Old Man Savarin Stories

ley of cautionary objurgations to his ten brothers and sisters, strode angrily forth into the raw November weather. She went down the hill to the edge of

's feet are out

what was another sent u

e baptized," said the fath

d the wind was keen. The woman surrendered the child carelessly, and drawing her shawl closer, sat frowning moodily in the stern.

ighly respectable connections of Mini's mother had a disdain for her inferior social status, and easily made it understood that nothing but a Christian duty would have brought them out. Where else, indeed, could the friendless infant have found sponsors? It was disgraceful, they re

Mini's mother, getting home again, and tossed him

nsive and dumb was he that they called him half-witted. Three babies younger than he had died by then, and the fourth was little Angélique. They said she would be very like Mini, and there was reason why in her wretched infancy. Mini's was the only love she ever knew. When she saw the

ent him one day to beg food from Madame Le

ng him to the door of the cosey sitting

ed the retired notary. "For the love of Heaven

ed at the sight of so much food, and c

ild. Have no fea

élique,"

e? Is it

I might have so

rs in her kind eyes. But Mini did not cry;

at in plenty. "Here-here-and here!" She distributed crusts, and chose a well-fleshed bone for her own teeth. Angélique co

t back!" s

he baby was not quick enough. Her mother seized the pail and tasted; th

it was for Angélique." He knew too well what new milk wo

ini, clutching her, struggling weakly to rest

that he reeled, and left the cabin.

r children sat quietly devouring their food, each ravenously eyeing that of the others. But there was so much that when the father came he

d milk!" s

ed the man, and stopped as a shuffli

helped her in, and, too far gone to abuse them, she soo

hold, she was free from all the suffering forever. So he could not cry, though

g glow from the last brands of fire had not her face appeared?-then her form?-and lo! she was closely held in the arms of the mild Mother whom Mini knew from her image in the church, only she smiled more sweetly now in the hut. Little Angélique had learned to smile, too, which was most wonderful of all to Mini. In their heavenl

oves. Near St. Placide the early ploughman-while yet mist wreathes the fields and before the native Rossignol has fairly begun his plaintive flourishes-watches the high cross of Rigaud for the first glint that shall tell him of the yet unrisen sun. The wayfarer marks his progress by the bearing of that great cross, the hunter looks to it for an unfailing landmark, the weatherwise farmer prognosticates from its appearances. The old watch it dwindle from sight at eveni

eaven except as a cessation of weariness, starvation, and pain? Not till Angélique had come in the vision did he gain certainty that in heaven she would smile on him always from the mild Mother's arms. As days and w

toward him. Under his intent watching the misty cross seemed gradually to become the centre of such a light as had enwrapped the figures of his dream. While he gazed, expecting his v

hat his soul yearned to apprehend. The cross drew his thoughts miraculously; for days thereafter he dwelt with its shining; more and more it was borne in on him that he cou

father?" he asked one day,

d his father, thinkin

r, then," said M

ay so that the unruffled flood reflected a sky all blue when he had been two hours on the road. But Mini took no note of the river's beauty. His eyes were fixed on the cloudy hilltop, beyond which the sun was climbing. As yet he could see nothing of the cross, nor of his vision; yet the world had never seemed so glad, nor his heart so light with joy. Habitants, in their ra

d-sky, it flung rays that trembled on the cross, and gradually revealed the holy sign outlined in upright and arms. Mini shivered with an awe of expectation; but no nimbus w

nscious of the greatness of the hill,-a towering mass of brown rock, half hidden by sombre pines and the delicate greenery of birch and poplar. But soon, because the cross was hidden, he could figure it all

side. "Higher," said the path, ever leading the tired boy upward from plateau t

mit level very near the cross. There the child, awed by the imminence of what he had sought, halted to control the rapturous, fearful trembling of his heart. Would not the h

imself face downward on the rock, and wept hopelessly, sorely; wept and wept, till his sobs bec

the shining Cross of Rigaud! Fragments of newspaper, crusts of bread, empty tin cans, broken bottles, the relics of many picnics scattere

red from sight the yellows and browns and greens of the August fields; birds stilled with the deepening night; Rigaud Mountain loomed from the plain,