A Little Girl in Old St. Louis

h flowers, such great trees in pink and white, such fragrance everywhere, and everybody moving to and fro, as if impelled by some strange power. What were they all doing? And the children were

n every limb, in every nerv

every homestead had its separate lot or garden, enclosed by some sort of rude fence. Outside were the fields, cultivated largely in common; woodlands and an immense prairi

them as much as possible from the use of ardent spirits. The slaves were happy in their lot. Indeed, a writer in early eighteen hundred speaks of the town as arcadian in its simplicity and kindliness to its dependents. Women never worked in the fields, and much of the housework was done by the slaves and Indian women. Holidays

Antoine Freneau was not a young man when he had married; and though people who did not meet with accidents lived to a good old age, he was old already. He always pleaded poverty, though he did considerable dickering in the way of tra

ls. Twice a week they went to the house of the good Father Lemoine, who taught them to read and write and gave them some knowledge o

the cross ties-round on the outside, the smooth part, or middle, going on the inside. The interstices were filled with mortar made of tough grass and clay that

, with its mingled perfumes, was doing that. On the shelves he spread some of his wares, implements of different sorts were ranged about the walls. Near the door was a counter; back of it two iron-bound chests, very mu

s along the banks and drew their boats up out of sight when not needed. Peltries and lead went down to New Orleans, wheat and c

ed on his accepting their hospitality, though he devoted most of his time to the work he was hurrying forward. No

ed. The children were ready enough to go with her, but she liked best to

day when she had laid her claim rather strenuously. "

t he was my uncle-that I was to be his

gran'père had

e. It makes me shiver now. I wo

Government House. And gran'mère gives us delightful little cakes when w

ady that Grandpapa Freneau was not at all respected; and there were moments when she fe

e me on an elegant horse, and his clothes were splendid. And there a

ver their soreness about the transfer. They never meddled with politics, but the

ale, and then up the Rue de Rive. The moon was coming over the river with a pale light, as if she was

bright that if you were an Indian

you so," in a b

has ha

Only the day

to the f

rather in

er then? You might hav

re were Elis

round. We had some fine broiled fis

Her tone was full of entreaty,

ve any little gir

ant any on

she sprang to him and encircled him a

uld be strange, indeed, since

giving her head a turn

been good to you. Ma'm'sell

Louis, though he teases. And Père Re

ssed her fondly. The child's love was so innocent, s

e-always?" There was a catc

ne said to you?" with a s

y own uncle. What would mak

to the heart, even as he smiled at her childish

understand. I must have b

hateful old man!" and she gave her foot a

enough to belong to the hateful old man y

le all my life long. Don't bother your head about relationships. Come,

d a curtain hung to it, some of the Canadian stuff. One corner had been partitioned off for a closet. There was a box with a curtain tacked around it, a

retty as Ma'm'selle Barbe's-almost as pretty," c

you to sleep on, though w

Mère

hrough

well. She had despoiled her little cottage, for Gaspard Denys had said, "It is a home for all the rest of your life if you can be content," and she had called down the blessings of the good God upon him. So, here were shelves wit

y. "The good uncle gets ready the little nest

stood it in the corner

me!" cried the child joyfully

eager eyes from

'selle's window. In a month one will not know the place.

esert, so long as you both were he

e. They will wonder about y

t no cap," sa

Adieu," taking the hard hand in her soft one.

n is so beautiful." If they went direct to the Rena

ausing, lookin

es it look like a silver road. And

ich was mostly social, took place at home, out on the wide porches, where cards were played for amusement. The Indians had dispersed. A few people were strolling about, and some flat boats were moor

cannon was planted and kept in readiness for use. Now and then there would be vague rumors about the English on

res of devotion. How the child loved him already! That a faint tint of

the Rue Royale they met M

feel anxious about you. Barbe declared you might s

n a glow over the thought that when she did stay permanently,

irls will miss thee. They are very

ented with the quick c

hearty welcome. What a man he is! What energy and forethought! A little more than twenty year

when we came over. My mother is buried there, an

breath. "The colonies have revolted, it is said. I

lakes. But the country is so big, why cannot each take a piece in

stories are told by some of the hunters of inaccessible mounta

r returned. The hardy pioneers turned their steps northward for furs. And many who heard these wild dreams in their youth, half a century later crossed

, and it was very bright now. Denys would not stay, and soon s

every one seemed longer. But

Sophie, who had a fondness for the l

t, discovering new treasures, running to and fro, and visiting

house, petite," she said

flower-beds. Two slaves of a neighbor-they were often borrowed for a t

nd doze over the stocking she was knitting, Renée felt strangely solitary. She missed the gay chat of Madame Renaud and her sister and the merriment of

r the classes to meet. Why, it was al

ouis-the favorite in all the French settlements. But the flute had such a tender tone, such a mysterious softness, that it filled her

t pleasant bed-time visions. But the comfort was that all these terrible things had happened in Michigan, or a place away off, called New England; and Sophie did not care what t

her gay coif and her red plaid kerchief instead of the dull gray one. Her small, wrinkled face was a pleasant one, though her eyes were faded, for her teeth were still

and servants. And Mère Lunde had been her own mistress for so

nd gathered a few flowers, as she had seen Ma'm'selle Ba

rily. "There is no one to buy you

ghing light in them, her voice a make-believe

o buy you. It would have to be more valuable tha

s sitting at a massive old desk that he had bought with

me better than

eople love you? The Renaud children, and Ma'

ed with a dainty bit of vexation. "The others lik

you will ever understand how dear you are to

face was radiant with delight-a child'

mean to sell all these thi

the man was in my debt; so he paid me with it. It would not be so pleasant to live down there, on the lower side, by the levee. But I shall

?" with captiv

now? He did not want her grown up into a charming mademois

d, or do people come to a time when they stop ea

of life, child-six

h a shrug and a little curl of th

in amuse

e me. Ma'm'selle Barbe has been, and

the world. Ma'm'selle has not

enough," laughingl

where two hired slaves were working. What should make them so different from white people? Where was Africa and the Guinea Coast that she heard spoken of at the Ren

tly. "Wouldn't you like to ha

all moccasined toe toward a rather

f things for potage, and the making of sundry remedies

I look a

ome and h

have a garden!"