A Little Girl in Old Detroit

ling matches, then suddenly one morning the white blanket turned a faint, sickly, soft gray, and withered. The pallid skies grew blue, the brown earth showed in patch

h every breath of wind. The hemlocks shot out feathery fronds, the spruce spikes of bluish green, the maples shook around red blossoms and then unc

ybody set to work, for the summer heats would soon be upon them, and

ion and a blessing of the fields, and then the fiddles were taken down, for the hard work lasting well into t

, for generally the winter winds blowing fiercely over from the great western lake demolished it, though they always let it stand as long as it would, and in the autumn again da

that it was fun to jerk from some one's hand and let the wind blow the

s put by for winter furs, clean blue tunics, scarlet caps and sashes, deerskin breeches trimmed with yell

ality with their wives in satin and lace and gay brocades. Soldiers as well in

t a bright bow. Gowns that were family heirlooms, never seeing day except on some festive occasion, strings of beads, b

red and enlarged a little. The streets were still narrow and many of them winding about. The greatest signs of life were at the river's edge. The newer American emigrant

were very sore over the treaties. There was an Indian prophet, twin brother to the chief Tecumseh who afterward led his people to

aceable; and many joined in the festivities of a day like this. While as farm labore

own as well. The boys tilled the fields with their fathers, worked in shops or on the docks, or were employed about the Fort. Some few, smitten with military ardor, were in training for future soldiers. The field for girls had grown wider. Beside the household employments the

r, though at spring a wild impulse of libert

I wish I had been made a bird to fly up and up until I had left the earth. Oh, what glorio

they can care for themselves, and, though there is much romance about the mother bird, they are always eager to ge

ave!" she crie

ter stu

go out of the world, to b

t swish of the larches is like the last tender notes of some of the hymns I sing with the sisters occasionally. And the sun is so glorious! He clasps the baby leaves in his unseen hands and they grow, and he makes the blades of grass

f some such in books. And I wonder that the heav

little rooms in which one is buried alive. For it seems like dying before one's ti

he noticed that the mad pranks grew less, that there were days when sh

n seal came to her one day her delight knew

nder the oak," s

about. Wenonah looked up

the hand, "I cannot have you now. You may c

d found much to do, and presently he would go to England. L

n the short turf that was half moss, "a grown man

that southern town, New York. And young women, too. But I hop

her with grea

I know my English quite well and can read in it. And, Pani, h

churches and gardens and walks and palaces, how beautiful it must be! It was remarkabl

thin, brown hand, then laid her soft cheek

ther, but M. St. Armand would be gentle and kind. I think, too, he could smooth away all the sort of cobweb things that haunt one'

range thoughts puzzled her, but she was afraid they were wrong. Th

ultant joy. It gave her hardly less delight than the reception of his. Then it

leury house. Madelon had married a titl

e very careful and not let it get lost. I took so

le to go, and there are many valuable papers in it. Do not fea

I have already studied much that he asked me

down the paved walk bordered with flowers, a great innovation

about a child like that? No one knows to what sort of people she has belonged. And

She ought to marry well. A lit

wn more than he confessed,"

nodded a

ers with her, only she did not see the need of it being spent upon an education. There was Pi

d was always extolling him. He had never learned to dance, but he was a swift skater, and could row with anybody in

pretty as Au

r," returned the prou

ools had been started. M. Loisel sounded his charge as to whether

n to St. Ignace. The new priest that came did not agree very well with Father Gilbert. He wanted to establish some Ursulines on a much stricter plan th

st to many of his flock. "One could hardly tell

ithes regularly.

said the priest angrily. "And

. "And in the little chapel they all agree. They

is tender to us, and will inte

hool that winter but the chil

eanne suddenly decided th

man with a heavy voice, and, would you believe, he fairly lifted mother off her feet, and she

will hunt for some flowers. Susette Mass

e the procession

we can be first to put some

owers had begun to bloom, and they gathered handfuls. Little maple tr

on a shelf inside, raised a little from the ground, stood a plaster cast of the Virgin. Jeanne sp

ss ran to

how beautiful! Where did you find so ma

ive to the chapel. There i

you are not a

y," returned Jeanne, softly, and her eye

lent reverence, Pani knelt and prayed. Then the throng of gayly dressed girls and laughing

trength, running and jumping, and the Indian game of ba

tin Lavosse, a well-favored young fellow, and on the other a g

ed them, and looked into the deep blue eyes with such eagerness that the

a whisper. Jeanne flushed and then was

emper she had, too! He had nearly forgotten all her charms. Of course it had been a childish intimacy. He had driven her in his dog sledge over the ice, he had watched her climb trees to his daring, they had been

man. In his slow-thoughted fashion he saw her the same wild, willful, ob

head. "Only half the time you dance with boys-young fellows;" and he gave a chuckling laugh. "You see there is a scar

t?" Jeanne aske

ged his broa

d have laughed and my father would have beaten me. Now he looks me over as if he knew I was w

ds fell into places. Pierre grasped Jeanne's hand so tightly that she winced. With the other hand he caught one of the streamers. There was a great scramble for them. And

catch that streamer? Now we are on the outside." She pouted

es, and Pierre for a clum

ht a streamer and hel

nsieur," returned Rose pettishly. "As for me,

llowed them, oth

gain amid the cheers of his companions. Round they went, only once losing their place in the whole

and lagging she half drew

ld dance fore

watching you for a chance, and the girls

o;" shrugging his

!" with a pretty

ht, curiously worked embroidery above the hem and around the square neck that gave her exquisite throat full play. The sleeves came to the elbow, and both hands and arms were beautiful. Her skin was

, let us walk, then. I

o say it in. And there is o

e with spar

n hardly believe it is the Pierre we used to run races and climb

, but there was a shade

"I suppose every girl will go crazy about him because he has been up north and made

now. I

und at that rate. Look, Susette can hard

sked Jeanne with sudden d

ood things old Mère Michaud tells of. Your hair j

thunderstorm is coming on,"

waves. And you are so straig

lost your streamer twice

d at Rose giving him the go by in such a

f so early? We all

ther flowers fo

uld have g

e. It was such a pleasure to Pa

around and se

elling birch and sassafras beer, pipes and tobacco, and maple sugar. Little ones were running helter-skelter, tumbling down and getting up without a whimper. Here a kno

was laughing and chattering, and bright eyes full of mirth sent coquettish glances first on this side, then on that. Susette

y boy, too big for your years. Now they are going to try feats of skill and strength. After that we shall have some of the India

ierre, you do not look as if you had spent all your pro

. "I have not been up on the Mich for nothing. You fellows think the river and

be good on a jump. Come and try to distance us

ing on a level, and at a short distance hu

lad, often excelled in jumping. The chaffing stirred his spirit. He would show what

older ones with a well-seasoned appeara

er than those. And I won't take the glory from th

e other is a

dded indi

There was a great laugh of derision. But the second was more successful

t all this while on the grass chattin

"I'm sorry, but they badgered him into it.

r where Pani is!" she sa

No, stay, Jeanne," and Rose caught her hand. "Look! look! W

than his predecessor. A wild shout went up and Pierre's hand was clasped and shaken with a hearty approva

d her this tim

ve of much amusement. This was the only trial that had a prize attached to it,-a

taller than the average, he was head and almost should

run races anymore," she

anne-are you glad to see me? You are so-so grave. And all the ti

itself. The tables, if they could be called that, were spread, and in no time were surrounded by merry, laughing,

hers. It was a proud day for Madame De Ber, and she glanced about among the girls to see whom