A Little Girl in Old St. Louis

d out to welcome them. Along the edge of the levee in the old days stretched a considerable bluff, washed and worn away l

r what treasures they expected. For a few weeks there would be a rush of business until the boats were loaded again and eve

yet there was no sign of gladness o

l mean?" said so

hed the rude wharf, and the cheer

ot with us. M. Pierre Chouteau is heartbroken.

own the steps. "What is it? What has happened to m

ave and true friend, our great man and leader in everything

tly. Colonel Chouteau cl

M. Laclede." It ran throu

e of them were to go farther up, but they paused in a reverent fashion. The merriment of welcome was hushed in reverent sadn

ked Colonel Chouteau, dazed by the une

e had taken his passage, stepped to the wharf and made a salu

had grown rapidly worse. It was a long and tedious journey in those days, and medical lore was at a low ebb. Before they had reached the Arkansas River the brave soul had yielded up his life, still in the prime of a sple

hing wisdom had seen and seized upon the points possible for a great entrep?t of trade. And in the years to come h

elling adventures that even now moved him deeply. De Soto marching with his little band across the Continent, suffering from perfidy and mutiny, resolved to find a westward passage and the gold that had rewarded other explorers in South America, and at last ill and wearied out,

, convinced now that the Mississippi River was not a waterway to the western coast as some had predicted, but would open up a great river route to the Gulf of Mexico. There were wild guesses in those days. But this proved true. In the na

s' journals and letters were to translate them later on. But stories and legen

dged through wildernesses, even explored the old cave with its shining walls and sides of lead that they mistook first for silver; and after getting over his disappointme

ming French love songs. The Guions would much rather have had it Gaspard Denys. He was "settled." And then he was a shrewd business fellow and would be sure to make a fortune. Already he was acquiring a goo

ld one do if he would not come, would not play the lover? She would ha

d very well, and Gaspard had a way of explaining figures to her. There was the bus

with Mère Lunde to gather them, sometimes with parties of children. She learned little housewifely tricks as well. When she found Mère Lunde had no end of m

quite a devout little church-goer. She had been very much impressed when Father Gibault

houteau had been his lieutenant and right-hand man for years. He was very proud of th

cisco Cruzat should have been superseded by an avaricious, feeble-minded S

tish, who had conquered a part of Canada. Spain avowed her sympathy with the colonies. The Indians of the great northwest had affiliated with

his was pushed forward now, the wall strengthened with logs and clay, and in some places rebuilt. The old cannon was

visit her grandfather. He made no effort to claim her. Inde

winding about and another lovely spot, broadening out, turning around again, and ending in a long point. Young people and o

idnight mass and the little church was crowded. The people were already outgrowing it. Father Meurin had come up from other visitations, there was good old white-hai

e solemn yet lovely sound of the Gregorian chants made waves of music through the chapel and stirred ev

precepts, but they did worship with all their hearts and souls. And when the priest rang the bell on the hour of midnight it

lowed, and it seemed as if they were touched with all faint, delicate colors. The ground

all together. No one would have missed the mass. But now they chatted gayly and talked of

ally the wind found chinks to whistle through as it came from the great prairies beyond and brought the sound of writhing and sometimes crushed forests. Bu

devoted several prayers for her poor son's soul and she was quite sure he wa

ith a long breath of delight. "And the

e a gay day," said Gaspard, kissing her. "Mère, see

r head was heavy and seemed twice as large as ordinary. She tried to raise it, but everything in the

a cheery voice. "The children

maple syrup and thus coated over. The children ca

w moan. Uncle Gaspard le

in his arms and was startled at her flus

. "Come, the littl

hem, and moaned pitifully. "Something must be done

ind him this morning. There were many excellent home-made remedies that all housewives put

to at once. Get thy breakfast, m'sieu, while I mak

shall I do

ars of corn, g

r?" aghast at

staring at her. She can tak

holding it up. Mère Lunde raked out the ashes and pushed the flaming bran

" she said. "A

ded in a satisfied fashion, f

the child. Then the ears were laid about her and she was rolled up like a mummy. The woman raised her head a trifle and forced a potion down her throat

rength, and Christmas day is

some children who had died, and there was Monsieur Laclede who looked strong enough to live to

l?" he aske

nde und

ll stream, for it's the flour that is getting

here was breathless with suspense. If she had been

n were going to Chouteau pond to skat

née was v

r by to-morrow," noddin

ratively well dressed, and had a little gift for her, a curious inlaid box, with a trinket a girl might like. She would be well again

lumsy sort of bo

med Mère Lunde. "But he has not a good nam

He shook the box. "Some bits of silver

e crossed

s not superstitious, but he wishe

on account of the fine, open weather. When the cold once set in it often lasted steadily for three months. But there was

in the kettle and answered the calls that came in a joyous mood and left in sorrow. For pe

purple of her cheeks nor the labored breathing. There might be a poultice for the throat; yes, she would m

ild, who most of the time lay in a heavy sort of sleep. How stra

m, for he seemed to think more of strange bugs and birds and fishes than

tone. "Great drops have come out on her forehead. Ah, I thin

ot a pleasant sound. But by mid-afternoon she was in a drench of perspira

feel so queer," exclaim

r little child,"

as so long. It seemed as if

is day, almost another night. Oh, l

wn on her knees and r

aised h

eels queer. And

one for the fever, one for her general strength, but she wou

e mère's greeting as Denys entered. "Bu

never get it out of his mind but that she had died in cruel neglect, alone and heartbroken. He pressed the slim fingers to his lips, he studied the brow with its soft, light rings of hair, the almost transparent eyelids and long lashes, the dainty nose that had a piqua

r one. The good mère put another poultice on her throat and spread it well over her chest; rolling

aid. "Uncle Gaspard, sit her

very restless. The fever was coming on again. Mère Lunde roused her and gave her another potion, and before daylight she had prepared the corn bath again. The fever did not seem to be as obstinate. By noon she wa

first marriage and given the first baptism in the little town. That was in a tent, because there was no c

dfather," he admitted. "And I hope she will be

ad no time to marry," he returned rath

tly with the child and see that she is brought up as a daughter of the Church s

ral at Quebec. Then her mother was taken t

prayer for the recovery of the sick and gav

e to be some woman different from Mère Lunde-bah! it would be years before Renée was grown up. And the little one wanted no one to share