snaking of high- grade commercial fertilizer is Ittlsiness requiring technical train- ing. and for ..Ile eh,. knows neth• ing sibeet it, failure will almost certainly scent!. Befcre the hones are treated. thea should he ground %Pry fame. and the finer the grind. DIFFER ENT. "Mrs. Jones is different (rem wortu'n." "How do you make that out 1 ' ''1 was intitee{ up there to din- ner the other night, and she didn't once, apologize for the meal she was 'tee ing.' A NEW WRINKLE:. "Thar's a sign up there, daddy, what says: 'Don't blur out the 'Well, who blotted it out 1 1 jest hitit a lick with my britches ail' 1 hain't seen othin' es 11 mum.'"