A Little Girl in Old Detroit

in his journal. It was not only the romantic side, but the usefulness of the position that appealed to him, commanding the trade from Canada

railing about, the great forests dense and dark with kingly trees where birds broke the silence with songs and chatter, and game of all kinds found a home; the rivers, sparkling with fish and thronged with swa

e and the Church which hampered real advance. The brave men who fought Indians, who struggled against adverse fortunes, who explored the Mississippi valley and planted the nucleus of towns, died one after another. More than half a century later the English, hold

to the West and made new settlements. The most primitive methods were still in vogue. Canoes and row boats were the methods of transportation for the fur trade; there had been no printing press in all New France; the people had foll

to the United Colonies. But for some years England seemed disposed to hold on to Detroit, disbelieving the colonies could ever establish a stable government. As the French had suppose

Angelot sat outside the palisade, leaning against the Pani woman who for years had been a slave, from where she did not know herself, except that she had been a child up

ied in childhood, the other had been taken away by the husband who repudiated her. She was the more ready to mot

Jeanne with an air of autho

lose to her body, making a back to the seat of soft turf, and with h

t so many times you could te

ght," said the girl, with mischievous laughte

n looked

be better able t

i! Why, I might sum

o not call upo

though they cannot ta

n made as if she would rise

ought to have some night-sight or knowledge. And you were feeling l

in her arms. And I did not go in the palisade that night. I had come to love Madame and the children, and it w

tain dignity. The child patted her hand and pre

the Outawa woman, had bidden me to her wigwam. I heard the bel

tree!" interrupte

when I would have risen she pushed me back with her knee and dropped something heavy in my lap. I screamed, for I knew not what manner of evil spirit it might be. But she pressed it down with her two hands

l sprang up and e

hing was alive, though I did not know whether you were human or not, for there

ever let go of you, Pani. If I had money I should buy you

! An old woman like me! And

. "And you sat here and hel

ther, the stars came out for there was no moon to check them. On the Beaufeit farm they were having a dance. Susanne Beaufeit had bee

caressing the

an with all my might to Touchas' hut. The curtain was up and the fire was burning, and I had

. 'Why, your eyes are like moons

evil thing, Pani!" said

ish. And there was no sign of Indian about you. But you slept and slept. Then we undressed you. There was a name pinned to your clothes, and a locket and chain about your neck and a tiny ring on one finger. And on your thigh were two letters, 'J. A.,' which meant Jeanne Angelot, Father Rameau said. And oh,

," said the child mirthfully. "The Gr

y will speak in Latin as the good fathers d

curl of disbelief i

re there was likely to be some one killed, and they never found any trace. The English Commandant was here then and Madame was interested in you. Madame Bellestre would have you baptized in the old church to make sure, and because you were French she bade me bring you there and care for you. But she had to die and M. Bellestre had large interests in that wonderful Southern town, New Orleans, where it is said

leep on a hard bed and count beads, and wear that ugly black gown! No, I told Father Rameau if anyone shut me up I should s

rror-stricken woman. "That is wi

ey were not black, but of the darkest blue, with strange, steely lights in t

ng possession of everything. I like their religion. You don't have to go i

ave spoiled so many people. There is but one God.

ather guttural voice from the handsome half-breed stretched out lazily o

been good to me. Their religion saves you from torment and teaches you

han the great Manitou? Does he not speak in the thunder, in the roar of the mighty cataract, and is not his voice soft when he chants in the summer night

let the French

ose up on

lled us to their mumbling prayers instead of fighting our enemies! They and the English gave us their fire water to drink

onsieur Marsac?" asked P

trade and a man can make more money. I take thrift from my French father, you see. But some day my people will rise again, and

bronze, while his features were clearly cut. Now and then some man of good birth had married an Indian woman by the rites of the Church, and this Hugh de Marsac had done. But of all their children only one remained, and now t

n a cell, the whole wide heavens and earth that God has made lifts up one's soul to finer thoughts than mumbling over beads or worshiping a Christ on the cross.

did not suit her just now though in a certain fashion this

home," she exc

us go down to King's wharf

the woman, who rose slowly, then put the long, lean arm about the child's neck

led the child to-day? She was generall

e procession that marched up the aisle of St. Anne's, the shower of kisses bestowed upon you after p

could tell me. Walk behind,

," he returned with dignified sarc

rdly polite

nger, I would be here to face

er. And Pani is tall and

d not go? Though I believe you a

of the vices of that early civilization. Marsac pushed them aside with s

sieur; it was g

zed how she had grown, and that she was prettier than a year ago wit

" he returned dryly, glanci

ling vessels came up the river, merchantmen loaded with cargoes instead of the string of canoes. And here was one at the old King's wharf with busy hands, whites and Indians, running to and fro with bales and boxes, presenting a scene o

ense woods that seemed guarding the place, and irregular openings that gave vistas of the far away prospect. What was all that great outside world like? After St. Clair river, Lake Huron

rk. There were some strange faces she had never seen be

her idea of Americans being that

the other side of the world. T

de much of an advance among ordinary people. But he was glad he knew th

mation. There had been an acrimonious debate on conditions and much vexatious delay, as if he was individually loath to surrender his authority. In fact the English, as the

nd the high hills with their ti

She was a little tired and confused with a strange sensation

which served for barracks' stores, and housed some of the troops. Here they passed St. Anne's street with its old church and the military garden at the upper end; houses of one and two stories with peaked thatched roofs, and a few of more imposing aspect. On the west of the citadel near St. Joseph's street they paused before a small cottage with a little garden at the si

Marsac with a dignified bow. "Mam'selle

k very strange?" pertly. "And I am not tire

l soon re

hat was the old signal for the Indians and w

walked up to the

Where have I heard the name away from Detroit? She