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diff --git a/43831-8.txt b/43831-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index aefa713..0000000 --- a/43831-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3294 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Our Little French Cousin, by Blanche McManus - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Our Little French Cousin - -Author: Blanche McManus - -Illustrator: Blanche McManus - -Release Date: September 28, 2013 [EBook #43831] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR LITTLE FRENCH COUSIN *** - - - - -Produced by Emmy, Beth Baran and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - -[Transcriber's Note: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= and -italic text is surrounded by _underscores_.] - - - -Our Little French Cousin - - - - -THE - -Little Cousin Series - -(TRADE MARK) - - Each volume illustrated with six or more full page plates in - tint. Cloth, 12mo, with decorative cover - per volume, $1.00 - - -LIST OF TITLES - - By COL. F. A. POSTNIKOV, ISAAC TAYLOR - HEADLAND, EDWARD C. BUTLER, - AND OTHERS - - =Our Little African Cousin= - =Our Little Alaskan Cousin= - =Our Little Arabian Cousin= - =Our Little Argentine Cousin= - =Our Little Armenian Cousin= - =Our Little Australian Cousin= - =Our Little Austrian Cousin= - =Our Little Belgian Cousin= - =Our Little Bohemian Cousin= - =Our Little Brazilian Cousin= - =Our Little Bulgarian Cousin= - =Our Little Canadian Cousin of the Great Northwest= - =Our Little Canadian Cousin of the Maritime Provinces= - =Our Little Chinese Cousin= - =Our Little Cossack Cousin= - =Our Little Cuban Cousin= - =Our Little Czecho-Slovac Cousin= - =Our Little Danish Cousin= - =Our Little Dutch Cousin= - =Our Little Egyptian Cousin= - =Our Little English Cousin= - =Our Little Eskimo Cousin= - =Our Little Finnish Cousin= - =Our Little French Cousin= - =Our Little German Cousin= - =Our Little Grecian Cousin= - =Our Little Hawaiian Cousin= - =Our Little Hindu Cousin= - =Our Little Hungarian Cousin= - =Our Little Indian Cousin= - =Our Little Irish Cousin= - =Our Little Italian Cousin= - =Our Little Japanese Cousin= - =Our Little Jewish Cousin= - =Our Little Jugoslav Cousin= - =Our Little Korean Cousin= - =Our Little Malayan (Brown) Cousin= - =Our Little Mexican Cousin= - =Our Little Norwegian Cousin= - =Our Little Panama Cousin= - =Our Little Persian Cousin= - =Our Little Philippine Cousin= - =Our Little Polish Cousin= - =Our Little Porto Rican Cousin= - =Our Little Portuguese Cousin= - =Our Little Quebec Cousin= - =Our Little Roumanian Cousin= - =Our Little Russian Cousin= - =Our Little Scotch Cousin= - =Our Little Servian Cousin= - =Our Little Siamese Cousin= - =Our Little South African (Boer) Cousin= - =Our Little Spanish Cousin= - =Our Little Swedish Cousin= - =Our Little Swiss Cousin= - =Our Little Turkish Cousin= - =Our Little Ukrainian Cousin= - =Our Little Welsh Cousin= - =Our Little West Indian Cousin= - - L. C. PAGE & COMPANY (Inc.) - 53 Beacon Street Boston, Mass. - -[Illustration: GERMAINE] - - - - - Our Little - French Cousin - - - By - Blanche McManus - - - _Illustrated by_ - The Author - - - [Illustration] - - - Boston - The Page Company - Publishers - - - - - _Copyright, 1905_ - BY L. C. PAGE & COMPANY - (INCORPORATED) - - - _All rights reserved_ - - - Made in U. S. A. - - - Published May, 1905 - Fourth Impression, May, 1908 - Fifth Impression, October, 1909 - Sixth Impression, June, 1911 - Seventh Impression, February, 1913 - Eighth Impression, October, 1915 - Ninth Impression, March, 1918 - Tenth Impression, May, 1919 - Eleventh Impression, February, 1922 - Twelfth Impression, March, 1926 - - - PRINTED BY C. H. SIMONDS COMPANY - BOSTON, MASS., U. S. A. - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - -IF a little girl or boy helps another who is in trouble, they are sure -to be the best of friends. In the early days, before this country -became a great nation, when the Colonies were at war with England, -fighting for the independence and freedom which we now celebrate each -year on the Fourth of July, a French nobleman by the name of Lafayette -came across the sea to help us. We needed his help, and when the brave -Colonial soldiers at last won a great victory, and the Colonies became -one nation, we were very grateful to Lafayette for the help he had -given, and because he was a Frenchman, the people of France and the -people of the United States became fast friends. - -This story was written to help us learn more about our wonderful French -cousins. Germaine, "Our Little French Cousin," happened to live in -Normandy, but her every-day life, her parents and her friends were just -like those of other French children. True, she travelled more than most -children, but if she had not, the story would not tell so much about -other parts of her native land. - -It was in the early days of August, 1914, that the French people -learned that Germany, her conqueror in the Franco-Prussian war, had -again declared war, and was even then hammering at the forts of Belgium -so she could march her armies right into their beloved France. - -The news stirred the French people, but while the brave little army of -Belgians halted the German troops, an army was gathered quickly under -the leadership of Joseph-Jacques-Cesaire Joffre, a man of humble birth -whom every one loved. We all know how the Prussian army defeated the -Belgians and how the French were forced to retreat until they reached -the River Marne, and then how they made a stand which resulted in such -a glorious victory for France. - -During these bitter days Germaine, and thousands of other French -children, learned how to suffer and yet smile. She learned that her -beloved France could produce heroes as great as Bayard, Du Guesclin, -Ney, Henry of Navarre, Lafayette and Rochambeau. She never tired of -hearing stories of the great General Petain, a quiet, reserved man who -filled his troops with a new spirit which urged them on to another -great victory at Verdun. - -When, in 1917, the American soldiers went to France to help the -French, the English, the Canadians, the Australians, the Belgians and -all the other Allies drive the Germans out of France and Belgium, -General Pershing, commander of the American Army, visited the tomb -of Lafayette. He placed a wreath upon the tomb and made the greatest -speech that was ever made in so few words. He said, "Lafayette, we're -here." So we repaid our debt to France. - -Then General Ferdinand Foch was made Commander-in-chief of all the -armies that France and all the other nations had raised to show the -Germans that right is greater than might. Then Germaine became even -more proud of her native land when she was told of Georges Clemenceau, -the "Tiger" premier, who was so brave and so sure, always, of success, -and who played such a great part in making peace again throughout the -world. - -As a reward for her many sacrifices during the four years of the most -cruel war the world has ever known, France regained her two lost -provinces, Alsace and Lorraine. In another volume, "Our Little Alsatian -Cousin," is told the story of the home life, the work and the play of -the little folks who live in these provinces which were long a part of -Germany, not because the people wanted it, but because Germany had won -the Franco-Prussian war. - - - - -Preface - - -"OUR Little French Cousin" is an attempt to tell, in plain, simple -language, something of the daily life of a little French girl, living -in a Norman village, in one of the most progressive and opulent -sections of France. - -The old divisions, or ancient provinces, of France each had its special -characteristics and manners and customs, which to this day have endured -to a remarkable extent. - -To American children, no less than to our English cousins, the memories -of the great names of history which have come down to us from ancient -Norman times are very numerous. - -Besides the great Norman William who conquered England, and Richard -the Lion-hearted, there are the lesser lights, such as Champlain, La -Salle, and Jean Denys,--the discoverer of Newfoundland; and before them -was the Northman ancestor of Rollo, Lief, the son of Eric, who was -perhaps the real discoverer of America. All these link Normandy with -the New World in a manner that is perhaps not at first remembered. - -"Our Little French Cousin" lives in Normandy, simply because she must -live somewhere, and not because any attempt has been made to specialize -or localize the every-day life of Germaine, her parents, and her -friends. Indeed, for a little French girl, it may be thought that she -had remarkable opportunities for acquaintanceship with the outside -world. - -But to-day even little French girls live in a progressive world, and -what with tourists and automobilists, to say nothing of a reasonably -large colony of English-speaking folk who had actually settled near her -home, it was but natural that her outlook was somewhat different from -what it might have been had she lived a hundred years ago. - -So far as France in general goes, the great world of Paris, and much -that lay beyond, were also brought to her notice in, it is believed, -a perfectly rational and plausible fashion; and thus within the -restricted limits of this little book will be found many references -to the life and history of Old France which, in one way or another, -has linked itself with the early days in the history of America, in a -manner of which little American cousins are in no way ignorant. - -Joliet, Champlain, La Salle, Père Marquette, and many others first -pointed the way and mapped out the civilization of America, when it was -but the home of the red man, now so nearly disappeared. - -Later came Lafayette and Rochambeau, who were indeed good friends to -the then new nation, and lastly, if it is permissible to think of it -in that light, the great Statue of Liberty, in New York Harbour, is -another witness of the friendliness of the French nation for the people -of the United States. A reciprocal echo of this is found in the recent -erection, in Paris, of a statue of Washington. - -To her cousins across the sea little Germaine, "Our Little French -Cousin," holds out a cordial hand of greeting. - -_Les Andelys, Eure, January, 1905._ - - - - -Contents - - - PAGE - I. AT THE FARM OF LA CHAUMIÈRE 1 - II. TO ROUEN ON A BARGE 23 - III. THE FÊTES AT ROUEN 41 - IV. GOING HOME BY TRAIN 62 - V. THE MARKET AT GRAND ANDELYS 71 - VI. GERMAINE AND THE ARTIST 83 - VII. THE FÊTE OF ST. SAUVEUR 92 - VIII. AN AUTOMOBILE JOURNEY 108 - - - - -List of Illustrations - - - PAGE - GERMAINE _Frontispiece_ - THE FARM OF _LA CHAUMIÈRE_ 8 - "THE CITY BEGAN TO UNFOLD BEFORE THEM" 40 - THE MARKET-SQUARE 75 - THE CIRCUS 100 - CHÂTEAU GAILLARD 106 - -[Illustration] - - - - -Our Little French Cousin - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -AT THE FARM OF LA CHAUMIÈRE - - -"OH, mamma!" cried little Germaine, as she jumped out of bed and ran to -the window, "how glad I am it is such a beautiful day." - -Germaine was up bright and early on this sunshiny day, for many -pleasant things were going to happen. However, this was not her only -reason for early rising. French people always do so, and little French -children are not allowed to lie in bed and to be lazy. - -At the first peep of daylight Germaine's papa and mamma were up, and -soon the "little breakfast," as it is called, was ready in the big -kitchen of the farmhouse. Even the well-to-do farmers, like Germaine's -papa, eat their meals in their kitchens, which are also used as a -general sitting-room. - -Everything about a French house is very neat, but especially so is the -kitchen, whose bare wooden or stone floor is waxed and polished every -day until it shines like polished mahogany. On the mantelpiece of -the kitchen of Germaine's home, which was more than twice as tall as -Germaine herself, was a long row of brass candlesticks, a vase or two, -and a little statue of the Madonna with flowers before it. - -The fireplace took up nearly all of one side of the room, and was so -large that it held a bench in either side where one could sit and keep -nice and warm in winter. Hanging in the centre, over the fire, was a -big crane,--a chain with a hook on the end of it on which to hang pots -and kettles to boil. There were beautiful blue tiles all around the -fireplace, and a ruffle of cloth along the edge of the mantel-shelf. - -Not far from the fireplace was a good cooking-stove, for the better -class farmers do not cook much on the open fire, as do the peasants. - -All about the walls were hung row after row of copper cooking utensils -of all kinds and shapes, all highly polished with "_eau de cuivre_." -Madame Lafond, Germaine's mamma, prided herself on having all her pots -and pans shine like mirrors. - -"Be quick, my little one," said Madame Lafond, as Germaine seated -herself at the table in the centre of the room. "You have much to do, -for, as you know, we are to see M. Auguste before we go to meet Marie; -and we must finish our work here, so as to be off at an early hour." - -Germaine's breakfast was a great bowl of hot milk, with coffee and a -slice from the big loaf lying on the bare table. The French have many -nice kinds of bread, and what they call household bread, made partly -of flour and partly of rye, is the kind generally eaten by the country -people. It is a little dark in colour, but very good. - -It was to-day that Germaine was to go with Madame Lafond to the -station at Petit Andelys to meet her sister Marie, who had been away -at a convent school at Evreux, and who was coming home for the summer -holidays. On their way they were to stop at the Hôtel Belle Étoile, -for it was the birthday--the fête-day, as the French call it--of their -good friend the proprietor, M. Auguste, and Madame Lafond was taking -him a little present of some fine _white_ strawberries which are quite -a delicacy, and which are grown only round about. M. Lafond was to meet -them at the station, and all were to take dinner with her Uncle Daboll -at his house in the village, to celebrate Marie's home-coming. - -So, as may be imagined, Germaine did not linger over her breakfast, but -set to work at her morning tasks with a will. - -"Blanche, you want your breakfast, too," she said, as she stroked her -pet white turtledove, who had been walking over the table trying to -attract her attention with soft, deep "coos," "and you shall have it -here in the sunshine," and, putting her pet on the deep window-ledge, -she sprinkled before it a bountiful supply of crumbs. "That, now, must -last until I get back." - -"Now, come, Raton," she called to their big dog. "We must feed the -rabbits," and, taking a basket of green stuff, she ran across the -courtyard into the garden. - -In France the farm buildings are often built around an open square, -which is entered by a large gate. This is called a _closed_ farm. In -olden times there were also the fortified farms, which were built -strongly enough to withstand the assaults of marauders, and some of -these can still be seen in various parts of the country. - -The gateway was rather a grand affair, with big stone pillars, on top -of which was a stone vase, and in the gate was a smaller one, which -could be used when there was no need to open the large one to allow a -carriage or wagon to enter. - -On one side of the yard was the _laiterie_, where the cows were kept -and milked. There were a number of cows, for M. Lafond sold milk and -butter, carrying it into the market at Grand Andelys. - -On another side was the stable, where were kept the big -farm-horses,--Norman horses as we know them, one of the three -celebrated breeds of horses in France. Near by were the wire-enclosed -houses for the chickens and geese and the ducks, which ran about the -yard at will and paddled in the little pond in one corner. - -In the centre was the pigeon-house, a large, round, stone building, -such as will be seen on all the old farms like this of M. Lafond's. It -was an imposing structure, and looked as if it could shelter hundreds -of pigeon families. Under a low shed stood the farm-wagons and the -farming tools and implements. - -_La Chaumière_, as the farm was known, took its name from the -thatch-covered cottage. Many of the houses in this part of the country -have roofs thatched with straw, as had the other buildings on the farm. -Germaine's home, however, had a red tile roof, though it was thatched -in the olden days, for it had been in M. Lafond's family for many -generations. - -On the opposite side of the house was the garden, surrounded by a -high wall finished off with a sort of roof of red tiles. The square -beds of fine vegetables were bordered by flowers, for in France the -two are usually cultivated together in one garden. Against the wall -were trained peach, pear, and plum trees, as if they were vines; -this to ripen the fruit well. In a corner were piled up the glass -globes,--shaped like a bell or a beehive,--which are used to put over -the young and tender plants to protect them and hasten their growth. - -[Illustration: THE FARM OF _LA CHAUMIÈRE_] - -Against one corner of the wall were the hutches for the rabbits, built -in tiers, one above the other, and full of dozens of pretty "bunnies," -white, black and white, and some quite black. - -It was Germaine's duty to feed them night and morning, and she liked -nothing better than to give them crisp lettuce and cabbage leaves and -see them nibble them up, wriggling their funny little noses all the -time. "Well, bunnies, you will have to eat your breakfast alone this -morning; I cannot spare you much time," Germaine told them, as she -gave them the contents of her basket. Raton was leaping beside her and -barking, for he was a great pet, and more of a companion than most dogs -in French farms. They are usually kept strictly for watch purposes, the -poor things being tied up in the yard all of the time; but Germaine's -people were very kind to animals, and Raton did much as he pleased. - -"I am ready, mamma," said Germaine, running into the kitchen. - -"So am I, my dear," and Madame Lafond took from behind a copper -saucepan hanging on the wall a bag of money, from which she took some -coins and put the bag back again in this queer money-box. She then -placed the basket of strawberries on their bed of green leaves on her -arm, and she, Germaine, and Raton set off. - -Madame Lafond had on a neat black dress, very short, and gathered full -around the waist, and a blue apron. Her hair was brushed back under -her white cap, and on her feet she wore _sabots_, the wooden shoes all -the working people in the country wear. - -Germaine's dress was her mother's in miniature, and her little _sabots_ -clacked as she ran down the road, carrying in her hand a pot holding a -flower, carefully wrapped about with white paper for M. Auguste. It was -a beautiful walk through the fields and apple orchards, into the road, -shaded by old trees that led to the top of the hill, and then down the -hillside past the old Château Gaillard; that wonderful castle whose -history Germaine never wearied of hearing. - -It seemed to her like a fairy-tale that such things could have happened -so near her papa's farm, though it all took place many hundreds of -years ago, when there was nothing but wild woods where now stands their -farm and those of their neighbours. - -The château was built by the great Norman who became an English king. -He was known as Richard the Lion-hearted, because he was so brave and -fearless. Perhaps our little English cousins will remember him best by -this romantic story. Once King Richard was imprisoned by his enemies, -no one knew where; his friends had given him up for lost--all but his -faithful court musician Blondel, who went from castle to castle, the -length and breadth of Europe, singing the favourite songs that he and -his royal master had sung together. One day his devotion was rewarded, -for, while singing under the windows of a castle in Austria, he heard a -voice join with his, and he knew he had found his master. - -At that time France was not the big country it is now. Normandy -belonged to the English Crown, and the Kings of France were always -trying to conquer it for their own. - -So Richard built this strong fortress on the river Seine, at the most -important point where the dominion of France joined that of Normandy. -He planned it all himself, and, it is said, even helped to put up the -stones with his own hands. It was begun and finished in one year, and -when the last stone was placed in the big central tower, King Richard -cried out: "Behold my beautiful daughter of a year." Then he named it -Château Gaillard, which is the French for "Saucy Castle," and stood on -its high walls and defied the French king, Philippe-Auguste, who was -encamped across the river, to come and take it from him,--just as a -naughty boy puts a chip on his shoulder and dares another boy to knock -it off. Well, the French king took his dare, but he also took care to -wait until the great, brave Richard had been killed by an arrow in -warfare. Then for five months he and his army besieged the castle, and -a desperate fight it was on both sides. At last the French forced an -entrance. After that, for several hundred years, its story was one of -bloody deeds and fierce fights, until another French king, Henri IV., -practically destroyed it, in order to show his power over the Norman -barons whom he feared; and so it stands to-day only a big ruin--but one -of the most splendid in France. - -Germaine often wondered why it was called "Saucy," for it did not look -so to her now. The big central tower with its broken windows seemed -to her like an old face, with half-shut eyes and great yawning mouth, -weary with its struggles, leaning with a tired air against the few -jagged walls that still stood around it. - -But it looked very grand for all that, and Germaine was fond of it, -and she with her cousin Jean often played about its crumbling walls. -Jean would stand in the great broken window and play he was one of the -archers of King Richard's time, with a big bow six feet long in his -hand, and arrows at his belt, and that he was watching for the enemy -who always travelled by the river, for in those days there were few -roads, and journeying by boat on the river was the most convenient way -to come and go. - -There is no finer outlook in all France than from King Richard's castle -at Petit Andelys, for one can look ten miles up the river on one side -and ten miles down on the other. Thus no one could go from France -into Normandy without being seen by the watchman on the tower of the -Château Gaillard. Three hundred feet below is the tiny village of Petit -Andelys, looking like a lot of toy houses. - -As they entered the main street of the village, Madame Lafond stopped -at the _Octroi_, to pay the tax on her strawberries. All towns in -France put a tax on all produce brought into the town, and for this -purpose there is a small building at each entrance to the town where -every one must stop and declare what they have, and pay the small tax -accordingly. - -"I hear the '_Appariteur_,'" said Germaine, as they walked down the -narrow cobble-paved street, "I wonder what he is calling out." The -"_Appariteur_" is a sort of town-crier, who makes the announcements of -interest to the neighbourhood by going along the streets beating a drum -and crying out his news, while the people run to the windows and doors -to listen. It takes the place of a daily newspaper to some extent, and -costs nothing to the public. - -They were soon at the Hôtel Belle Étoile, and found stout, good-natured -M. Auguste at the entrance, seeing some of his guests off. He was -delighted with the strawberries, and when Germaine gave him the bouquet -of flowers, with a pretty little speech of congratulation for his -birthday, he kissed her, French fashion, on both cheeks, and took them -into the café, where he gave them a sweet fruit-syrup to drink. It -is always the custom among our French cousins to offer some kind of -refreshment on every possible occasion, and especially on a visit of -ceremony such as this. So when M. Auguste asked Madame Lafond what she -would take, she and Germaine chose a "_Sirop de Groseilles_," which -is made of the juice of gooseberries and sweetened. A few spoonfuls -of this in a glass of soda-water makes a delightful cool drink in hot -weather, and one of which French children are very fond. There are also -syrups made in the same way from strawberries, raspberries, peaches, -etc., but this is one of the best liked. - -"There is Madeleine making signs to you outside the door. Run and see -what she wants, my little one," said M. Auguste. "I can guess," he -said, laughingly, as Germaine ran to greet the waitress of the hotel, -who always looked so neat and pretty in her white country cap, her -coloured apron over a black dress, and a coloured handkerchief around -her neck, with neat black slippers on her feet. - -"Let me show you how we are going to celebrate the fête-day of M. -Auguste," said she, smiling, and, opening a box, she showed Germaine -the sticks of powder, which they would burn when night came, and make -the beautiful red and green light such as all children and many grown -folks like. The first of these sticks was to be burnt at the very -entrance door, that all the village might know that it was M. Auguste's -birthday. Madeleine and the cook and the housemaid and the washerwoman -and the boy that blacked the guests' boots had each given a few -centimes (or cents) to buy these, as well as other things that wriggled -along the ground and went off with a bang, as a surprise for M. -Auguste. Also the American and English visitors at the hotel had bought -"Roman candles" and some "catharine-wheels," which were to be let off -in front of the Belle Étoile; so the hotel would be very gay that night. - -M. Auguste's name-day had also been celebrated in another way some time -before. On the fête of St. Auguste it was the custom to carry around a -big anvil and stop with it in front of the house of every one who is -named Auguste or Augustine. A cartridge was placed on the anvil and hit -sharply with a hammer, when of course it made a frightful noise; and -for some unknown reason this was supposed to please good St. Auguste as -well as those who bore his name. Then the person who had this little -attention paid him or her would come out and ask every one into their -house to have a glass of _calvados_, which is a favourite drink in this -part of France, and is made from apples. - -The Belle Étoile, like most of the hotels of France, was built with a -courtyard in the centre, and around this were galleries or verandas, on -which the sleeping-rooms opened. Carriages passed through an archway -into this courtyard, on the one side of which were stables, on another -the kitchen and servants' quarters, and the entrance to the big cellar -where were kept the great barrels of cider. - -Most of the courtyard was given up to a beautiful garden, set about -with shrubs and flowers. At little tables under big, gay, striped -garden-umbrellas, the guests of the Belle Étoile ate their meals. In -the country, every one who can dines in the garden during the summer -months, which is another pleasant custom of this people. - -M. Auguste was very fond of little Germaine, and often told her of -his boyhood days in the gay little city of Tours, where the purest -French is spoken, with its fine old cathedral and the lovely country -thereabouts all covered with grape-vines; and how in the bright autumn -days the vineyards are full of workers filling the baskets on their -backs with the green and purple grapes; how late in the evening the -big wagons, full of men, women, and children, come rolling home, piled -up with grapes, the pickers all singing and joyous, with great bunches -of wild flowers tied on the front of each wagon. "A very happy, gay -people, my dear," would remark M. Auguste, "not like these cold, stolid -Normans." But to us foreigners all the French people seem as gay as -these good folk of Touraine, the land of vineyards and beautiful white -châteaux. - -M. Auguste had also been a great traveller, for his father was -well-to-do, and he thought that his boy should see something of his -own country--though French people as a rule are not great travellers. -They are the most home-loving people in the world, and their greatest -ambition is to have a little house and a garden in which to spend their -days. - -So M. Auguste had seen much. He had been to the bustling city of Lyons, -where the finest silks and velvets in the world are made. He had -journeyed along the beautiful coast of France where it borders on the -blue Mediterranean, where palms and oranges and such lovely flowers -grow, especially the sweet purple violets from which the perfumes are -made. From here also come the candied rose-petals and violets, that the -confectioners sell you as the latest thing in sweetmeats. - -He had visited the great port of Marseilles, the most important in -France, where are to be seen ships from all over the world, and there -he learned to make their famous dish, the _bouillabaisse_, which is a -luscious stew of all kinds of fish--for M. Auguste prides himself on -the special dishes that he cooks for his guests, and Germaine is often -asked to try them. He had been also to the rich city of Bordeaux, -where the fine wines come from. Oh, M. Auguste is a great traveller, -thought Germaine, as they sat together in the kitchen of the Belle -Étoile, while M. Auguste talked with Mimi, the white cat, sitting on -his shoulder, while Fifine, the black one, was on his knee. They were -great pets of M. Auguste, and as well known and liked as himself by the -guests at the Belle Étoile. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -TO ROUEN ON A BARGE - - -GERMAINE and her parents, and her Uncle Daboll and his wife, and -their little son Jean, just one year younger than Germaine, were all -at the station long before the train was due. The two children were -fairly prancing with glee, while Raton leaped about no less excited. -They were very fond of Marie, as was every one who knew her, for she -was a gentle, kind-hearted girl, and though several years older than -Germaine, they were great companions. This was her first year away from -home, and Germaine had missed her sadly. - -"There she is," cried Germaine, as the train pulled slowly in, and a -young girl appeared at the window of one of the third-class carriages, -waving her handkerchief, and throwing them kisses. - -Her father lifted her down, and every one kissed her twice, on either -cheek, and amid much laughing and talking they walked toward Uncle -Daboll's house, while Raton danced in circles about them as if he had -gone mad. - -"Oh, Marie," cried Germaine and Jean in the same breath, "we have such -a lovely surprise for you! You have heard, of course, of the grand -'Norman Fêtes,' which are to be held at Rouen next week! Well, just -think, we are all going to see them, that is, you and Jean and me and -uncle and aunt, and better still--how do you think we are going?" "Why, -on the train, of course," laughed Marie, "and won't we have a good -time." "No," spoke up Jean, quickly, "we are going a brand-new way. -What do you say to going on a barge on the river?" "A barge," cried -Marie, "but I thought no one was allowed to travel on the barges, -except the people who ran them and lived on them." "That is true," said -Germaine, "but uncle has fixed all that; you know he sends lots of -brick to Rouen by the barges--one is being loaded up now at the quay, -and he has arranged that we go on it to Rouen and stay on the barge -while it is being unloaded, and see the fêtes. Then we will come back -by train. Won't it be glorious?" "And," chimed in Jean, "papa is going -to tell us all about the history of these fêtes after dinner." - -M. Daboll's home was a neat little cottage, with its upper part of -black beams and white plaster, and a pretty red-tiled roof, the ground -floor being of stone. M. Daboll owned a large brick-kiln, and was quite -well-to-do. - -They all gathered for dinner about a round table in an arbour that -overlooked the river. The arbour was ingeniously formed by training -the branches of two trees and interlacing them as if they were vines, -which gave complete shelter from the sun. - -Every one was eager to listen to Marie's account of her school life -at the convent. It was a very old convent, with beautiful gardens -surrounding it, built as usual around a courtyard, in the centre of -which was a statue of St. Antoine, who is a favourite patron saint of -schools, and considered the special guardian of children. He also, -according to tradition, helps one find lost articles, and as we all -know how school-children are always losing their belongings, this may -be another reason for having the kind St. Antoine as a protector of -school-children. At six the girls are up, and study an hour before -the "little breakfast" of a roll and butter and chocolate or coffee. -Lessons take up the time until noon, when they have their dinner of -soup, meat, vegetable, and cider, with a _gâteau_, as they call a -cake, on Sundays. After dinner they are taught plain sewing, and when -the sewing hour is over they can play about the gardens until the -study hour comes around again. A plain supper of bread and cheese, -chocolate or milk, follows, and by nine o'clock every one is in bed. -The children dress very simply,--plain cotton frocks, which indoors are -always completely covered with a black apron or _tablier_. On Thursdays -they have a half-holiday, and in the care of the Sisters go on little -excursions or walks in the neighbourhood. A pleasant, simple life, and, -as M. Lafond said, as he pinched Marie's cheek, "It seems to agree with -you, my dear." - -"Now, papa, you promised to tell us about these Norman Fêtes," said -Jean, when the table had been cleared away, and the little coffee-cups -brought out. - -"So I will, Jean, and first you bring me that big roll which you will -find on the side-table in the dining-room." - -Jean was back with it directly, and Uncle Daboll unrolled a big poster, -advertising the fêtes. It showed a fine, strong man in ancient armour, -seated on a prancing horse, carrying on his arm a shield, emblazoned -with two red lions, and holding aloft a spear. Below him on the river -were to be seen three small boats, each with one sail, and also -arranged so that it could be rowed by hand. - -"This represents Rollo," went on M. Daboll, as the children clustered -around him, "the leader of a great race of people whose home was in -the cold, far-away North. Tall people they were, with golden hair, and -great sailors, who sailed in tiny ships, like those you see in the -picture, over the bleak, stormy sea which lies between their land and -France, until they came to the river Seine, where it empties into the -Atlantic Ocean. - -"They rowed up the river and camped where the fine city of Rouen -now stands, and from these fair-haired Northmen are descended the -present-day Normans. It has been many centuries since all this -happened, so the good people of Rouen thought this a suitable time to -celebrate the founding of their city, and of the great Norman race, at -one time the most powerful in France." - -"And at Rouen we shall also see the spot where poor Jeanne d'Arc was -burned," said Marie. "We have just been reading her history at the -school." - -"Tell us her story again," said Jean. - -"She will on the barge. You will have plenty of time then," said M. -Lafond; "but we must be getting home now. It is quite a walk, and our -little Marie must be tired after her long day." - -It was about six o'clock in the morning of the next day when the gay -little party found themselves on the barge bound for Rouen. - -"Now here comes our tow that we must tie up to," said the bargeman, as -a tug with five barges in tow came puffing down the river; and taking -a long pole with a hook in the end of it, he began pushing the barge -away from the shore until it moved toward the middle of the river. Then -the tugboat slowed down until the long line of barges was just creeping -along; one could hardly see that they moved at all. Just as the last -one passed that which carried our party, the man in the stern of it -threw them a rope which was quickly caught and fastened to the forward -end, and as it grew taut, the barge began to move and soon took its -place at the tail-end of the long procession. - -The children at once began to make themselves at home in their new -surroundings. "Did you ever see anything nicer?" said Germaine, as she -dragged Marie into the little house under the big tiller, where the -bargeman and his wife lived. - -"Does it not look like a doll's house?" said Marie, as they went down -the ladder into the tiny living room. Everything was as neat as could -be, and painted white, with lace curtains at each of the small windows. - -It was wonderful how much could be stowed away inside, and yet leave -plenty of room. A sewing-machine stood in one corner; a bird-cage was -hanging in the window, and a little stove, a table to dine on, and a -couple of chairs completed the arrangements, save the pictures on the -walls, the china in a neat little cupboard, and the beds which were -built like shelves, one above the other, to allow all the floor space -possible. On deck, one side of the house was given up to a shelf full -of gay flowers in pots, and vines were trained up against the side -of the house. There was also on deck a chest to hold the meat and -vegetables, so as to keep them cool and fresh, and a small cask was -made into a house for the dog. Every barge has its dog and cat, which -usually get on together very well, considering their crowded quarters. -Everything about the house end of the barge was painted white with -green trimmings, and all was very clean and neat. - -Jean then came up to tell them that he had found out that every barge -in the tow belonged to a different owner. This he had learned from the -gaudy colours with which they were decorated. "You will see," said -he, "that ours has a big white triangle with a smaller red triangle -inside of that painted on the bow. The one next to us has a broad red -band with two white circles, and there is another yellow with two big -blue stars on either side. These are the distinguishing marks of the -different companies to which they belong." - -They were now leaving behind them the great high cliffs of white chalk -that shine like snow, through which the river runs almost all the way -from Mantes to Rouen. Just here it wound through rich green meadows. -Along the water's edge were clumps of willow-trees, whose long, pliable -twigs are used by the country people to weave baskets. They trim off -the branches, but leave the tree standing for more branches to grow, -and so they never use up their basket material. The French take very -good care of their trees, and when they cut one down, always plant -another in its place. - -Often the barge passed other long tows, whose barge-people would shout -greetings across to them. For most _bargees_ are acquainted, at least -by sight, and the dogs would bark "How do you do's" as well. Great coal -barges from Belgium passed, having come laden many hundreds of miles -across France; and others with hogsheads of wine from the south, which -have been brought by sea to Rouen. - -A merry dinner was served on a table on deck under an awning. The wife -of the bargeman had cooked a good meal on the little stove which stood -on one of the hatches right out in the open. They had a favourite -country soup first, beef and cabbage soup with a crust of bread in it. -(French soups are usually called _potage_, though the real country -soup is often known by the name we call it ourselves--_soupe_.) Then -there was a crisp green salad, big jugs of Normandy cider, which is a -beautiful golden colour, _blanquette de veau_, which is veal with a -nice white egg sauce over it. _Lapin garnne_ followed, which is nothing -more than stewed rabbit, and a dish of which all French people are very -fond, and have nearly every day when it is in season. Fresh Normandy -cream cheese and cherries and little cakes finished the meal, with the -usual coffee and _calvados_ for the older people. - -"We will soon see Pont de l'Arche," said the bargeman, and they had -barely finished dinner when the picturesque church of the town was seen -rising above the trees. - -"It has no spire nor towers; it looks like half of a church," said Jean. - -"Which is true, but it is quite a famous church, nevertheless," said -his father. "It is probably the only church in the world which is -dedicated to 'Art and to the Artists.'" - -"Our Lady of the Arts" it is called. Artists are beginning to visit it -more from year to year, and it is a veritable place of pilgrimage now. - -The barge soon passed under the old bridge at Pont de l'Arche, and left -behind the church, standing high above the town, a landmark for miles -along the river. - -Marie had promised to tell the children the story of Jeanne d'Arc, as -they wanted to have it fresh in their minds when they visited Rouen, -for every part of this old city is full of memories of this wonderful -little peasant girl who saved her country, and, by so doing, made -possible the existence of the great French nation of to-day. - -Sitting under the awning, as the barge glided along, Marie told the -story of the little peasant girl, only sixteen years old, who lived in -the far-away village of Domremy. Believing that Heaven had chosen her -to save her country from the hands of the English, she made her way to -the court of Charles VII., then King of France. It was at Chinon in -the valley of the Loire--that other great river of France--that she -finally reached her king, and in one of the great castles, whose ruins -still crown the heights above the city, eloquently pleaded her cause. -Visitors there to-day can see the room with its great fireplace in -which this famous meeting took place. - -Her plea convinced the king, and she was made commander-in-chief of the -army, which she led on to Orleans, raised the siege of that city, and -drove the English off. There is to-day no city in France as proud of -the "Maid" as is Orleans; indeed she is known as the "Maid of Orleans." -The house she is supposed to have stayed in is now preserved as a -museum, and every May, on the anniversary of the day on which the siege -was raised, a great celebration takes place in front of the cathedral, -and a procession of priests and people carrying banners marches around -the town chanting hymns in her praise. Jeanne d'Arc did break the power -of the English in France, true to her promise, and finally brought -King Charles to the magnificent cathedral at Reims, where the French -kings were always crowned, and herself, amid great rejoicing, placed -the crown upon his head. But the king forgot what the "Maid" had done -for him and for his country, apparently, and finally she was betrayed -into the hands of her enemies, who took her to Rouen, and, after -a mock trial, poor Jeanne was sentenced to death, and burnt in the -market-place at Rouen. - -In later years the French nation recognized the great good she had -done, and the memory of the little peasant girl of Domremy is loved and -venerated throughout the land. There is scarcely a city in France that -has not honoured her in some way, either by erecting a statue to her, -or naming a _place_ or street in her honour. - -The children were so much interested in the wonderful story of Jeanne -d'Arc that they had not realized how time was flying. They were drawing -near Rouen, for over the flat fields of the river valley on the left -rose the tall chimneys of the cotton factories at Oissel and Elbeuf. - -There is much cotton cloth made in the vicinity of Rouen, and shipped -all over France. On the quays there may be seen the bales of cotton -that is grown on the plantations in the Southern States of America, -and shipped from New Orleans direct to Rouen. - -Just here the bargeman pointed out to them the tiny church of St. -Adrien. The "Rock Church," as it is known, is cut out of the chalk -cliff, hanging high above the river. It looks like a bird's house -perched up so high, with its four small windows and tiny bell-tower. - -Presently Uncle Daboll said, "Look way down the river, children, and -tell me what you see." - -"Oh," cried Jean, "I see three church spires." - -"More than that," said Germaine. "I can count seven." - -"Both of you are right," said Uncle Daboll. "The three spires are -those of three of the most beautiful churches in France. That tall, -needle-like one belongs to the Cathedral of Notre Dame." - -[Illustration: "THE CITY BEGAN TO UNFOLD BEFORE THEM"] - -"There is one which looks as if it has a crown on the top," said -Germaine. - -"It does look like a crown made of stone, and so it has been called the -'Crown of Normandy.' It is on the central tower of the church of St. -Ouen." - -The city began to unfold before them, with its long rows of quays lined -with shops, hotels, and cafés on the one side, and ships from all parts -of the world on the other. - -Their barge soon deftly glided into what seemed a perfect tangle -of barges of all kinds, and came to anchor next to a big Belgian -coal-carrier, whose occupants, like themselves, were evidently bent on -getting as much enjoyment out of their visit to Rouen as possible. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE FÊTES AT ROUEN - - -IT was growing dark when our little party scrambled over the decks of -several barges, and finally found themselves walking up the quay. - -The lights were beginning to twinkle in all directions, and in a few -minutes the river and city were ablaze. It seemed like fairyland to the -children. The bridges were outlined with golden globes and festoons of -tiny lamps of red, white, and blue. Wreaths of lights, in the shape of -flowers of all colours, made innumerable arches of light across the -streets. Everywhere were flags grouped about shields on which were the -letters R. F., which stand for the words "Republic of France." - -Walking in any direction was not easy. A mass of people swaying hither -and thither blocked streets, bridges, and quays. Our little Les Andelys -party did not attempt to stem the torrent. "We will just drift along," -said Uncle Daboll, "and see what we can, and you children hold each -other's hands and keep closely to us." - -It was a motley and most good-natured crowd. Ladies in Parisian gowns -mingled with country women in their fanciful white caps, kerchiefs, and -short skirts. There were Breton fisherfolk and dark-skinned people from -the far south; sailors and soldiers in their gay red and blue uniforms, -and every now and then one would hear a clear English voice. - -Vendors of toys for the little ones, and souvenirs for everybody, -stood on every corner and did a flourishing trade, and high above -the heads of every one floated masses of the small red, white, and -blue balloons, held captive on a long string, without which no French -fête is complete. On the sidewalk in front of the cafés, people were -sitting at small tables sipping their coffee and the numberless sweet -drinks of which the French are so fond, while at each café a band -was playing for the amusement of its guests, but was also enjoyed -by the passing throngs. It took the combined efforts of many natty -policemen--"_gendarmes_," they are called--to keep an open pathway -through the crowd. - -A _gendarme_ looks more like a soldier than a policeman, in his dark -blue uniform and soldier-cap, a short sword by his side, and a cape -over his shoulders, all of which gives him quite a military air. - -Presently, at a corner, they were stopped by an even denser throng who -were watching a gaily dressed crowd of people entering a brilliantly -decorated and illuminated building. - -"What is this?" asked Uncle Daboll of a man near him. - -"It is the grand costume ball at the theatre, where every one is -expected to dress in old Norman costume," was the answer. - -"Oh," said Germaine, "that is why the ladies are wearing those funny -tall head-dresses; look, Marie, there is one quite near us." - -The costume was both pretty and odd. The lady had on a white head-dress -made of embroidered muslin, very like a sunbonnet in shape, with a high -crown, around which was tied a big bow of ribbon. A bright-coloured -kerchief was about her neck, and she wore a square-necked cloth bodice -neatly laced in front, with sleeves to the elbow; underneath this was a -white _chemisette_, as it is called. Around the neck and sleeves of the -bodice were bands of velvet. A very short skirt, gathered as full as -possible about the waist, a dainty little apron of coloured silk with -lace insertion, wooden _sabots_, prettily carved, and lace mitts on -her hands, completed her unusual costume. - -The gentleman with her was also in Norman dress. He had big baggy -trousers, a high velvet waistcoat embroidered in bright colours, a -short round jacket with gold buttons, a high white collar with a big -red silk handkerchief tied in a bow around the neck, enormous _sabots_, -and all topped off with a high silk hat, with a straight brim. - -While the children were busy looking at the details of the costumes, -a carriage halted so near Germaine that she could have put out her -hand and touched its occupant, who was a young girl about her own age. -Germaine was at once attracted to her. She had a sweet pretty face, -bright rosy cheeks, and soft blue eyes; her waving, brown hair fell -loosely about her shoulders, and across her white dress was draped a -small silk flag which Germaine recognized as the British flag, known -as the "_Union Jack_." She wore a wreath of red roses and carried in -her hand a bunch of the same flowers in which were stuck two small -silk flags--one French and the other British. Beside her sat a portly -gentleman in a gorgeous robe of black and red trimmed with fur, while -around his neck was a massive golden chain. - -As Germaine was watching her, the little girl leaned eagerly out of -the carriage window, and in so doing dropped her bouquet at Germaine's -feet. "Oh, papa, I have lost my flowers," she cried. Meanwhile Germaine -quickly picked them up, and handed them back to her; and not a moment -too soon, for the carriage was moving on again and the bouquet would -have been crushed under its wheels. - -"Thank you so much," cried the little girl, looking back and waving -her hand. Germaine did not understand the words, but knew she had been -thanked in English. - -Germaine had been so taken up with this little incident that she had -not noticed that the crowd had separated her from her companions. Her -heart gave a bound, and with a startled cry she realized that only -strange faces were about her, and she stood motionless with fright. Her -terror was fortunately short-lived, for through the crowd she saw Uncle -Daboll making his way toward her, and rushing up to him thankfully -clasped his hand, which he made her promise not to loose again until -they were safe back on the barge. - -It was not until later, when they were sitting on the deck of the barge -watching the fireworks on the heights around the city leave fiery -streaks and showers of shining stars on the blackness of the summer -sky, that Germaine had the opportunity of telling the family of her -adventure with the "little girl of the roses," as she called her. - -Aunt Daboll thought that probably she belonged to one of the parties -of English visitors who had come to Rouen to take part in the Fêtes. - -Very early the following morning they finished their coffee and rolls -and began their round of sightseeing, all of which had to be crowded -into the morning, as the afternoon was to be given over to the Water -Tournament, to which the children were looking forward with great -excitement. - -Jean, especially, had been impressed with the posters which showed in -brilliant colours men in unfamiliar dress, tumbling into the water and -being fished out again, with, apparently, great unconcern as to the -consequences. - -"Well, what shall we see first?" asked Uncle Daboll. - -"Oh, the big clock," said Jean, "and then let's climb the iron spire of -the cathedral." - -Germaine wanted to see where poor Jeanne d'Arc had been put to death; -the others were ready for anything. - -"Everywhere one sees the name of Jeanne d'Arc," said Marie. "This -street is named after her, and last night we were in the Boulevard -Jeanne d'Arc." - -"And just at the top of this same street," said Uncle Daboll, "we shall -see the Tower of Jeanne d'Arc, where the poor girl was imprisoned -during her mock trial in the great castle, of which only this one tower -is left standing." - -They soon turned into a narrow street, and there was the great clock, -built in a tower, under which runs the roadway itself. - -Another turning brought them to the Palais de Justice, with its big -dormer windows elaborately carved in stone. - -A few steps more, and they were in the old market-place, and little -Germaine with bated breath looked at the stone let into the pavement -at her feet, which marks the spot where poor Jeanne bravely met her -terrible death by fire. All about the place the market people were -peddling their wares, bargaining and calling out the merits of their -various vegetables and fruits and poultry, the scene not unlike what it -may have been in those olden days when the Normans ruled. - -Our party could not, however, linger very long over memories of the -"Maid," for Uncle Daboll hurried them away to see the great church of -St. Ouen, with such large windows that it seems to have walls of glass, -and its curious Portal of the Marmosets, all over which are carved -little animals which look like ferrets. They passed the little church -of St. Maclou, set like a gem in a tangle of streets that were little -more than alleys. As Jean said, the tall, old houses seemed to be -leaning over toward one another as if they were trying to knock their -heads together. - -At one street corner there had been erected a triumphal arch which was -surmounted by a facsimile of the statue of William the Conqueror, the -original of which stands in the little Norman town of Falaise, where he -was born. - -All French children know the history of this great Norman, who was an -unknown boy in an obscure little village, but who in time sailed across -what is now known as the English Channel, conquered England, and made -himself King of England as well as Duke of Normandy. - -When they came to the cathedral, our party were glad to enter and rest -awhile within the cool, lofty aisles and say a short prayer. - -Marie remembered her favourite St. Antoine and dropped two sous in the -box at the foot of his statue, for the poor. - -While Uncle Daboll and Jean climbed up the iron spire, the rest of the -party were taken by the "_suisse_" to see the chapels with their tombs -and tapestries. - -The _suisse_ is an imposing person in gorgeous dress of black velvet -and gold lace, a big three-cornered hat covered with gold braid, -white silk stockings, shoes with big buckles, and he carries a tall -gold-headed stock. - -It is his duty to guard the church and, for a small fee, to show -visitors the chapels and other parts of the church not generally open. - -Marie and Germaine felt quite in awe of him at first. They had never -seen anything so magnificent before, but seeing their great interest in -all that he pointed out to them, he unbent, and when he showed Germaine -the spot where was buried the heart of King Richard, and she told -him that she lived near the great castle the king had built, at Les -Andelys, he smiled in a most friendly way, and patted her on the head. - -It was quite a change when, after Uncle Daboll and Jean joined them, -they went out from the dark church into the square blazing with -sunlight, and full of booths with all sorts of things to sell, toys, -souvenirs, and picture post-cards galore. - -Jean was full of his experiences in the tower: how they went up a -little winding stairway to the very top, and they could see for miles -around the city, and how the people looked like tiny black dots far -below; and how, when coming down, he got a bit dizzy, and his father -made him shut his eyes and sit still for a minute or two; but that was -doing better than a grown man who was just behind them, and who had to -go back just after they had started. - -When Jean had finished telling his experiences, everybody found out -that they were very hungry. Uncle Daboll laughed, and said he had never -known them to be so much of one mind before. - -"Well, follow me, little ones, and we shall find something," he said, -and led the way down the street, gay with flags, wreaths, and flowers. - -"Just one moment, uncle," cried Marie, "let us stop and buy some -post-cards to send home." - -"It will be better," said Uncle Daboll, "to get them after dinner, and -while we are having our coffee at a café we can write them and send -them off. If we stop now, we shall be late for dinner, for it is past -noon." - -"Here is our place for dinner," he continued, as they entered a small -square surrounded by old-time houses near the river. On one side was a -modest little hotel called the "Three Merchants." Going up an outside -stairway, they entered a small room with a low ceiling and a stone -floor, with a long table down the centre. - -It was a typical place for the farmers to come for their dinners when -they brought their produce into the markets. Some of these farmers -were now sitting at the table with blue or black blouses over their -broadcloth suits, with their wives in black dresses and white caps, all -talking and gesticulating away over their dinner. - -There were two pleasant-faced curés in their long, tight black gowns -closely buttoned up the front, the brims of their flat black hats -caught up on either side with a cord, who had evidently come in from -some country parish to see the fêtes. There was also a solitary -bicyclist whose costume betrayed the fact that he was a Frenchman, for -no other bicyclists in the world get themselves up in so juvenile a -manner as do the French. A loose black alpaca coat, a broad waistband -in which was sewed his purse, baggy knickerbockers of gray plaid, and -socks with low shoes, leaving the leg bare to the knee, completed his -marvellous costume. - -You would think this a little boy's dress in America, would you not? - -These were the guests to whom our party nodded, which is a polite and -universal French custom when entering and leaving a room where others -are, even though they may be unknown to you. - -After a bountiful middle-class dinner, our party passed out into the -crowded streets again, when the energetic Jean exclaimed: "Now for our -post-cards!" - -"Now for a place to rest a little while," cried uncle and aunt in the -same breath. - -"Here is a pleasant, cool-looking little café across the street; the -one with the green shrubs in boxes before it. We will have our coffee -there while you select your post-cards. You will find them in that -corner shop." - -In a few minutes the children were back with the cards. Jean had -selected a view of the cathedral, because he wanted to show his uncle -and aunt the great spire up which he had climbed; Marie sent several -showing the decorations in the streets to various of her school -friends, and Germaine did not forget her friend, M. Auguste, after -sending one each to her father and mother. - -Before two o'clock everybody was hurrying toward the river to see the -water sports. - -"Oh, aunty," cried Germaine, pulling her aunt by the sleeve, "look, -there is my 'little girl of the roses,' see, walking this way with -those ladies and gentlemen!" - -Germaine was quite trembling with excitement as she saw the little girl -recognized her, and came quickly toward them. - -"Oh, I am so glad to see you," she cried. "I have wanted to see you -again to thank you. Oh, but isn't it stupid of me?" she went on, with a -sign of vexation. "Of course you don't know English, and I can't speak -French, except to say _merci_ and _bon jour_ and _bon soir_, so how -can we talk to each other?" Then she stopped and laughed, and Germaine -laughed, too, and the two little girls stood smiling at one another, -when the portly gentleman, whom Germaine had seen in the carriage, -hurried up. "Ethel, my dear, why did you run off like this?" - -"Oh, papa, this is the little girl who handed me back my roses, when -they fell from the carriage last night. You know my special programme -was tied with the flowers, and I would not have lost it for anything." - -Just then some French people came up who also spoke English, and the -little girl explained the situation. Germaine then learned that Ethel -was the daughter of the mayor of the English town of Hastings, and -he had been invited to represent England at the fêtes, for it was at -Hastings that William the Conqueror had landed, and near there that -the great battle of Hastings was fought, which gave England to the -Normans. - -That was so very long ago that everybody in England is now very proud -of it, and the English cousins from Hastings were taking as much -interest in the fêtes as the French themselves. - -Germaine blushed while the gentleman was telling her all this, and -Ethel took a little English flag that she had pinned on her dress and -gave it to Germaine. When Ethel's papa heard where Germaine lived, he -said he had been to Les Andelys, he had stayed at the Belle Étoile, and -knew M. Auguste, and perhaps next year he would come there again and -bring Ethel and her mother, and then they should all meet again. - -After the French gentleman kindly made all this known to Germaine, the -little girls shook hands and parted, for the Tournament had begun. - -Two queer-looking craft, much like gondolas, took up their positions, -one at either end of the course. The crew of one had a white costume -with red sashes and red caps--the other was in similar dress, except -that their caps and sashes were blue. These respective crews were known -as the "Blues" and the "Reds." - -On a raised platform at the end of his boat stood a "Red," with a long -lance at rest; opposite was a "Blue" in the same position. At a given -signal, the boats came toward one another, and one lance-man attempted -to push the other off into the water. - -Great was the excitement among their partisans on the banks, and cries -of encouragement came from friends on either side. Jean had picked out -the "Blue" as his choice, while Marie and Germaine hoped the "Red" -would win. By this time the children were standing on their chairs, -Jean waving his cap with great enthusiasm. Suddenly "Red" gave a -stronger push, and down went poor "Blue," head foremost in the water. -However, he did not seem to mind it, as he sat dripping in the rescue -boat. Jean felt rather badly over the fall of his hero, but another man -took his place, and this time Jean's man won, to his intense delight. -So the fun went on until late in the afternoon. Another evening's walk -through the illuminated city, and the children were quite ready for -their beds on the barge,--for the men of the party slept on deck while -the rest had the little house to themselves. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -GOING HOME BY TRAIN - - -IT was with real regret that our little friends parted from the good -barge people and their floating home, as well as from the beautiful -city of Rouen, where they had seen so much, and had such a good time. - -Germaine, who had not been before in a big railway station, was -somewhat bewildered at the confusion about her, while Jean, who had -been once to Mantes, was proud to be able to explain things to her. The -tall man in a blue uniform was the station-master, and one could always -tell him from the other blue-uniformed officials, because he wore a -white cap. It was his duty to send off the trains, which he does by -blowing a small whistle, after which some one rings a hand-bell that -sounds like a dinner-bell, and off goes the train. - -The men who were pushing luggage around on small hand-trucks were the -porters, in blue blouses like any French working man, except they were -belted in at the waist by a broad band of red and black stripes. - -Presently the station-master whistled off their train. "Keep a sharp -lookout," said Uncle Daboll, "and, as soon as we leave this tunnel we -are now going through, look out on the right side and you will have a -fine view of the city." - -Sure enough, in a few minutes they were on the bridge, crossing the -river, and before them stretched out a panorama of Rouen, with a jumble -of factory chimneys and church spires, and rising above all the grand -three-towered cathedral. - -Perhaps American children might like to know what French trains -are like; they are so different from theirs in every way. To begin -with, there are first, second and third class cars,--carriages, they -are called,--and each carriage is divided into compartments, each -compartment holding six persons in the first class, three on each side, -and eight persons in the second, and in the third class, five on a -side--ten in all. There is a door and two small windows in each end of -a compartment. - -The first and second classes have cushioned seats, but there are only -wooden benches in the third. In many of the third class the divisions -between the compartments are not carried up to the roof, and one can -look over and see who his neighbours may be. The people who travel -third class on French railways are a very sociable lot, and every -one soon gets to talking. A French third class carriage under these -conditions is the liveliest place you were ever in, especially when the -train stops at a town on market-day and many people are about, as they -were on this occasion. - -Well! Such a hubbub, and such a time as they had getting all their -various baskets and belongings in with them. - -The big ruddy-faced women pulled themselves in with great difficulty, -for these trains are high from the ground and hard to get into, -especially when one has huge baskets on one's arm, and innumerable -boxes and bundles are being pushed in after one by friends. - -The men come with farming tools, bags of potatoes, and their big -_sabots_, all taking up a lot of room. - -One tall stout woman, with a basket in either hand, got stuck in the -doorway until Uncle Daboll gave her a helping hand and her friends -pushed her from the outside. She finally plumped down on a seat quite -out of breath, when from under the cover of one basket two ducks' heads -appeared with a loud "quack, quack, quack." "Ah, my beauties, get -back," and she tapped them playfully and shut the lid down, but out -popped their heads again with another series of "quacks," just like a -double jack-in-the-box. How the children laughed, and that made them -all friends at once. - -Germaine offered to hold one of her baskets, for there was not a bit of -room in the overhead racks, or anywhere else. When she took it on her -knee, she thought she saw a gleam of bright eyes through the cracks, -and sure enough it was full of little white rabbits. The old woman, -seeing her interest, let her stroke their sensitive little ears, while -she told how she had bought them at a _bon marché_, a good bargain, and -was taking them home to her grandchild, just Germaine's age. - -Next to her were two women who were evidently carrying on some dispute -that had begun early in the day, and each was bent on having the last -word. So their talk went on, an endless stream, while the fat woman sat -by and laughed at them both. Perhaps no wonder one of them was cross. -She looked every little while at a big basket of eggs she carried, -some of which were broken, and with small wonder, it would seem to -inexperienced eyes, for they were packed in the basket without anything -between them. When she found one badly broken, she swallowed it, as -much as to say, "That is safe anyway," and then she would talk faster -than ever. - -Uncle Daboll talked to the man next him about market prices, and the -cider crop, and what a fine fruit year it was. One had only to look out -at the orchards they were passing to see the truth of this, for the -apple-trees were so full of fruit that branches had to be propped up -with poles to keep them from breaking down. - -In the next compartment a party of four were playing dominoes, one of -the women who was with them having spread out her apron for a table. - -Another party was evidently making up for a meal they had lost, while -doing business. The mother took from a basket a part of a big loaf, -from which she cut slices and distributed them, with a bit of cheese, -to her party, at the same time passing around a jug of cider. - -There was an exciting time when one of the chickens escaped from a -market-basket and had to be chased all over the carriage. Such a -clattering of tongues, flapping of wings, and distressful clucks from -the poor fowl, which was at last caught just as she was about to fly -out of a window, were never heard before. - -The chattering was increased by elaborate good-byes, as one by one the -passengers dropped off at the small stations. No one grumbled at having -to help sort out the luggage each time, but cheerfully and politely -helped disentangle the belongings of the departing ones, and carefully -helped to lift the baskets on to the platform, amid profuse thanks, -where more friends and relations met them, and there was as much -kissing on both cheeks as if they had been on a long journey instead of -merely to market. - -At one of the stops Germaine noticed a woman, holding a horn and a -small red flag, standing by the sliding gates, where the road crossed -the railway. She had seen these women before along the line, and -her uncle explained that the railway is fenced in on either side by -hedges or wire fencing, and wherever a road or street crossed, there -are gates, which must be kept closed while trains are passing. Not -only must the gatekeeper, who is generally a woman, have the gates -tight shut, but she must also stand beside them like a soldier at his -post, with her brass horn in one hand and a red flag, rolled up, in -the other, showing that she is prepared for any emergency. If she -were not there, the engineer of the passing train would report it to -headquarters, and she would doubtless be dismissed. The gatekeeper -lives in a neat cottage adjoining, and some minutes before each train -is due she takes the horn and flag from where they hang on the wall, -and is at her post. - -At the station were M. and Madame Lafond to welcome them home, and you -can imagine how everybody talked at once, and how much there was to -tell. The fête at Rouen was the topic of conversation until its glories -paled before Petit Andelys' own special fête, which was held some weeks -after, and which our little friends, with true French patriotism, -thought the finest in the world, not excepting the more elaborate -affair at Rouen. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE MARKET AT GRAND ANDELYS - - -THERE was always much noise and activity in the farmyard of La -Chaumière on Mondays, for that was market-day at Grand Andelys,--_the_ -important event in a country neighbourhood in France. - -For miles about, from the farms and small villages, every one meets in -the market-place in the centre of the old town; not only to buy and -sell, but to talk and be sociable, to hear news and tell it. - -The French folk are very industrious, and they do not take much time -for idle gossip unless there is some profit connected with it; but on -market-day they combine business with pleasure, and make good bargains -and hear all the happenings of the countryside at the same time. - -"Come, Germaine," called out Marie, after dinner on this particular -Monday, "let us see them put the little calves in the cart. Papa is -going to take four of them to market." - -"I know it, but I felt so sorry I did not want to see them go," said -Germaine, for she was very tender-hearted. Rather reluctantly she -followed Marie into the farmyard. Marie was also very fond of the -farm animals, but, having been away at school, had naturally not made -such pets of them as had Germaine, who petted everything, from the -big plough-horses to the tiny chickens just out of the shell. They -were to her like friends, and it was really a grief to her when any -of them were taken away to the market. But she tried to conquer the -feeling, for it was part of her papa's business to sell cattle in the -market, and he did so to provide for his two little daughters. All -French parents, of whatever position, will stint and save in order to -accumulate a "dot," as it is called, for their children, and will make -any reasonable sacrifice to start them well in life. - -The four little calves had been tied in the cart with many bleatings, -and much protesting on the part of their mothers. "Papa is going to -take them to market, and mamma is to drive you and me," said Marie. - -Madame Lafond and the two girls climbed into the cart hung high above -its two great wheels. All three sat together on the one seat, which -was quite wide. These country carts are almost square and also rather -pretty. They are built of small panels of wood arranged in more or less -ornamental patterns, and are usually painted in bright colours, and -have, also, a big hood which can be put up as a protection from the -rain. - -The back of the cart was filled with baskets of eggs, from a specially -famous variety of fowl, for which the farm was noted. - -[Illustration: THE MARKET-SQUARE] - -The road to Les Andelys was crowded with their neighbours and friends -bound in the same direction, and all in the same style of high carts, -drawn by a single horse. - -They drove beside the river that flows through the two villages, along -which the washerwomen gathered when they washed their clothes. They -knelt by a long plank and gossiped as they beat out the dirt with a -paddle, rinsing the clothes afterward in the running water of the -stream itself. - -At the town they drove into the courtyard of the hotel of the "Bon -Laboureur," where there were dozens of country carts like their own, -from which the horses had already been taken. They left the stableman -to take charge of theirs, and walked across to the market-square. - -Booths, with awnings, held everything that could be imagined, from -old cast-off pieces of iron, locks, keys and the like, to the newest -kinds of clothing; for everything under the sun is sold at these -markets, and it is here that the people do most of their shopping -rather than in the shops. Laces, crockery, imitation jewelry and -furniture, and most things useful to man or beast are sold here. - -Big umbrellas were stuck up for protection against sun and rain. Some -of them were of brilliant colours, reds, blues, and greens, some were -faded to neutral tints by the weathers of many market-days--looking -like a field of big mushrooms. - -On one side of the square was the vegetable and fruit market, where -the women in their neat cotton dresses and white caps sat under their -umbrellas, with heaped up baskets of peas, beans, cauliflower, melons, -and crisp green stuff for salads around them. These vegetable and fruit -sellers are known as the "Merchants of the four seasons," because they -sell, at various times, the products of the four seasons of the year. - -Near by were the geese, ducks, and chickens packed in big -basket-crates, piled one on top of the other, and all clucking and -restless. Quantities of little rabbits were also there, and when a -buyer wished to know if the rabbit were in prime condition, he would -lift it up by the back of its neck just as one does a kitten, and feel -its backbone. One does not know whether the poor rabbits like it or -not, but they look very frightened, and seem glad when it is over. - -Madame Lafond made her way toward the egg-market, where the eggs are -displayed piled up in great baskets, stopping to speak to a friend or -an acquaintance by the way. She was soon in her accustomed place, and -had opened up her eggs for her customers, for eggs from La Chaumière -never went begging. - -The two little children of the wagon-maker joined Marie and Germaine, -and the four amused themselves looking at the booths, and planning what -they would buy if they had the money, or amused themselves watching the -crowd that quite filled the big market-place. "There are the English," -some one said, and, turning, Germaine saw her friend Mr. Carter, and -his wife, the Americans who were spending the summer at the Belle -Étoile, standing at one of the booths, buying a _baton Normand_, a -rough stick of native wood, with a head of plaited leather, and a -leather loop to hold it on the arm, for they are used by the peasants -in driving cattle, and they frequently want to have their hands -otherwise quite free. "This will make me a good walking-stick," said -Mr. Carter, coming up to the little girls and shaking hands with them. -"This is your sister back from school, eh? Well, when are you two going -to take that ride with me?" - -It had been a promise of long standing that when Marie was at home, -they were to go for a day's trip in Mr. Carter's big automobile. "Well, -I must fix on a day, and let M. Auguste send word to your mamma so -that you and Marie can come to the Belle Étoile, and we can start from -there." - -"Won't it be lovely?" said Marie; "we shall feel as fine as M. Lecoq, -the rich farmer who comes to market in his great auto, wearing his fur -coat over his blouse, with his _sabots_ on just as if he was in the -farm wagon, riding behind his four white oxen." - -All French working men wear the blouse. It is almost like a uniform, -and by the colour of his blouse one can generally guess a man's trade. -Painters, masons, grocers, and bakers wear the white blouse; mechanics -and the better class of farmers seem to prefer black, and the ordinary -peasants and labourers wear blue. - -The blouse is made like a big full shirt, and reaches nearly to the -knees. You will see men well dressed in black broadcloth, white shirts -and neat ties, and over all the blouse. It is really worn now to -protect the clothes, but is a survival of the olden times when all -trades wore a livery. - -At the market at Grand Andelys one could but notice the neatly dressed -hair of the women folk. - -All Frenchwomen, of whatsoever class, always dress their hair neatly -and prettily: and as the young girls seldom wear a hat or a bonnet, it -shows off to so much better advantage. This is all very well in summer, -but one wonders that they do not take cold in winter. The women wear -felt slippers, and thrust their feet into their _sabots_, when they go -out, which are not so clumsy as those of the men, dropping them at the -door when they come into the house. You will always see several pairs -of _sabots_ around the entrance to the home of a French working man. - -The children by this time had got to where the calves stood in their -little fenced-in enclosure. They were not put in the market by the -church with the big cattle, and Germaine felt much happier when she -heard that they had been sold for farm purposes, and not for veal to -the big butcher in his long white apron, who stood by, jingling his -long knives that hung at his side from a chain around his waist. - -As they were near the bakers', Marie suggested they buy a _brioche_, -and take it home to eat with their chocolate. _Brioche_ is a very -delicate bread made with eggs and milk, and is esteemed as a great -delicacy. The bakery looked very tempting filled with bread of all -kinds and shapes,--sticks of bread a yard long, loaves like a big ring -with a hole in the middle, big flat loaves which would nearly cover a -small table, twisted loaves and square loaves. - -When they had made their purchases and rejoined their mother, they -found her with Madame Daboll, who told them that poor M. Masson, the -wealthy mill-owner, who had been ill so long, was dead, and there was -to be a grand funeral at the church of St. Sauveur the next day. - -In France great respect is paid to the dead, and funerals are conducted -with as much pomp as one's circumstances permit. - -M. Masson was connected, in one way or another, with nearly every one -in the neighbourhood, and the little church of St. Sauveur was crowded -with the friends and relatives all in deep black, the men wearing a -band of crape on the arm. Over the church door was a sort of black -lambrequin with the letter M. embroidered in silver. As the funeral -passed through the streets, the "_suisse_," the clergy, and the -mourners, following the hearse on foot, made an impressive and solemn -sight. As the cortège passed, all who met it bowed their heads or -removed their hats, as is the custom all over Europe. - -The only thing out of place seemed to be the ugly wreaths made of -black, white, and purple beads, with which the hearse was covered. To -our taste they seem hideous, but Germaine thought the white bead lilies -with black jet leaves very beautiful, for she was used to seeing the -graves in the small cemetery covered with such tributes. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -GERMAINE AND THE ARTIST - - -ALL artists are fond of painting French country life, and there is no -part that they like better than the picturesque old villages, farms, -and apple-orchards of Normandy, while perhaps Les Andelys is one of -their favourite stopping-places. - -Germaine had made many friends among them, for they often came to draw -or paint the quaint jumble of old buildings at La Chaumière. - -Germaine and the English artist who was staying at the Belle Étoile -were great friends. He was painting near the farm, and he often dropped -in to sit in their garden and drink a glass of cider. - -This warm bright morning Germaine could see his white umbrella under -the apple-trees, whereupon she ran into the _laiterie_ where her mamma -was putting away butter in stone jars for winter use. - -"Mamma, I see that Mr. Thomson is painting again in the field. It is so -hot. May I not take him a glass of cider?" - -"Yes, truly, my little one, but do not stay too long, for I shall need -you later to help me." Madame Lafond knew that when her little daughter -was watching the painting of a picture, she would forget all about how -time flies. - -Germaine went into the dark cellar where the large casks of cider -were kept cool, and drawing off a jug full, took a glass, and holding -an umbrella over her, carefully carried it down the hillside to Mr. -Thomson, who was lying full length on the grass, smoking vigorously and -scowling at his picture. - -"Oh, Germaine," he called out, when he caught sight of her, "you are a -jewel, a good little girl to bring me a cold drink. It was just what I -wanted, and I was too lazy to walk up to the farm and ask for it. I am -stuck and can't do a bit of work. I don't believe this picture is good -for anything, after all." - -Germaine could not believe this, for had she not heard Mr. Carter tell -of pictures that Mr. Thomson had sold for so many thousands of francs -that it took away her breath. Besides, did it not look just like her -papa's wheat-field, with a bit of the river showing between the trees? - -She shook her head. "I think it is a most beautiful picture," she said -as she looked at it admiringly. - -"Oh! if all the folk who buy pictures had your good taste, Germaine, -how lucky we artist chaps would be," he said, draining the cider jug. -"I feel much refreshed and must get to work again, for the light is -changing fast. Sit there in the shade, child, and tell me what you are -going to do at the fête of St. Sauveur next week." - -There was nothing Germaine liked better than to watch the picture -grow under the quickly moving brushes; and Mr. Thomson talked to her -so pleasantly in his queer French that it amused her. Germaine never -smiled, even when he made mistakes in grammar that a French child of -eight would not have made. - -The French are a proverbially polite people, and at no time is their -politeness so apparent as when a foreigner is speaking their language. -They never laugh nor take the slightest notice of the worst blunders, -but with the greatest pains try to understand them, and even go out of -their way to set them right. - -But to-day it was not the fête that Germaine wanted to talk about. -"Tell me more about Paris," she said, shyly. - -"Oh, Germaine, you are just like all the world--wild about Paris," -laughed Mr. Thomson. He lived in Paris during the winter, and his big -studio looked out on the fine old gardens of the Luxembourg, and from -the windows could be seen the gilded dome of the Hôtel des Invalides, -under which is the tomb of the great Napoleon. - -It was the dream of Germaine's life to see this wonderful city of Paris -that she had heard so much about. So she listened eagerly when Mr. -Thomson told her of the broad boulevards shaded by chestnut-trees, with -fine shops on either side, and the great avenue of the Champs Élysées, -at the end of which stands the Arch of Triumph, erected by Napoleon in -memory of his victories. - -Along this avenue passes the gay world of Paris in carriages, -automobiles, and on foot, bound for the Bois de Boulogne. A part of -this great park is set aside for the special use of the children. No -noisy automobile is allowed in this special enclosure, and carriages -can only drive at a moderate pace. Here the Parisian mothers bring -their children for a good time. They can romp over the grass and -play among the pretty flower-beds; have games of tennis, croquet, or -battledore and shuttlecock (which is a favourite game with them), while -their older relatives sit around on little camp-stools, which every one -carries with them to the parks, and talk or do fancy work. - -There are ornamental refreshment houses where cakes and milk and sweet -drinks can be had: thus it is a veritable children's paradise! - -"But there is even more fun to be had in the gardens of the Tuileries; -_there_ is where I would like to take you, Germaine," said Mr. Thomson. - -"There among bright flower-beds and shady alleys the little children -play games around the feet of the marble statues; roll their hoops; -run after their toy balloons; and trundle their dolls about, or sail -toy boats with red, blue, or white sails, on the little pond, while -their _bonnes_, or nurses we would call them, in their long cloaks and -big caps with streamers of bright ribbons, sit gossiping on the benches. - -"We would walk along until we found Guignol, which English and American -girls and boys call 'Punch and Judy;' but they would enjoy it just as -much as do the French children, for even though Mr. Punch and Mrs. Judy -speak French, the show is just the same. - -"And then we would go on a little farther and join the crowd standing -around a man with birds flying all about him. He is the 'bird charmer,' -who seems to draw the birds to him by some magic. He whistles, and they -perch on his head, shoulders, and hands, eat out of his mouth, and -perform tricks on the stick he holds in his hand. This greatly amuses -the children, and they are always ready to give the man a few sous, so -it is a profit to him as well as an amusement." - -Then there is the great Cathedral of Notre Dame, which is probably the -best known church in all the world. It stands on the river bank, for -Paris is built on either side of that same Seine that Germaine sees -through the trees in the distance as she sits under the apple-trees on -her father's farm. - -Mr. Thomson tells her also of the new Palace of Art, where, among -many thousands of others, he hopes to exhibit this picture he is now -painting; and of the beautiful Alexander III. bridge near it, with its -lofty white columns crowned by the great golden-winged horses, named -after a Czar of Russia, for the French and Russian people are very -friendly. - -"Ah, yes! Paris is a great city," Mr. Thomson would always say when he -had finished. - -"Papa said when I was older perhaps he would take Marie and me there," -said Germaine. "But now I must go," she added, jumping up; "mamma will -be waiting for me to help her with the chickens," and saying good-bye -to her friend, Germaine ran toward the farmyard gate. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -THE FÊTE OF ST. SAUVEUR - - -ST. SAUVEUR is the patron saint of Petit Andelys, and its little church -is the church of St. Sauveur. - -Each year Petit Andelys, as do most of the towns of France, celebrates -the fête-day of its patron, and does it so well that the lustre of the -fête has spread far and wide, bringing many visitors, which pleases the -good folk of the little town, for they are proud of it and everything -connected therewith. - -The fête-day of St. Sauveur has no connection whatever with Petit -Andelys' big twin town of Grand Andelys, which has its own fête, but -nothing like so grand. There is some little jealousy between the two -Andelys. The size and importance of Grand Andelys throws the other -quite in the shade, but Petit Andelys has the river, and the people of -Grand Andelys have to walk a dusty mile before they reach it, and that -is one reason that visitors like the Belle Étoile. - -So Petit Andelys arranges its own fête. The mayor and its leading -citizens organize committees, and great preparations go on for weeks -beforehand. - -One day the children running out of school at the noon hour saw, in the -square in front of the church, many wagons with poles, and flapping -canvas strewn about. These were the booths for the fair, which were -being put up. - -The great attraction of every fête is its fair, and these _foires_, as -the French also call them, move about the country from town to town in -wagons like an old-fashioned circus, planning to reach an important -town for some special occasion--such as its fête-day. - -The participants in these fairs live in their lumbering wagons very -much as do gipsies, selling all sorts of knickknacks, and performing -little plays, or feats of agility or strength. - -In a few days the little town was dressed out with flags and wreaths, -gay streamers and paper lanterns. - -Marie and Germaine, who were staying at their Uncle Daboll's for the -fête, were awakened at five o'clock on the opening day by a succession -of terrific noises, which were set forth on the official programme as a -"Salvo of Artillery." - -They were soon dressed and out, but even at that early hour the whole -town was astir. Later on the booths in the square opened up for -business. - -There was a merry-go-round, "flying horses" the children call them, -with big pink pigs to ride on, and swings in the shape of boats, and a -marvellous "wheel of fortune" for those who wanted to try their luck. - -Germaine never tired of admiring what seemed to her the most beautiful -things set out for sale. - -Jean's great ambition was to hit some of the pipes in the -shooting-gallery, and win a wonderful knife that contained everything -from a corkscrew to a file. - -The real gaiety, however, only began in the evening, when a torchlight -procession marched up and down the main streets. - -First came the "Salvo of Artillery" again, which, after all, was a very -simple affair. A cartridge was placed on a paving-stone and struck -with a big hammer. It made a tremendous noise, however, and everybody -jumped, and Germaine put her fingers in her ears when she saw the -hammer coming down. - -Behind came men and boys carrying lighted paper lanterns, and then -the band of the _pompiers_ (the village fire department), and then -more people, while all along the route was burned red and green fire. -Lanterns and fairy lamps in front of the houses and around the square -were lighted, and the band played on a platform near the booths for the -young people to dance. - -Jean rode on one of the pink pigs on the merry-go-round, but Marie and -Germaine preferred the chairs shaped like swans, for they were afraid -of slipping off the round pigs. The only trouble was that the man who -had charge of these wonderful beasts cut the rides rather short. - -Uncle Daboll and M. Lafond broke several of the pipes in the -shooting-gallery, and Germaine's papa even hit one of the funny paper -ducks that kept bobbing up, and got a walking-stick for his pains, but -no one succeeded in hitting the white ball that swung at the end of a -string. - -Germaine's mamma bought her a little toy _laiterie_, which looked just -like the one at their farm. There was a little cow on one side, and in -the other the milk-pans and churn--all true to life. - -Perhaps the booth which had the most custom was the one with the -gingerbread, which is a very popular variety of cake throughout France. -Our little friends were soon there buying quite a menagerie of animals -made of gingerbread. Jean chose a horse, Marie an elephant, and -Germaine a cat, which, strange to say, was as big as Marie's elephant. - -Then they all crowded into the little theatre; the funniest one you -ever saw. The stage was made up out of a wagon, and the audience sat -under an awning in front. There was no scenery, but a piece of cloth -with a queer-looking picture painted on it, and the actors never -changed their costumes once, but every one laughed and enjoyed it as -much as if it had been the big theatre in Grand Andelys. - -It was late when everybody got home, that is, it was ten o'clock, which -is a very late hour for a French village, where every one is usually -sound asleep by half-past eight or nine. The fête was to last a week, -and every day had something new to offer. - -The next day Jean announced, "There is a circus down on the quay," as -he burst into the kitchen where the family were gathered for breakfast. -"The baker's boy told me he could see them from the bakery. They came -late last night, and are waiting to get permission from the mayor to -put up their tents in the town." - -"Oh, let's go and see them at once!" said Marie and Germaine in the -same breath. Jean quickly disposed of his breakfast by taking a slice -of bread and eating it as he went. - -The quay presented a lively appearance indeed. There were nearly a -dozen gaudily painted wagons, while near by were tethered the horses. -The women were preparing the morning meal outside the wagons, which -served for houses, while the men fed the horses or fished in the -river, and the children played about, or followed the visitors with -outstretched hands asking for pennies. - -"I should like to give them something," said Marie, "but you know they -are not allowed to beg while they are in the village, and we should not -encourage them to break the law. I will go back, though, and ask aunty -to give me some cakes for them," and the kind-hearted girl ran back to -Madame Daboll's. - -Meanwhile Jean was wondering what was inside the wagons with CIRQUE -painted in big black letters on their sides. Near a bright yellow van -were tethered two goats which were carried for their milk. Goat's milk -is much used in France among the poorer classes, especially in the -southern part of the country, and the white goat's milk cheeses are -rather good, when one gets used to the peculiar flavour. - -[Illustration: THE CIRCUS] - -Germaine was getting acquainted with a lot of dark-skinned little -children, who looked chubby and well taken care of in their neat cotton -dresses. - -Their mother was a gipsy-like woman who had fancy baskets for sale, -and she told Germaine she had nine children, which set Germaine to -wondering how they all stowed themselves away in the one wagon. It was -a big one, to be sure, divided into two rooms, and wonderfully compact, -and as they sat and eat out-of-doors on the ground or the steps of -their wagons, they could easily get on without tables and chairs. - -Here Marie came running up with her cakes, which she divided among the -little ones who gathered about her. - -By this time they had got the desired permission to open up the circus -on the square, and that afternoon our three little friends had the -pleasure of seeing the horse that could find a hidden handkerchief, the -performing dogs, and all the other wonders of the show. - -The grand events of the fête were saved up for the last day. There were -to be the sports in the afternoon, and a grand illumination and display -of fireworks in the evening. The sports, in which the young boys were -to take part, were held in the square. Jean was to participate in one -of these, and was one of the first to be at the roped-in enclosure in -the middle of which stood two high poles. Between these poles were hung -a dozen or more tin buckets all filled with water, except the middle -one. In this was a new five-franc piece. To each bucket was attached -a string, and when a boy was blindfolded, and an enormous grotesque -mask put over his head, it was a somewhat difficult task to walk up -and to pull the string of the bucket which held the five-franc piece. -Should he pull any of the others, down would tumble a pail full of -water all over him, amid the laughter and jeers of the bystanders. Jean -had talked for weeks beforehand how he would spend the five francs if -he were fortunate enough to win it. He had in imagination bought most -of the things in M. Carré's shop. Five francs, which is equal to one -American dollar, was a big sum to a little French boy such as Jean. - -"I do hope you will get it, Jean!" whispered Germaine; "remember to -try and walk straight." Jean was so excited as he groped his way along -he could not have told whether he was going backwards or forwards. -"Oh, he will get it! Keep where you are! You're in the right place!" -shouted Jean's friends, as they watched his hand touch the strings with -indecision. Little Germaine held her breath. "Oh, he has done it!" she -cried, jumping up and down and clapping her hands. "Marie, he has it!" -as the bag with the five franc piece tumbled on top of his head. - -Jean was the hero of the hour among the children, and some of his prize -was soon spent at one of the booths on _sucre du pomme_, which was -distributed lavishly among his admiring friends. _Sucre du pomme_, by -the by, is a very nice candy made in sticks of various sizes from sugar -and the drippings of the cider apples. Each stick is carefully wrapped -in a pretty paper, and tied together, in bundles of six or a dozen, -with bright ribbons. - -Jean's father and M. Lafond took part in the men's sports on the -river-front, but neither had Jean's luck. One feat was quite difficult. -It was something like what children elsewhere know as "climbing the -greasy pole," but in this case it was a bar that extended over the -river, in which at regular intervals were placed, hanging downward, -wooden pegs. These pegs were well greased, and one had to swing -himself by his hands from one of these pegs to another in order to -reach the extreme end of the bar, where was fastened a small bag of -money. Well, you may imagine this was not easy to do, and generally -about the third or fourth peg the participant would drop into the water -with a splash, and be picked up by a waiting boat, to the intense -amusement of the lookers-on, who thronged the banks of the river. After -many trials, one venturesome fellow grabbed the bag just before he -slipped off, taking it with him, however, into the water. - -After this came the diving matches and the swimming contests, and then -everybody got ready for the evening's grand wind-up. In the Belle -Étoile all was bustle and confusion; the maids were flying about, for -there were many visitors who had come in for the usual _apéritif_. -The café was full, the gardens were filled up with extra tables, and -M. Auguste was quite distracted in his endeavours to be polite and -attentive to every one, besides stopping to take a glass with his -friends, as was his custom. He had barely a moment to pat Germaine on -the cheek, and to hear the story of Jean's success. - -Mr. Carter, with the help of the young lady artists, was hanging -lanterns in the front windows, and getting ready a big lot of Roman -candles as the contribution of the visitors of the Belle Étoile to -the evening's gaieties, while Mimi, the white cat, sat in the doorway -regarding things with her usual lofty air of superiority. - -As it grew dark, our two parties found themselves once more on the -quay, amid a great throng of tourists, country folk, visitors in -automobiles and farm carts, on bicycles, and in lumbering buses from -out-of-the-way villages. - -The prosaic little neighbourhood was changed for the night into a -gorgeous panorama of light and colour. The river banks burned with -red, green, and white Bengal fires. Queer boats rigged with golden -lamps, and sails of coloured lanterns, floated down the stream, and -into the sky burst showers of gold and silver stars. - -[Illustration: CHÂTEAU GAILLARD] - -Suddenly there was heard a great boom, and from the top of Château -Gaillard rose a red cloud of fire, and the old walls and turrets stood -out red against the dark blue sky, a beacon for miles of country -roundabout. It was a mimic reproduction of the destruction of the grand -old castle many hundreds of years ago. - -Germaine caught Marie's hand, it seemed so real. It seemed as if her -cherished playground were crumbling away, and that never again could -she picture the great king and his knights riding out of its massive -gateway to do battle against its foes. - -"Ah! _Messieurs_ and _Mesdames_, is it not a wonderful sight; a grand -occasion for our city?" The voice brought Germaine back to earth -again. It was the indefatigable little _sous-Commissaire_, the one -policeman of the village, speaking to them. The little man had come -unwearied and triumphant through the excitements of the great day. Ah! -it was he who had managed it all so successfully! It was he who had -kept order among the vast throng. No other _sous-Commissaire_ in all -France could have done better, and the little man swelled with pride. - -The light had faded off the château; the last rocket had been fired; -the band of the _pompiers_ played the "Marseillaise,"--the national -air,--and the great event of the year for Petit Andelys was over. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -AN AUTOMOBILE JOURNEY - - -EARLY one morning three of the happiest children in France were stowed -away in the back of Mr. Carter's big automobile. They were still more -delighted when Pierre, Mr. Carter's fine, black French poodle, jumped -up on the seat beside him, looking very jaunty with his fore-locks tied -up with a blue ribbon, and as complacent as if he was driving the auto -himself. - -"I thought we would go by way of La Roche-Guyon to Mantes and have -lunch there, and then come back by way of Vernon; that ought to show -you children a bit of the country," said Mr. Carter. - -The children were ready for anything, and off they went at a pace that -nearly took away their breath. - -They were soon flying through rolling farmlands, where the various -crops were planted in such regular fields that they looked like a -great patchwork quilt, with squares of green, yellow, and brown spread -out for miles. There were no divisions by fences or hedges, except -sometimes at each corner of a farm a small white stone marked the -boundary. Suddenly, they slowed down. - -"Here is something which always stops me," said Mr. Carter. "It is like -running into a big spider's web." - -A woman coming up the road was driving eight or nine cows, each -attached to a long rope, which she held in her hand. It seemed like a -maze to an outsider, but she drew in first one rope, and then twisted -another, and pulled back another, until she finally got her charges to -one side of the road. - -The cows are taken out to pasture, where there are no regular fields -where they may run loose. So they must be guarded in this manner, and -when they have eaten one spot up clean, they are taken on to another. - -Farther up the road two children were watching some goats on the side -of the road, but in this case each goat's rope was tied to an iron -stake which was driven in the ground, so the children could amuse -themselves until it was time to move the animals on to a fresh bit of -pasturage. - -"Your horses wear gay clothes," said Mr. Carter, as they passed a great -lumbering wagon, swung between two big wheels, drawn tandem-wise,--that -is, one horse in front of the other,--by five heavy-limbed Norman -horses. - -Around their big clumsy wooden collars, which are usually painted in -bright colours, was draped a dark blue sheepskin blanket. On their -heads bobbed big tassels of blue and red, or blue, red, and yellow, -which so dangled in their eyes that one wonders how they could see at -all. - -The leader was more finely dressed than the others. His neck-blanket -had long stole-like ends, that hung almost to the ground, and an extra -high collar with more tassels. All this may not be comfortable for the -horses, but they looked so very picturesque, one hopes that they did -not mind it. - -The automobile now whizzed by a team of slow-moving cream-coloured -oxen,--beautiful beasts with yokes twisted around their horns instead -of around their necks. They never so much as lifted their sleepy eyes -to look at our party. - -"This is another frequent obstacle in the way of the automobilist," -said Mr. Carter, as they came in sight of a flock of sheep with their -shepherd, which completely blocked up the road. "But I do not object -to stopping in this case, for it is worth one's while to watch the -sheep-dogs do their work." - -The children stood up in the auto and watched the amusing performance -with much interest, and Pierre barked his appreciation. The dogs -knew perfectly well which side of the road must be left open for the -automobile, and they began to drive the sheep toward the other side, -pushing them and barking at them; the slow ones they would catch by the -wool, give them a little shake, as much as to say "you had better move -quickly," and then pull them out of the way, looking back every few -minutes to see how near to them was the automobile. - -"They act with as much judgment as human beings," said Mr. Carter, as -he carefully steered through the flock. The shepherd, who had let the -dogs do the work, was a fine-looking fellow, in a long grayish white -cloak, striped with colour, which made him look like a shepherd of -Bible times. In the field near by stood his house, a kind of big box on -wheels, just large enough for him and his dogs to sleep in, which he -could move about where he liked. - -They were now running down a long, steep hill into La Roche-Guyon. - -"Look!" cried Germaine, "there are chimneys and stovepipes coming up -out of the ground; is it not funny?" - -"Those are the cave-dwellings," explained Mr. Carter. "These people -have cut their houses in the side of the cliff; you can see the -openings to them, often in tiers one above the other, and those -chimneys you see come from the houses. There are many such dwellings -all over the country, especially along the other great river of France, -the Loire." - -"Are people living in them?" asked Jean, "and how can they see in them? -Are they not dark and gloomy?" - -"Well, as you can see, there is always a door and often one or two -windows. The poorer people do sometimes live in them, though not so -much as they used to many years ago when the French peasant was much -worse off than he is now. The working people are now building and -owning their own little homes, and these caves are being used more for -storehouses and, in the grape districts, for cellars in which to store -the wine-crop." - -"I should not like to live in the ground like that," declared Jean. - -They only stopped long enough in the town to look at the big château, -which to-day belongs to the noble French family in whose possession it -has been for hundreds of years. This splendid building was very odd, -for the back had been built into the high chalk-cliff which towers -above it. - -"I can see the towers of a big church in the distance," said Germaine, -presently. - -"That is the church of Mantes, and we shall soon be in the town," -replied Mr. Carter. "It is said that this church was built by William -the Conqueror to replace one that was destroyed while he was besieging -the town, and it was at this same siege that he was mortally wounded." - -After lunch and a walk around the town, they started for home over a -fine broad road shaded with trees. - -"This is a 'National Road,'" said Jean. "Papa told me about these great -highways laid out all over France by the great Napoleon, so that -soldiers could be moved easily from one part of the country to another." - -"Oh, look! What is that big gray thing in the sky just above that clump -of trees? It looks like a fish," suddenly cried Marie, as they were -passing a small village lying just off the highroad. - -"Why, bless me if it is not an air-ship!" ejaculated Mr. Carter. "I -remember now that the big sugar manufacturer lives near here, who is so -much interested in flying-machines, and every now and again he sends -one up to find out how his experiments are getting on. Well, children, -that is a sight for you that I did not anticipate. Who knows, however, -but what you will live yet to see a flying-machine express going -between Rouen and Paris, stopping at Les Andelys to take up passengers." - -This was sufficient to give the party something to talk about until -they reached Vernon, where they stopped at a pretty riverside café to -have a _sirop de groseille_, and, as Mr. Carter jokingly said, to rest -the horses. - -It was still early when they again came in sight of Château Gaillard, -and so ended a blissful day for our young people, who had something to -talk about for many a long winter evening. - - -THE END. - - - - -Selections from The Page Company's Books for Young People - - -THE BLUE BONNET SERIES - - _Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1.75 - - -=A TEXAS BLUE BONNET= - -By CAROLINE E. JACOBS. - -"The book's heroine, Blue Bonnet, has the very finest kind of -wholesome, honest, lively girlishness."--_Chicago Inter-Ocean._ - - -=BLUE BONNET'S RANCH PARTY= - -By CAROLINE E. JACOBS AND EDYTH ELLERBECK READ. - -"A healthy, natural atmosphere breathes from every chapter."--_Boston -Transcript._ - - -=BLUE BONNET IN BOSTON= - -By CAROLINE E. JACOBS AND LELA HORN RICHARDS. - -"It is bound to become popular because of its wholesomeness and its -many human touches."--_Boston Globe._ - - -=BLUE BONNET KEEPS HOUSE= - -By CAROLINE E. JACOBS AND LELA HORN RICHARDS. - -"It cannot fail to prove fascinating to girls in their teens."--_New -York Sun._ - - -=BLUE BONNET--DÉBUTANTE= - -By LELA HORN RICHARDS. - -An interesting picture of the unfolding of life for Blue Bonnet. - - -=BLUE BONNET OF THE SEVEN STARS= - -By LELA HORN RICHARDS. - -"The author's intimate detail and charm of narration gives the reader -an interesting story of the heroine's war activities."--_Pittsburgh -Leader._ - - -=ONLY HENRIETTA= - -By LELA HORN RICHARDS. - - Cloth decorative, 12mo, illustrated $1.90 - -"It is an inspiring story of the unfolding of life for a young girl--a -story in which there is plenty of action to hold interest and wealth of -delicate sympathy and understanding that appeals to the hearts of young -and old."--_Pittsburgh Leader._ - - -=HENRIETTA'S INHERITANCE:= A Sequel to "Only Henrietta" - -By LELA HORN RICHARDS. - - Cloth decorative, 12mo, illustrated $1.90 - -"One of the most noteworthy stories for girls issued this season. The -life of Henrietta is made very real, and there is enough incident in -the narrative to balance the delightful characterization."--_Providence -Journal._ - - -=THE YOUNG KNIGHT= - -By I. M. B. of K. - - Cloth decorative, 12mo, illustrated $1.75 - -The clash of broad-sword on buckler, the twanging of bow-strings and -the cracking of spears splintered by whirling maces resound through -this stirring tale of knightly daring-do. - - -=THE YOUNG CAVALIERS= - -By I. M. B. of K. - - Cloth decorative, 12mo, illustrated $1.75 - -"There have been many scores of books written about the Charles Stuarts -of England, but never a merrier and more pathetic one than 'The Young -Cavaliers.'"--_Family Herald._ - -"The story moves quickly, and every page flashes a new thrill -before the reader, with plenty of suspense and excitement. There is -valor, affection, romance, chivalry and humor in this fascinating -tale."--_Kansas City Kansan._ - - - - -THE MARJORY-JOE SERIES - -By ALICE E. ALLEN - - _Each one volume, cloth decorative, 12mo, illustrated, - per volume_ $1.50 - - -=JOE, THE CIRCUS BOY AND ROSEMARY= - -These are two of Miss Allen's earliest and most successful stories, -combined in a single volume to meet the insistent demands from young -people for these two particular tales. - - -=THE MARTIE TWINS:= Continuing the Adventures of Joe, the Circus Boy - -"The chief charm of the story is that it contains so much of human -nature. It is so real that it touches the heart strings."--_New York -Standard._ - - -=MARJORY, THE CIRCUS GIRL= - -A sequel to "Joe, the Circus Boy," and "The Martie Twins." - - -=MARJORY AT THE WILLOWS= - -Continuing the story of Marjory, the Circus Girl. - -"Miss Allen does not write impossible stories, but delightfully pins -her little folk right down to this life of ours, in which she ranges -vigorously and delightfully."--_Boston Ideas._ - - -=MARJORY'S HOUSE PARTY:= Or, What Happened at Clover Patch - -"Miss Allen certainly knows how to please the children and tells them -stories that never fail to charm."--_Madison Courier._ - - -=MARJORY'S DISCOVERY= - -This new addition to the popular MARJORY-JOE SERIES is as lovable and -original as any of the other creations of this writer of charming -stories. We get little peeps at the precious twins, at the healthy -minded Joe and sweet Marjory. There is a bungalow party, which lasts -the entire summer, in which all of the characters of the previous -MARJORY-JOE stories participate, and their happy times are delightfully -depicted. - - - - -THE YOUNG PIONEER SERIES - -By HARRISON ADAMS - - _Each 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1.65 - - -=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE OHIO;= OR, CLEARING THE WILDERNESS. - -"Such books as this are an admirable means of stimulating among the -young Americans of to-day interest in the story of their pioneer -ancestors and the early days of the Republic."--_Boston Globe._ - - -=THE PIONEER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES;= OR, ON THE TRAIL OF THE IROQUOIS. - -"The recital of the daring deeds of the frontier is not only -interesting but instructive as well and shows the sterling -type of character which these days of self-reliance and trial -produced."--_American Tourist, Chicago._ - - -=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSISSIPPI;= OR, THE HOMESTEAD IN THE -WILDERNESS. - -"The story is told with spirit, and is full of adventure."--_New York -Sun._ - - -=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSOURI;= OR, IN THE COUNTRY OF THE SIOUX. - -"Vivid in style, vigorous in movement, full of dramatic situations, -true to historic perspective, this story is a capital one for -boys."--_Watchman Examiner, New York City._ - - -=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE YELLOWSTONE;= OR, LOST IN THE LAND OF WONDERS. - -"There is plenty of lively adventure and action and the story is well -told."--_Duluth Herald, Duluth, Minn._ - - -=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE COLUMBIA:= OR, IN THE WILDERNESS OF THE GREAT -NORTHWEST. - -"The story is full of spirited action and contains much valuable -historical information."--_Boston Herald._ - - - - -THE FRIENDLY TERRACE SERIES - -By HARRIET LUMMIS SMITH - - _Each one volume, cloth, decorative, 12mo, - illustrated, per volume_ $1.75 - - -=THE GIRLS OF FRIENDLY TERRACE= - -"It is a book that cheers, that inspires to higher thinking; it knits -hearts; it unfolds neighborhood plans in a way that makes one tingle to -try carrying them out, and most of all it proves that in daily life, -threads of wonderful issues are being woven in with what appears the -most ordinary of material, but which in the end brings results stranger -than the most thrilling fiction."--_Belle Kellogg Towne in The Young -People's Weekly, Chicago._ - - -=PEGGY RAYMOND'S VACATION= - -"It is a clean, wholesome, hearty story, well told and full of -incident. It carries one through experiences that hearten and brighten -the day."--_Utica, N. Y., Observer._ - - -=PEGGY RAYMOND'S SCHOOL DAYS= - -"It is a bright, entertaining story, with happy girls, good times, -natural development, and a gentle earnestness of general tone."--_The -Christian Register, Boston._ - - -=THE FRIENDLY TERRACE QUARTETTE= - -"The story is told in easy and entertaining style and is a most -delightful narrative, especially for young people. It will also make -the older readers feel younger, for while reading it they will surely -live again in the days of their youth."--_Troy Budget._ - - -=PEGGY RAYMOND'S WAY= - -"The author has again produced a story that is replete with wholesome -incidents and makes Peggy more lovable than ever as a companion and -leader."--_World of Books._ - -"It possesses a plot of much merit and through its 324 pages it weaves -a tale of love and of adventure which ranks it among the best books for -girls."--_Cohoes American._ - - - - -FAMOUS LEADERS SERIES - -By CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON - - _Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $2.00 - - -=FAMOUS CAVALRY LEADERS= - -"More of such books should be written, books that acquaint young -readers with historical personages in a pleasant, informal way."--_New -York Sun._ - - -=FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS= - -"Mr. Johnston has done faithful work in this volume, and his relation -of battles, sieges and struggles of these famous Indians with the -whites for the possession of America is a worthy addition to United -States History."--_New York Marine Journal._ - - -=FAMOUS SCOUTS= - -"It is the kind of a book that will have a great fascination for boys -and young men."--_New London Day._ - - -=FAMOUS PRIVATEERSMEN AND ADVENTURERS OF THE SEA= - -"The tales are more than merely interesting; they are entrancing, -stirring the blood with thrilling force."--_Pittsburgh Post._ - - -=FAMOUS FRONTIERSMEN AND HEROES OF THE BORDER= - -"The accounts are not only authentic, but distinctly readable, -making a book of wide appeal to all who love the history of actual -adventure."--_Cleveland Leader._ - - -=FAMOUS DISCOVERERS AND EXPLORERS OF AMERICA= - -"The book is an epitome of some of the wildest and bravest adventures -of which the world has known."--_Brooklyn Daily Eagle._ - - -=FAMOUS GENERALS OF THE GREAT WAR= - -Who Led the United States and Her Allies to a Glorious Victory. - -"The pages of this book have the charm of romance without its -unreality. The book illuminates, with life-like portraits, the history -of the World War."--_Rochester Post Express._ - - -By EDWIN WILDMAN - - -=FAMOUS LEADERS OF INDUSTRY.=--First Series - -"Are these stories interesting? Let a boy read them; and tell -you."--_Boston Transcript._ - - -=FAMOUS LEADERS OF INDUSTRY.=--Second Series - -"As fascinating as fiction are these biographies, which emphasize their -humble beginning and drive home the truth that just as every soldier of -Napoleon carried a marshal's baton in his knapsack, so every American -youngster carries potential success under his hat."--_New York World._ - - -=THE FOUNDERS OF AMERICA= (Lives of Great Americans from the Revolution -to the Monroe Doctrine) - -"How can one become acquainted with the histories of some of the famous -men of the United States? A very good way is to read 'The Founders of -America,' by Edwin Wildman, wherein the life stories of fifteen men who -founded our country are told."--_New York Post._ - - -=FAMOUS LEADERS OF CHARACTER= (Lives of Great Americans from the Civil -War to Today) - -"An informing, interesting and inspiring book for boys."--_Presbyterian -Banner._ - -"... Is a book that should be read by every boy in the whole -country...."--_Atlanta Constitution._ - - -=FAMOUS AMERICAN NAVAL OFFICERS= With a complete index. - -By CHARLES LEE LEWIS - -_Professor, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis_ - -"Professor Lewis does not make the mistake of bringing together simply -a collection of biographical sketches. In connection with the life of -John Paul Jones, Stephen Decatur, and other famous naval officers, he -groups the events of the period in which the officer distinguished -himself, and combines the whole into a colorful and stirring -narrative."--_Boston Herald._ - - - - -STORIES BY EVALEEN STEIN - - Each, one volume, cloth decorative, 12mo, illustrated, - with a jacket in color $1.65 - - -=THE CHRISTMAS PORRINGER= - -This story happened many hundreds of years ago in the quaint Flemish -city of Bruges and concerns a little girl named Karen, who worked at -lace-making with her aged grandmother. - - -=GABRIEL AND THE HOUR BOOK= - -"No works in juvenile fiction contain so many of the elements that -stir the hearts of children and grown-ups as well as do the stories so -admirably told by this author."--_Louisville Daily Courier._ - - -=A LITTLE SHEPHERD OF PROVENCE= - -"The story should be one of the influences in the life of every child -to whom good stories can be made to appeal."--_Public Ledger._ - - -=THE LITTLE COUNT OF NORMANDY= - -"This touching and pleasing story is told with a wealth of interest -coupled with enlivening descriptions of the country where its scenes -are laid and of the people thereof."--_Wilmington Every Evening._ - - -=WHEN FAIRIES WERE FRIENDLY= - -"The stories are music in prose--they are like pearls on a chain of -gold--each word seems exactly the right word in the right place; the -stories sing themselves out, they are so beautifully expressed."--_The -Lafayette Leader._ - - -=PEPIN: A Tale of Twelfth Night= - -"This retelling of an old Twelfth Night romance is a creation almost as -perfect as her 'Christmas Porringer.'"--_Lexington Herald._ - - - - -THE HADLEY HALL SERIES - -By LOUISE M. BREITENBACH - - _Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1.65 - - -=ALMA AT HADLEY HALL= - -"The author is to be congratulated on having written such an appealing -book for girls."--_Detroit Free Press._ - - -=ALMA'S SOPHOMORE YEAR= - -"It cannot fail to appeal to the lovers of good things in girls' -books."--_Boston Herald._ - - -=ALMA'S JUNIOR YEAR= - -"The diverse characters in the boarding-school are strongly drawn, -the incidents are well developed and the action is never dull."--_The -Boston Herald._ - - -=ALMA'S SENIOR YEAR= - -"A healthy, natural atmosphere breathes from every chapter."--_Boston -Transcript._ - - - - -DOCTOR'S LITTLE GIRL SERIES - -By MARION AMES TAGGART - - _Each large 12mo, cloth, illustrated, per volume_, $1.75 - - -=THE DOCTOR'S LITTLE GIRL= - -"A charming story of the ups and downs of the life of a dear little -maid."--_The Churchman._ - - -=SWEET NANCY:= THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE DOCTOR'S LITTLE GIRL. - -"Just the sort of book to amuse, while its influence cannot but be -elevating."--_New York Sun._ - - -=NANCY, THE DOCTOR'S LITTLE PARTNER= - -"The story is sweet and fascinating, such as many girls of wholesome -tastes will enjoy."--_Springfield Union._ - - -=NANCY PORTER'S OPPORTUNITY= - -"Nancy shows throughout that she is a splendid young woman, with plenty -of pluck."--_Boston Globe._ - - -=NANCY AND THE COGGS TWINS= - -"The story is refreshing."--_New York Sun._ - - - - -IDEAL BOOKS FOR GIRLS - - _Each, one volume, cloth decorative, 12mo_, $1.10 - - -=A LITTLE CANDY BOOK FOR A LITTLE GIRL= - -By AMY L. WATERMAN. - -"This is a peculiarly interesting little book, written in the simple, -vivacious style that makes these little manuals as delightful to read -as they are instructive."--_Nashville Tennessean and American._ - - -=A LITTLE COOK-BOOK FOR A LITTLE GIRL= - -By CAROLINE FRENCH BENTON. - -This book explains how to cook so simply that no one can fail to -understand every word, even a complete novice. - - -=A LITTLE HOUSEKEEPING BOOK FOR A LITTLE GIRL= - -By CAROLINE FRENCH BENTON. - -A little girl, home from school on Saturday mornings, finds out how to -make helpful use of her spare time, and also how to take proper pride -and pleasure in good housework. - - -=A LITTLE SEWING BOOK FOR A LITTLE GIRL= - -By LOUISE FRANCES CORNELL. - -"It is comprehensive and practical, and yet revealingly instructive. -It takes a little girl who lives alone with her mother, and shows how -her mother taught her the art of sewing in its various branches. The -illustrations aid materially."--_Wilmington Every Evening._ - - -=A LITTLE PRESERVING BOOK FOR A LITTLE GIRL= - -By AMY L. WATERMAN. - -In simple, clear wording, Mrs. Waterman explains every step of the -process of preserving or "canning" fruits and vegetables. - - -=A LITTLE GARDENING BOOK FOR A LITTLE GIRL= - -By PETER MARTIN. - -This little volume is an excellent guide for the young gardener. In -addition to truck gardening, the book gives valuable information on -flowers, the planning of the garden, selection of varieties, etc. - - - - -THE SANDMAN SERIES - - Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume $1.75 - - -BY WILLIAM J. HOPKINS - - -=THE SANDMAN:= HIS FARM STORIES. - -"Mothers and fathers and kind elder sisters who take the little -ones to bed and rack their brains for stories will find this book a -treasure."--_Cleveland Leader._ - - -=THE SANDMAN:= MORE FARM STORIES. - -"Children will call for these stories over and over again."--_Chicago -Evening Post._ - - -=THE SANDMAN:= HIS SHIP STORIES. - -"Little ones will understand and delight in the stories and their -parents will read between the lines and recognize the poetic and -artistic work of the author."--_Indianapolis News._ - - -=THE SANDMAN:= HIS SEA STORIES. - -"Once upon a time there was a man who knew little children and the kind -of stories they liked, so he wrote four books of Sandman's stories, all -about the farm or the sea, and the brig Industry, and this book is one -of them."--_Canadian Congregationalist._ - - -BY JENNY WALLIS - - -=THE SANDMAN:= HIS SONGS AND RHYMES. - -"Here is a fine collection of poems for mothers and friends to use -at the twilight hour. They are not of the soporific kind especially. -They are wholesome reading when most wide-awake and of such a soothing -and delicious flavor that they are welcome when the lights are -low."--_Christian Intelligencer._ - - -BY HELEN I. CASTELLA - - -=THE SANDMAN:= HIS FAIRY STORIES. - -This time the Sandman comes in person, and takes little Joyce, who -believes in him, to the wonderful land of Nod. There they procure pots -and pans from the pansy bed, a goose from the gooseberry bush, a chick -from the chick weed, corn from the cornflower, and eat on a box from -the boxwood hedge. They have almost as many adventures as Alice in -Wonderland. - - -By HARRY W. FREES - - -=THE SANDMAN:= HIS ANIMAL STORIES. - -"The simplicity of the stories and the fascinating manner in which they -are written make them an excellent night-cap for the youngster who is -easily excited into wakefulness."--_Pittsburgh Leader._ - - -=THE SANDMAN:= HIS KITTYCAT STORIES. - -"The Sandman is a wonderful fellow. First he told farm stories, then -ship stories, then sea stories. And now he tells stories about the -kittens and the fun they had in Kittycat Town. A strange thing about -these kittens is the ability to talk, work and play like boys and -girls, and that is why all of the little tots will like the Sandman's -book."--_Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph._ - - -=THE SANDMAN:= HIS BUNNY STORIES. - -"The whole book is filled with one tale after another and is -narrated in such a pleasing manner as to reach the heart of every -child."--_Common Sense, Chicago._ - - -=THE SANDMAN:= HIS PUPPY STORIES. - -Another volume of Mr. Frees' inimitable stories for tiny tots, this -time about the "doggie mothers who lived with their puppies" on the -other side of Kitty-way lane in Animal Land. The illustrations are -from photographs posed by the author with the same appeal which has -characterized his previous pictures. - - -By W. S. PHILLIPS - -(EL COMANCHO) - - -=THE SANDMAN:= HIS INDIAN STORIES. - -The Indian tales for this Celebrated Series of Children's Bedtime -Stories have been written by a man who has Indian blood, who spent -years of his life among the Redmen, in one of the tribes of which he -is an honored member, and who is an expert interpreter of the Indian -viewpoint and a practised authority on Indians as well as a master -teller of tales. - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Notes: - -Obvious punctuation errors repaired. - -Page xiii, "107" changed to "108" to reflect actual start of chapter -VIII. - -Page 81, "nother" changed to "another" (another, with nearly every) - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Our Little French Cousin, by Blanche McManus - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR LITTLE FRENCH COUSIN *** - -***** This file should be named 43831-8.txt or 43831-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/8/3/43831/ - -Produced by Emmy, Beth Baran and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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