A Little Girl in Old Detroit

ld already and had seen three different régimes. English people were packing their worldly goods and starting for Canada. Some of the French were going to the farther we

north and west, ready to be roused to an

The red painted windmills flew like great birds in the air, though some of the habitans kept to their little home hand mill, whose two revolving stones needed a gre

mers had watched with fear and trembling and now surveyed with pride. Other grains were being cultivated. Es

itly keeping out of the way of the larger craft and sending laughing replies to the chaff of the boatmen.

Continental blue and buff, most of it soiled and worn, presented quite a contrast to the red and gold of the English to which their eyes had become so ac

shion. She had picked up some English and by dint

k and cleaning up at the barracks, turning a smiling and amused face

here for long? Are you sure t

ead proudly and

f we might sta

erybody's master. Y

government. Individuals you kno

could know a good deal! Something was stirring within he

was with the big eyes that l

rench, Mam

ike an

of black curling hair, the long lashes, through which her eyes glittered, the brown skin that was sun kissed r

u are not." Then he looked

t I am a big girl now and do not need a nurse. Monsieur, I think I am French. But

ared, but not

u will like us, since

glish conquered the French, and they went away-many of them. And yo

people?" i

rive you out." S

not be dr

as strong

m Maine to the Carolinas, and to the Mississi

an. I like people who are str

be an American. And you must

if you are so grand why do you n

nning," but the sharp, satirical curves lurking around her

er hand. "You talk too much to

d short. For it was not only her friend, but a number of gentle

is hand to her. She shrank

him something more than the demands of superior rank,

you again." He turned a trifle. The general and his aids were on a tour of inspec

eur. "I have many things to say to your atten

you do not like-" her eyes

ital on some business, and then to France. But I shal

summer. There are m

I hope there will be

r sail on the river. There are so many de

one considers your way not the best for y

sure? If I want to go out and sing with the birds or run mad races with the dogs, or play with the children outside, that is the

this afternoon, and let me come and talk to

nning wheel come. It is a queer thing and hums strangely. And Marie will learn to spin, her mother says. Then she will never be able to go in the woods for w

w. Dainty and shapely they were,

pleasant to one's feet. I am glad I am not a grand

g rejoicing exultantly in its liberty. It seemed almost a shame to

round and given some orde

r exploits, she will be proud that she had the honor. Jeanne Angelot is the small maid's name. And this is our brave General Wayn

gh for a great general. But when I come near by I see you are brave and stro

will become a great city, and that you ma

uisite grace. General Wayne leaped

ety could have been more graceful and less abashed, and few would own up chang

she really is;" and St. Armand re

ans. There will be many a sad romance linked

vember he held the post, repairing fortifications, promulgating new laws, redressing abuses, soothing the disaffected and, as far as he could, studying the best interests of the

been very restless. A hundred desires flew to her mind like birds on the wing. Never had there seemed so many charms outside of the

er severely. "Thou wilt soon be a big girl and then a maiden who should be laying

ah is glad to make garments for me. Though I think M. Bellestre

trees and ran about with Indian children. Though it is half s

her head with

they must be. They like liberty, so

now when it came in this sort of taunt she could not tell why a remembrance of Louis Marsac should rise before her. After all, what did a li

ave him. They wear fine clothes that come from France, and they can smile and Madame F

et," trying to co

red. I want to run races to get my breath. It s

longer. It would be sad to mi

trouble! You wait and wait for them. Th

r eyes were like stars, and in an uncomprehended way the woman

eet him. Then she suddenly subsided from some inexplicable cause, and a flush came to her cheek as she dropped down

There was a grave expression on her face, charm

n obeisance, and bro

r rather go in do

one-" he hel

rgotten. It is late,"

e of the freedom that you rejoice in so exuberantly,

chattering child would be

erious? Or are you too young

mind, but go the same, except that it is not always safe on the river, which

me other country. There may be friends awaiting you that you know nothing of now. You would no doubt like to have them pleased with you, proud of you. And for this and true living you

and would not allow them to waver. Sh

to be some schools started as soon as the autumn opens. You know you wanted to learn why the

mind Sunday, for then there are people to see. But to

that was half ri

bring me back safe and allow me to see you again. And I shall say when I see the sun rising on the

for you. That is so different from praying for people you don't know anything about, and to-t

turned gravely. "And if you learn to re

. "Oh, I could never learn enough

twice a week you will go to the sisters, I have promised Fathe

ground. A caterpillar was dragging its le

f up in a web and hang somewhere all winter,

ing!" in inte

d the tiny green leaf comes out, and why the birds go to warmer countries, because they cannot stand snow and sleet, and return again;

dimple in her chin deepened as she drew a lon

thin her. There was a struggle, yet he liked her the b

d with a new humility, "

fter a while. It will come hard at first, but you must be courageous and persevering. An

of love for the child of her adoption. Then he took both of

gone out of her life before. With Pani there was complete ownership, but Monsieur St. Armand was a new experience. Neither had she really loved her playmates, she had found them all so different from herself. Next to Pani stood We

rn again as he said, for he keeps his word. And thou wilt be a big girl and

that she was frightened. She did not want to go out again, and sat watching Pani as she ma

science of an able and far-sighted patriot had said, "To make good citizens they must learn the E

t many questions for itself. A school was organized where English and various simple branches should be taught. It was opposed by Father Gilbert, who insisted that all the French Catholics should

w select schools, and sometimes several families joined and had the

es and quarrels, but she soon established a standing for herself. The boys cal

can scratch," she rej

rnoons that Father Rameau would be satisfied. He is nice and kindly, but I hate Father Gilbert. And," laughingly, "I think th

he liked the o

ch girls. Oh, the frolics in the woods, the hunting of berries and grapes, the loads of beautiful birch and ash bark, the wild flowers that bloomed

ught schooling shortsighted business except for boys who would be traders

of berries one afternoon, when the

a harvest! Come at once, and if yo

e called Susanne, who goes to school, and I ha

cried out and then she laid it to Pierre Dessau, who was well thrashe

For if I do not get a big lot of berries mot

Pani will not care; for she

lains that she spoils you and that you

life. She isn't quite like a mother, you see

or mother to love,"

id I must not mention it until it was quite settled. There is-some one-

osse," she said. "You danced with him. He i

d not mind if it were. But he

e young

been buying some of the newly surveyed land down at the southern end. Father has known him qui

hesitated Jeanne, not knowing whether to approve

ke a sprite. And there are so many of the fur hunters and traders who drink and spend their money, and someti

goes through your head like a knife. She is little Jacques' a

" in a low, pr

you!" said Jeanne with

I am thirty he will be an old man sixty years

so fast. He is fourteen years older than you, and when you are thirty he can only be fourteen years

in surprise. "Are you quite

emember, and you wonder what it is all about, then at other times you can use the knowledge and are happy and glad over it. There are

right?" asked Marie in

ounting money? And it is said that Madame Ganeau goes over her husband's books every week since th

d her voice

ng of girls. "And look, they have found a harvest, t

here," declared Jeanne stoutly. "We found a good

ight have

d in a tantal

e the stockade and go to a school where they teach all manner of lies to the c

, and rather coarse, and her dark eyes had a yellowish tinge, even to the whites. "Perhaps I am the descendant of some Indian pri

ecile's broad nose distended with anger while her lips were purple. She was larger but

e," cried one of the girls,

"how splendid you are! No hus

r out his eye