the noise of the wheels both raised their contemptuous laugh, which might be termed heads; the dog growled softly and the old the laugh of the purse proud, "as you see,

it is simple, and but little expensive. As to the keeping, M. le Bon has taken that charge upon himself: he looks upon his flowers as his parishoners."

woman uttered an exclamation of surprise. "Hey! It is Catharine!" cried my companion gaily, "have you not heard the dinner hour ring, my old girl, that you are there turning your wheel instead of going to the "And why should I not?" said the curé, turnspit?" with a placid smile, "have not all of God's "The turnspit on Friday!" cried Catha- creatures a right to man's affection? You rine scandalized. have spoken truer than you were aware of,

"By the eternal Father, she is right. It perhaps. Yes, these flowers are a part of is Friday!" replied the miller letting the my life; they are a silent family which I reins fall with such an air of disappoint-rear by my bachelor's fireside,-poor adopted ment that I burst out laughing. "I did not children whose feeble stalks I must train,

think of that when I set off. What is to become of us?"

and old men, whom I must lead to the warmth of the genial sun, or the cool re

"Do I not hear my guests?" said a voice freshings of the evening breeze. Do not behind us. think such cares have no influence upon the

We turned: it was M. le Bon, who was re-soul." turning from his visit to a sick person with The miller looked upon me and bit his his breviary under his arm. He cordially lips. "The sermon is about to commence," welcomed my conductor, and taking my said he, in a low voice, whilst M. le Bon hands with paternal tenderness, "I expect- despoiled a magnificent heath of its flowery ed you," said he, "and have long thought of campanules. But our host seemed in no you. I have much to say to you." Then wise disposed to realize this prediction, and showing the miller the door-" Let our dear returning without digression to his tastes neighbor enter," added he with a good-na- for horticulture, he invited us in his garden, tured smile, "and although Friday be an whilst Catherine made an appeal to the unlucky day, we will endeavor to make it a neighboring resources to supply the pastor's white day for him, as all those of the owner table. of the new mill should be."

We first crossed a bed, whose small and

The fabricator of flour having never read regular squares contained only common Horace, of course did not comprehend the plants, "out of fashion," as the miller reepigram of the old priest; we followed him marked to me. M. le Bon had laid it off into the dining room, where the table was and planted it himself, in memory of the one already laid. It was a large room simply at his childhood's home. whitewashed and adorned only with a pro- "Your eyes must tire of these geometrifusion of flowers, but so skilfully were they cal figures traced by the stiff box wood," arranged the climbing plants mingling with said he, "but I inhale from these lowly the green shrubs and flowery tufts, accord- pinks, this flowery abysinth, and green fening to their height, form and color-that the nel, an odor of my boyhood's years." whole formed, upon the white walls, an ever "Nothing more than losing the best corvarying and undulating embroidery of un-ner of ground you possess," said the miller. surpassed grace and beauty. An immense "To make such a confession openly! Why, shell surrounded by saxifrage received the you might have had two rows of wall fruit glittering drops of a crystal fountain and here, and melons in abundance." completed this rural decoration. I stopped, "I would, by far, rather have my memoin wonder and delight, at the threshold, to ries," replied our host gently: "I know it is look upon this charming scene, and uttered a luxury, but old men must be allowed a few an exclamation of surprise. The miller fancies."

looked at me.

He then took us to the kitchen garden, "This is a kind of furniture of which you which was well cultivated and filled with know but little in Paris," said he with a low, succulent vegetables; the vine sheltered a

few beds of thyme : according to the pre- terrible conflagration his family and housecept of Virgil:

Graviter spirantis copia thymbræ."

hold gods, have not like Eneas left behind some one of his affections. Even myself, a poor obscure priest, cannot look back without agony upon those relentless combats. Quorum pars parva fui." But I will relate to you what I know; the memory of the old is a part of an inheritance due to the young."

and lastly, he took us to a large field, named by him, "the land of Canaan." There he tested every new instrument, sowed new species of grain, and applied the different modes of cultivation, unheard of before, to these simple villagers. Bordered by the We entered the dining room and found high road and placed directly opposite the covers for four laid on the table. Thanks to church, "the land of Canaan" was open to the village resources, Catherine had put every passer by. Every Sunday, in going upon the table a dinner, which reconciled to prayers, the peasants could examine and the miller to the prescriptions of the church. judge for themselves the experiments which "I know now," said he, filling his plate, had been made. The most indifferent were after emptying his glass, "that the whole compelled to see, the most obstinate to com- of our country is in the service of the prehend. At every trial, nature wrote her church. If the Mainere gather in a fine reply in characters which no eye could re- crop, hook a large fish, kill a fat game, it fuse to read, and truth became a fact. M. is sure to find its way to the parsonage." le Bon, besides, supported it by his teaching My good neighbors know the people too and encouragement. well, to believe that," said M. le Bon, gaily. "We must serve as a soldier, that truth "The Mainere like their priest pretty well, may be believed," said he to us: "false- but they think true friendship is better. hood has always the advantage of daring, proved by what one receives, rather than whilst truth is timid. She stops before the what one gives. Whatever we may dogates which close upon her and retraces her salvation always appears to them' an afsteps to her source. This is the only way fair,'-it is a law suit they must gain from for her cause to triumph. We must war the evil spirits. We occupy the place of against evil as our " chouans" warred against lawyers between them and the good God; the blues, without calculating the strength but if there is any expense attached to it, of the enemy, and never thinking it is ended. adieu to the client !" Every fact can become an arm, every example a covert from which we may fire upon the enemy. If you do not kill them, you shed their blood and at last they die of their wounds in some obscure corner."

I observed to our host that the royalist war in Maine was at least exempt from that calculating spirit.

"I know," replied he, "that political and religious faith had many martyrs; but This allusion of the priest to the Vende- how many devoted themselves to a passion, an war, naturally led the conversation to the fondly thinking it was an idea! In a revoobject of my visit. I siezed the means of lution, truth is never so absolute, so lumitransition, and avowed the hopes which nous, on either side, as to be easily recogbrought me to the parsonage.

nised, we have oftener to choose between "I know," said he pensively, "you have two twilights. Often a hope, a memorythe curiosity natural to your age: you love an instinct decides us. As for my part, of to wander on the shores of the past, as we all the chiefs of the army which fought in walk upon a stormy coast, admiring the Maine, I met but one, who took up arms, heaving billows, listening to the roar of the without family considerations, without a breakers, and drinking in, with eager ears, spirit of imitation, without hatred, without the thrilling narrative of the shipwrecks: ambition, and after a candid and impartial but to afford you these pleasing emotions, examination :-it was a lame beggar, who the old wounds in our hearts must again be had long gone over the parishes with his broken open and bleed. There is not of all sack upon his shoulders and beggar's staff in that fatal band, who in bearing through that hand.”

"Louis Treton," replied I quickly, "is it strained their love. Of all the chiefs, be indeed true, that you personally knew him?" alone, with M. Jacques,' left no double "From the time he was herdsman on the reputation. Every voice spoke in praise farm of Astillé," said M. le Bon-" for his of them-all traditions reward them. father was too poor to support his twelve They were the two living flames of the roychildren—and as soon as he could handle alist cause in Maine. The entire insurrec his crook, he was sent upon the meadows- tion revolved around them, lightened by with his whistle. Even then, could be ob- their light and warmed by their vivid heat, served in him those sympathetic and active and they fell. All was annihilated. Who faculties, which seemed destined to com- knows their history-knows that of the mand. Whilst awaiting the occasion to whole Chouannerie."

dominate men, he made himself absolute Rising from the table, M. le Bon took up master of his troop. The most rebellious ox, the thread of his narrative. He related, the most restive horse learned to obey his how the revolution had found him, just leav-voice. He had a particular cry for each-ing the seminary, where he had been orwhich they implicitly obeyed. Seated on dained priest, without regret for the past, the edge of a ditch, before his heath fire, he happy in the present and awaiting the eterhad only to utter the call and the animal nal joys of a future state, he knew nothing immediately came. The farmers of the can- of the madness of the people. Compelled ton said jestingly, the child had stepped to seek refuge in his family, he studied, culupon the herb which attracts;' but his only tivated his flowers and patiently waited for talisman was the instinct of observation God to appease these violent emotions. His and devoted affection for the troop which mother, old and blind, retained him at home. was confided to him. He gave an undenia- No one knew of his return in the neighborble, but fatal proof of it-you know that hood; and for a long time none thought of after the forced fasts of the winter, the him, either to ask his holy ministry, or to wolves redouble their ferocity. On the re- arm against him. Enclosed in his solitude turn of spring, one of these animals, enraged as in an island, he heard the storm howling by hunger, left the copse before nightfall, in the distance, without feeling its shocks. and rushing in the midst of the flock Some beggars brought him the news of the siezed upon a young colt, Louis heard the destruction of the catholic army and the scream of terror from the frightened animal, new efforts of the insurgents. and rushed with his whole force upon the These bands formed by the fugitive Venferocious beast. Both rolled upon the ground deans, to whom were added a .certain numin the deadly struggle-at length a bush ber of Mainese, had neither chiefs nor or stopped the child and whilst the wolf holding ganization. Dispersed after every expedi him under his knees, continued to tear his tion, they formed for another with new ele flesh, he siezed his hunting knife and stabb-ments. The boldest, or the best inspired, ed him to the heart. The colt was saved; but for a moment, headed the others; if his Louis was lamed for life. The indifferent as- plan failed, or one of his companions was sistance, which he received at the hospital, though better adapted for the occasion, he turned the wound into an ulcer; he left the instantly accepted him for his commander flock to another pastor and dragged him- and took his place among the soldiers. self-a beggar-to all the neighboring farms. Among the Chouans, equality was the rule, But even in this humiliation, Louis pre-authority the variable and passing excepserved the instinct and exercise of superi- tion. Nevertheless, in these alternations ority. In return for the alms he received, of power and submission, the office of comhe always left an equivalent behind. In all mander fell oftener upon the brave and inthe country sports, he established rules- telligent. Within this double title, Louis and caused them to be respected. He was Treton did not long delay in acquiring over the absolute judge of all differences and he his fellow soldiers the same authority he had had but one cry, Justice! His courage formerly exercised over their sports. It compelled submission and his loyalty con- was known that his participation in the roy

faith.

alist insurrection was the result of mature open wound of his leg to shield it. He came reflection. He had seen all he had been ac- ready for the battle. Pale from long privation, customed to love and venerate from his in- with a long thick beard, and hands blackened fancy forbidden him; and he felt he had by powder and rags covered with blood, his more than one cause to serve the liberty of courage was still firm and entire. He his preference and the restoration of his stopped at the door of every farm house, called the young men by their names and The resolution which satisfied the philo- entreated them to arm themselves for their sophic inclinations of cities, shocked, in the country. He spoke not to them of destroyextreme, all the habitual emotions of the ing royalty or abolishing nobility, but of heart and the deep rooted faith of the peas- their churches, with their silent belfreysants-now the prejudices of a people are their village occupied by soldiers like a like the truth itself—a part of its conscience; conquered country, and their faith dishonand to force a man to leave his error, is to ored, by constraint or insult. The voice of operate upon a diseased person in spite of Jambe d'Argent, loud enough, when raised, him, and to violate, as an enemy, the holy to dominate over the war of the battle, ark, which persuasion alone should open. could, at his will, be modulated to the most Whether this violence can or cannot be seductive sweetness; his words like the shunned, is a question which I will not stop waves of the ocean could rush onward with to decide here; we only maintain, that the mighty and resistless impetuosity, and again, revolt of the peasants in the west was silently penetrating, but ever with the same much less a political movement than an im- invincible force. Twenty years after, one pulse of independence. The most of the of his companions in arms, PlanchenaultVendeans and Chouans, fought, like the re- called "Cœur-de-Roi," said, "When he publicans, for liberty, equality, and human spoke, all hearts flew to him like the little fraternity. In both camps they differed only birds in winter to gather up the crumbs." He in the manner of comprehending them. The now led you against your will, without your noble chiefs who directed the insurrection, perceiving it, and afterwards you ask yourgave it the battle cry with the royalist self how it could possibly happen. If I could standard; but those who scanned closely have died for him once every day, I should the elements assembled under that banner, have done it willingly-even with pleasurewill look elsewhere for the origin of the re- for I had need to see him content. As you volt. Besides, this twofold character of re- may well think Jambe d'Argent had not publican and royalist had its distinct repre- attained such influence at one stroke ;sentatives in the Chouannerie of Maine. mingled with the other Chouans, he had been John Cottereau, bound to the monarchy and guided by their experience and superiority. to Count Talmont by the strongest ties of He had conferred favors upon each one, and gratitude, fought indeed for royalty; but all before they became soldiers, had been Louis Treton, supported by the charity of under some obligation to him. the parishes, fought, like Cathelineau, for their liberty alone.

Moustache, above all, could never forget, that surprised by the blues on the route to The republic had completed its victories Cassé, he owed to Jambe d'Argent his by the defeat at Mans, and Maine had be- safe and honorable return to his compancome mute and motionless, under the op- ions. Firmly pressed, shoulder against shoulpression of this great disaster. Among the der, they both had traversed with their combatants who survived, the most compro- muskets pointed to the enemy the whole mised concealed themselves in caves, and line of the republicans, who struck with others sought to hide their participation in amazement, opened their ranks and cried out the defeat under a submission which only with irrepressible admiration, Let the brave testified to their discouragement. Then re- fellows pass!" From that day, the old appeared Louis Treton in the country. The game keeper of the Marquis Monteclerc. name of "Jambe d'Argent" had been given had said, "He must be our chief." The him, because he wore a tin plate upon the victories of Bodiniere and Muillé, which

they owed to Jambe d'Argent, and the de- [not sufficient that right was right, but it feat of Anhuillé, by which they were pun- must still have a good supporter. Jambe d' ished for rejecting his advice, decided the Argent knew this-and therefore sought an question. Those who had sought in civil adopted father.

war a pretence to cover their crimes, alone His choice fell upon a gentleman, a stran objected. Of that number, were Moulins-ger in Maine, who had excited observa a cowardly robber, and fit only to inspire tion, within the last few months. terror; Barbier, called "La Risque;" Ja- M. Jacques called himself a Vendean of mois, surnamed "Place Nette;" and lastly, ficer, who was compelled to conceal his real Mousqueton, that horrible "Quasimode" of name. He had appeared in Maine, soon afthe Chouannerie, whom the smell of blood ter the destruction of the catholic army, but intoxicated like wine, and who cut his pris- he held no command, and never appeared, oners up by piece meal for his own enjoy- except in the most desperate conflicts. Then was he seen suddenly, in the front ranks,

ment.

Jambe d'Argent then shewed himself giving an order, or executing a most difficult worthy of commanding. Although he des- movement, which soon transformed the route pised the men who opposed him, he en- into a complete victory. He was the "Deus deavored to gain their good will, for he ex machina" of that warlike drama. We can knew, in a civil war, one has no choice of understand the prestige, with which these instruments, and every arm is necessary triumphant episodes had surrounded him. which is raised against the enemy. Wish- Every thing in and around him was calculaing to spare their pride an immediate obe-ted to excite the popular imagination; he dience to his orders, he induced them to was young, handsome, and endowed with visit the parishes to increase the revolt. Be- the most fascinating qualities. His dress, sides, it was harvest time, and all the young like all the other Vendean officers, had men who had taken arms were compelled to something chivalric, which attracted the eye return to their families, to assist in gather-to the graces of his person. In the royaling it in and take a part in the fête which ist châteaux, where he was warmly received, follows.

the ladies praised his talents as an artist, and The new chief resolved to employ this his polished ease of manner; the clergyshort recess in arranging a plan for re-open- whom he had often protected in their flight, ing hostilities. He had long studied all the spoke of his erudition and profound views; chances of that war of flies against the re- and the peasants, with whom he had minpublican lion, and he knew, if he would gled in their expeditions, repeated that not carry on that unequal conflict, he must con- one equalled him in handling a musket, in ceal his weakness-in mystery to be seen training a horse, or conducting a boat. He every where to stop in no place, and to en- fatigued the most vigorous walkers, never close his enemy in a net of invisible adver- appeared to feel hunger or thirst and payed saries, feeling the sharp point of the bayo- no regard to the wind, rain or sun. When net before he saw it, and enervating him by the army halted, he would seat himself those feverish and unseen attacks the most apart-and either read his letters, or murterrible of all diseases to the strong.

mur to himself words which the peasants could not understand. He spoke but little, yet every word left an impression, and to crown the whole, he possessed that wonderful faculty of fixing his mind upon several subjects at once. He has been known at the same time to issue an order, listen to a report and write a note without relaxing or troubling his thoughts.

The difficulty was to make the plan succeed. If the companions of his childhood remarked not Louis' leg and his rags, the nobility noted them well; his visits to the Breton gentlemen had proved it. His authority, justified by merit, alone, was an intolerable usurpation in their eyes. See the misfortune these high born people could permit him to die by their side, but would Add to all the gifts the irresistible power receive no advice from him, or direction. of mystery! neither his retreats, his resourFor those who came from Coblentz, it was ces, nor his means of communication were