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diff --git a/13302-h/13302-h.htm b/13302-h/13302-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cd4bfe5 --- /dev/null +++ b/13302-h/13302-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1412 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> + <title>The Curly-Haired Hen</title> + <style type="text/css"> +body { margin-left: 18%; margin-right: 18% } +p {text-align: justify; text-indent: 1em } +h1 { text-align: center; margin-top: 12ex} +h2 { text-align: center; margin-top: 8ex} +h3 { text-align: center} +h4 { text-align: center} +h5 { text-align: center} +hr.front { width: 156%; height: 0px} +p.straight {text-align: left; text-indent: 0em} +p.front { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; margin-top: 5ex} +span.pgnum {position: absolute; left: 1%; right: 91%; font-size: 8pt; + text-indent: 0; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; visibility: hidden} +/* + Set "visibility: visible" in span.pgnum above to see page numbers. + Note that these cannot completely accurate due to relocation of images. +*/ +span.pgnum:before { content: "page " } + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;} + .poem .stanza{margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem p {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem p.i2 {margin-left: 1em;} + .figure {padding: 1em; margin: 0; text-align: center; font-size: 0.8em; margin: auto; clear:both ; border: none} + .figure p { text-indent: 0; text-align: center; font-weight: bold } + .figureL {padding: 0em; margin-right: 0.5em; clear:both; float: left; max-width: 50%; overflow: hidden ; border: none} + .figureR {padding: 0em; margin-left: 0.5em; clear:both; float: right; max-width: 50%; overflow: hidden ; border: none} +img {border: none; margin: 0; padding: 0} + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13302 ***</div> + +<div class="figure"><a href="images/cover.jpg"><img src="images/cover-tn.jpg" + alt="Cover: THE CURLY-HAIRED HEN" /> +</a> +</div> +<p> </p> +<hr class="front"/> +<p> </p> +<div class="figure"><a href="images/i001.png"><img src="images/i001-tn.png" + alt="Yollande appears emerging from her shroud." /> +</a> +<p>Yollande appears emerging from her shroud.</p> +</div> +<p> </p> +<hr class="front"/> +<h1><span class="pgnum">i</span><a id="Pagei" name="Pagei"/>THE<br/> +CURLY-HAIRED HEN</h1> +<p class="front"><big>TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS</big><br/> +BY<br/> +<big><big>A. VIMAR</big></big></p> +<p class="front">TRANSLATED BY<br/> +<big>NORA K. HILLS</big></p> +<div class="figure"><a href="images/i002.png"><img src="images/i002-tn.png" + alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p> </p> +<hr class="front"/> +<p><span class="pgnum">ii</span><a id="Pageii" name="Pageii"/></p> +<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">iii</span><a id="Pageiii" name="Pageiii"/><a href="images/i004.png"><img + src="images/i004-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<p class="cont"><a href="#Page001">CHAPTER I<br/> +Mother Etienne's Farm</a></p> +<p class="cont"><a href="#Page010">CHAPTER II<br/> +A Mother's Devotion</a></p> +<p class="cont"><a href="#Page022">CHAPTER III<br/> +Yollande's Trousseau</a></p> +<p class="cont"><a href="#Page037">CHAPTER IV<br/> +Father Gusson's Secret</a></p> +<p class="cont"><a href="#Page047">CHAPTER V<br/> +Sir Booum Calls upon Mother Etienne</a></p> +<p class="cont"><a href="#Page054">CHAPTER VI<br/> +The Separation</a></p> +<p class="cont"><a href="#Page062">CHAPTER VII<br/> +Sir Booum's Circus</a></p> +<p class="cont"><span class="pgnum">iv</span><a id="Pageiv" name="Pageiv"/><a href="#Page071">CHAPTER +VIII<br/> +Mother Etienne's Dream</a></p> +<p class="cont"><a href="#Page085">CHAPTER IX<br/> +Mother Etienne's Fortune</a></p> +<p class="cont"><a href="#Page090">CHAPTER X<br/> +Triumph of the Ointment</a></p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="front"/> +<div class="figureL"><span class="pgnum">1</span><a id="Page001" name="Page001"/> +<a href="images/i006.png"><img src="images/i006-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>MOTHER ETIENNE'S FARM</h3> +<p>"Oh Grandfather, tell us a story, do. You know, the one you began +the other evening about Mother Etienne's big farm. You remember. +The weather is so bad and we can't go out. Go on, Grandfather, +please."</p> +<p>Coaxingly the three children clung round their grandfather, +looking at him beseechingly. He adoring the children as he did, +loved to hear them plead. +</p> +<p><span class="pgnum">2</span><a id="Page002" name="Page002"/>At last he began:</p> +<p>Since you have been very good, and you want it so much, I will +tell you the wonderful story of Mother Etienne's farm and the +still more wonderful story of what happened to one of its +occupants.</p> +<p>Love animals, my children, be kind to them, care for them, and you +will surely have your reward.</p> +<p>Mother Etienne was a good stout woman with a very kind heart. +While still young she was so unfortunate as to lose her husband +and her son of whom she was very fond. This made her, as you can +imagine, very, very sad. She wouldn't listen to any new offers of +marriage though she had plenty of them. Instead, she devoted her +life, her whole existence, to the attentive, nay I ought to say, +the maternal care, of the animals on her farm, making them as +comfortable as could be.</p> +<p>She had, as I said before, a most excellent heart, the good Mother +Etienne. You shall see that presently.</p> +<div class="figureL"> +<a href="images/i007.png"><img src="images/i007-tn.png" + alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>This good woman then lived on +her big farm, very spacious and +admirably situated. A slate roof covered the large house; the +granaries,<span class="pgnum">3</span><a id="Page003" name="Page003"/> +stables and outhouses were sheltered by old thatching upon which +grew moss and lichen.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i008.png"><img src="images/i008-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>Let me tell you now, dear children, who were the chief occupants +of the farm. First there was big "Coco"—a fine Normandy +horse—bay-coloured and very fat, whose silky coat had a purple sheen; +he +had a star on his forehead and a pink mark between his eyes. He +was very gentle and answered to the voice of his mistress. If +Mother Etienne passed by his stable he never failed to scent her +and whinnied at once. That was his way of showing his friendliness +and saying</p> +<p><span class="pgnum">4</span><a id="Page004" name="Page004"/>"Good morning."</p> +<p>His good mistress spoiled him with all sorts of dainties. +Sometimes a crust of bread, sometimes a handful of carrots, but +what he loved best of all was sugar. If you had given him a whole +loaf he would soon have eaten it up.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i009.png"><img src="images/i009-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>Coco had for stable companions three fine Swiss cows. Their names +were La Blonde, Blanchotte, and Nera. You know what the colours +were for the names, don't you?</p> +<p>Petit-Jacques, the stable boy, took care of them. On fine<span + class="pgnum">5</span> +days he led them to pasture into a bog paddock near the farm up +against a pretty wood of silver beeches. A large pond of clear +water covered one corner of the meadow and lost itself in the +reeds and iris. There the fine big cows went to quench their +thirst; quantities of frogs went there, too, to play leap-frog. It +was a veritable earthly Paradise.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i010.png"><img src="images/i010-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">6</span><a id="Page006" name="Page006"/> +<a href="images/i011a.png"><img src="images/i011a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>From the farm Mother Etienne caught the sound of the large bronze +bells each with its different low note, which hung round the necks +of the cows; thus she could superintend their comings and goings +without interrupting her various occupations. For the farm was +very big, as I told you, and had many animals on it.</p> +<div class="figureL"> +<a href="images/i011b.png"><img src="images/i011b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>After the stables and coachhouses came the piggery, the rabbit +hutches, and finally an immense poultry-yard divided into a +thousand compartments, and sheltering a whole horde of poultry of +all sorts; fowls of all kinds and of all breeds, geese, +guineafowl, pigeons, ducks, and what all besides. What wasn't +there in that prodigious poultry-yard? <span class="pgnum">7</span><a id="Page007" name="Page007"/> +</p> +<p>Mother Etienne spent most of her time there, for the smaller and +more delicate the creatures the more interest and care she gave +them.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i012.png"><img src="images/i012-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>"The weak need so much protection," this excellent woman would +say, and she was right.</p> +<p>So for the baby ducks her tenderness was limitless. What dangers +had to be avoided to raise successfully all these tiny folks!</p> +<p>Did a pig escape? Immediately danger threatened the +<span class="pgnum">8</span><a id="Page008" name="Page008"/> +poultry-yard. For a pig has terrible teeth and he doesn't care +what he eats—he would as soon crunch a little duckling as a +carrot. So she had to watch every minute, every second even. For +besides, in spite of the vigilance of "Labrie," the faithful +watchdog, sometimes rats would suck the blood of the young +pigeons. Once even a whole litter of rabbits was destroyed that +way.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i013a.png"><img src="images/i013a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>To dispose of the products of her farm, Mother Etienne drove twice +a week to market in her market-cart drawn by Coco.</p> +<div class="figureL"> +<a href="images/i013b.png"><img src="images/i013b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>She was famed for the best vegetables, the purest and creamiest +milk; in short, the eggs she sold were the freshest, the poultry +and rabbits the tenderest and most juicy to be had. +<span class="pgnum">9</span><a id="Page009" name="Page009"/> +As soon as she and Coco came trotting into the market there was a +rush to get to her first.</p> +<p>There, as everywhere, everyone loved Mother Etienne.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i014.png"><img src="images/i014-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> + +<h2><span class="pgnum">10</span><a id="Page010" name="Page010"/>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>A MOTHER'S DEVOTION</h3> +<p>Thus time passed peacefully at the big farm.</p> +<p>One day, however, the quiet was disturbed by a little drama which +convulsed the calm but busy spot.</p> +<p>Mother Etienne had given to a Cochin-China hen, which she had +christened Yollande, some white duck's eggs to sit on. The batch +of fifteen eggs had all come out. It was really wonderful to see +these fifteen baby ducks, yellow as canaries, beaks and webbed +feet pink, swarming around the big patient sitting mother, ducking +under her wings, to come out presently and clamber helter-skelter +onto her broad back. As often happens with nurses, Yollande loved +the ducklings as her own children, and without worrying about +their shape or plumage, so different from her own, she showered +upon them proofs of the tenderest affection. Did a fly pass within +their reach, all these little ones jumped at it—tumbling in their +efforts to catch it. The little yellow balls with their wide-awake +air never took a second's rest.</p> +<p>Well cared for and well fed, they grew so rapidly that soon they +had to have more space. Mother Etienne housed them then on the +edge of the pond in a latticed coop opening onto a sloping board +which led down to the water. It was, as it were, a big swimming +bath, which grew gradually deeper and deeper. The ducks and geese +loved to plunge in and hardly left the water except to take their +meals.</p> +<p><span class="pgnum">11</span><a id="Page011" name="Page011"/>Yollande felt very +out of place in this new dwelling. The +ducklings on the contrary, urged on by their instinct, madly +enjoyed it and rushed pell-mell into the water.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i016.png"><img src="images/i016-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>This inexplicable impulse terrified their mama. She was, in fact, +"as mad as a wet hen."</p> +<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">12</span><a id="Page012" name="Page012"/><a href="images/i017a.png"><img src="images/i017a-tn.png" + alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i017b.png"><img src="images/i017b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>She ran up and down, her feathers on end, her face swollen, her +crest red, clucking away, trying to persuade her babies not to +venture into the water. For hens, like cats, hate the water. It +was unspeakable torture to her. The children would not listen; +deaf to her prayers, her cries, these rascally babies ventured +farther and farther out. They were at last and for the first time +in their favourite element, lighter than little corks, they<span + class="pgnum">13</span> +floated, dived, plunged, raced, fought, playing all sorts of +tricks.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i018.png"><img src="images/i018-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>Meanwhile, Yollande was eating her heart out. She rushed to and +fro, keeping her eyes glued on the disobedient ones. Suddenly she +saw a mother-duck chasing her darlings. This was more than she +could bear,—driven by her maternal instinct she leapt like a fury +to the aid of her family.</p> +<p>A flap or two of her wings and she was above the water into which +she fell at the deepest part.</p> +<p><span class="pgnum">14</span><a id="Page014" name="Page014"/>Splashing,—struggling +madly in the midst of her frightened +brood,—she was soon exhausted and succumbing to syncope, she sank +to the bottom.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i019.png"><img src="images/i019-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>The surface of the water closed above her. The little ones did not +realize what had happened—very quickly recovering from their +momentary fright, they went on with their games—splashing the +water with their beaks and amusing themselves as though nothing +were the matter.</p> +<p>Mother Etienne, busy giving green apples to the pigs, bran to the +rabbits, and corn to the pigeons, came back presently, +<span class="pgnum">15</span><a id="Page015" name="Page015"/> +and could not see the big Yollande beside the pond, only her +children floating far, far away on the water. Surprised she drew +nearer, called, but in vain. The mother-hen had disappeared. Then +only did she understand the tragedy that had occurred. She called +for help. Petit-Jacques immediately opened the big sluice and the +water ran out, but much too slowly for their impatience. At last +they began to see the bottom, and soon the body of poor Yollande +was discovered stiff and motionless.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i020.png"><img src="images/i020-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>There was general consternation at the farm. Petit-Jacques, by +means of a long pole, seized her and drew her to land at Mother +Etienne's feet. Labrie came up and sniffed sadly at the +<span class="pgnum">16</span><a id="Page016" name="Page016"/> +body of the unhappy hen. In vain they dried her and rubbed her,—nothing +did any good.</p> +<p>"She's quite dead, alas," said Mother Etienne with tears in her +eyes, "but it was my own fault. I ought to have closed down the +lattice and this misfortune would not have happened. It really is +a great pity—such a fine hen. She weighs at least eight pounds. +There, Germaine, take her and weigh her."</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i021.png"><img src="images/i021-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>Germaine was the maid and also the cousin of Petit-Jacques—of +whom she was very fond. She was a fine buxom girl of eighteen, +strong and well-grown. She loved animals, too, but her feeling for +them could not be compared to Mother Etienne's.</p> +<p>"Germaine, take away poor Yollande, I am quite upset +<span class="pgnum">17</span><a id="Page017" name="Page017"/>by this trouble. You +will bury her this evening, in a corner of +the kitchen-garden—deep enough to prevent any animal digging her +up. I leave it to you—do it carefully."</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i022.png"><img src="images/i022-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p><span class="pgnum">18</span><a id="Page018" name="Page018"/>The girl bore away the fine hen in her +apron. "How heavy she is—it +is a shame," and blowing apart the feathers, she saw the skin +underneath as yellow and plump as you could wish. Mechanically she +plucked a few feathers.</p> +<p>"After all," she said, "it isn't as though she had died—she was +drowned, quite a clean death; she's firm and healthy, only an hour +ago she was as strong and well as could be. Why shouldn't we eat +her?—We'll stew her because, though she is not old, she is not +exactly in her first youth—but there's a lot on her—with a +dressing of carrots and nutmeg, a bunch of herbs and a tomato, +with a calf's foot to make a good jelly, I believe she'd make a +lovely dinner."</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i023.png"><img src="images/i023-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>Saying this she went on plucking Yollande. All the feathers, large +and small, gone, a little down was left, so to get rid of this she +lit an old newspaper and held her over it.</p> +<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">19</span><a id="Page019" name="Page019"/> +<a href="images/i024.png"><img src="images/i024-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>"Madame won't know anything and will enjoy her as much as we +shall. There's enough on her for two good meals."</p> +<p><span class="pgnum">20</span><a id="Page020" name="Page020"/> +Quite decided, instead of burying her, she wrapped the future stew +carefully in a perfectly clean cloth and put it on a shelf in the +kitchen out of the way of flies or accident.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i025.png"><img src="images/i025-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>During this time Mother Etienne was busy making as warm a home as +she could for the fifteen little orphans. Poor darlings. In a +wicker-basket she covered a layer of straw with another of wadding +and fine down. Upon this she put the ducklings one by one, and +covered the whole with feathers; then closing the lid, she carried +the basket to the stable where the air was always +<span class="pgnum">21</span><a id="Page021" name="Page021"/> +nice and warm. All this took time; it was about six o'clock in the +evening, the sun was going down, throwing a last oblique smile +into the kitchen, gleaming here and there on the shining copper +which hung on the walls.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i026.png"><img src="images/i026-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> + +<h2><span class="pgnum">22</span><a id="Page022" name="Page022"/>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>YOLLANDE'S TROUSSEAU</h3> +<div class="figureL"> +<a href="images/i027.png"><img src="images/i027-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>As for Germaine, she, with Petit-Jacques to help her, had gone to +milk the cows. Mother Etienne soon joined them, and the two women +came back to the house together.</p> +<p>Horror of horrors! What a terrible sight. Pale with fear they +stood on the threshold of the kitchen not daring to move—to +enter. Their hearts were in their mouths. A ghost stood there in +front of them—Yollande—and Germaine fell at Mother Etienne's +feet in utter consternation. Yollande? Yes, Yollande, but what a +Yollande! Heavens! Yollande plucked, literally plucked! Yollande +emerging from her shroud like Lazarus from his tomb! Yollande +risen from the dead! A cry of anguish burst from the heart of kind +Mother Etienne.</p> +<p>"Yollande, oh, Yollande!"</p> +<p>The Cochin-China replied by a long shudder.</p> +<p>This is what had happened.</p> +<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">23</span><a id="Page023" name="Page023"/> +<a href="images/i028.png"><img src="images/i028-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>On falling into the water, Yollande after struggling fiercely +succumbed to syncope, and her lungs ceasing to act she had ceased +to breathe, so the water had not entered her lungs. That is why +she was not drowned. Life was, so to speak, suspended. The syncope +lasted some time. The considerable heat to which she was subjected +when Germaine held her above the flaming newspaper had brought +about a healthy reaction and in the solitude of the kitchen she +had recovered consciousness.</p> +<p><span class="pgnum">24</span><a id="Page024" name="Page024"/>After the first +moment of terror was over, Germaine confessed her +plan to Mother Etienne, who, glad to find Yollande still alive, +forgave Germaine the disobedience which had saved her.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i029.png"><img src="images/i029-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>But the hen was still shivering, shaking in every limb, her skin +all goose-flesh. Dragging after her her travesty of a tail, she +jumped onto the kitchen-table which she shook with her shivering.</p> +<p>"We can't leave her like that any longer," said Mother Etienne, +"we must cover her up somehow," and straightway she wrapped her up +in all the cloths she could lay her hands on. Germaine prepared some +hot wine with sugar in it, and the two women fed her with it +in spoonfuls,—then they took a good +<span class="pgnum">25</span><a id="Page025" name="Page025"/> +drink of it themselves. All three at once felt the better for it. +Yollande spent the night in these hastily-made swaddling clothes +between two foot-warmers which threw out a gentle and continuous +heat and kept away the catarrh with which the poor Cochin-China +was threatened. The great question which arose now was how they +were to protect her from the cold in future. Both of them +cogitated over it.</p> +<p>Several times during the night, Mother Etienne and the maid came +to look at the hen, who, worn out by such a long day of fatigue +and suffering, at last closed her eyes, relaxed, and slept till +morning.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i030.png"><img src="images/i020-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>Nevertheless she was the first in the house to wake up, and at +dawn began to cackle vigorously. Germaine hastened to her, +bringing a quantity of corn which the hen, doubtless owing to her +fast of the day before, ate greedily. +<span class="pgnum">26</span><a id="Page026" name="Page026"/> +</p> +<p>Now the important thing was to find her a practical costume. The +weather was mild but there was great danger in allowing her to +wander about in a garb as light as it was primitive. The mornings +and evenings were cool and might bring on a cold, inflammation or +congestion of the lungs, rheumatism, or what not.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i031.png"><img src="images/i031-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>At all costs a new misfortune must be avoided. At last they +dressed her in silk cunningly fashioned and lined with wadding. +Thus garbed her entry into the poultry-yard was a subject<span + class="pgnum">27</span> +of astonishment to some, fear to others, and excitement to most of +the birds she met on her way.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i032a.png"><img src="images/i032a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i032b.png"><img src="images/i032b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>In vain Mother Etienne strove to tone down the colours of +<span class="pgnum">28</span><a id="Page028" name="Page028"/> +the stuffs, to modify the cut of the garments, but Yollande long +remained an object of surprise and antipathy to the majority of +the poultry.</p> +<p>The scandal soon reached its climax.</p> +<p>"That hen must be mad," said an old duck to his wife.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i033.png"><img src="images/i033-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>"Just imagine dressing up like that; she'll come along one of +these days in a bathing suit," cried a young rooster who prided +himself on his wit.</p> +<p>A young turkey tugged at her clothes, trying to pull them +<span class="pgnum">29</span><a id="Page029" name="Page029"/> +off, and all the others looked on laughing and hurling insults.... +They vied with one another in sarcastic speeches. At last, after a +time, as the saying goes, "Familiarity bred contempt." The fear +which her companions had felt at first soon changed into a +familiarity often too great for the unhappy Cochin-China. They +tried to see who could play her the shabbiest trick. Hens are +often as cruel as men, which is saying a great deal.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i034.png"><img src="images/i034-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>Poor Yollande, in spite of her size, her solidity, and strength, +nearly always emerged half-dressed. Her companions could not stand +her dressed like that, the sight of her irritated them. Not +content with tearing her clothes they often pecked at the poor +creature as well.</p> +<p>Mother Etienne did her best to improve these costumes in every +way—but it was as impossible to find perfection as the +philosopher's stone.</p> +<p><span class="pgnum">30</span><a id="Page030" name="Page030"/>They hoped at the +farm that in time the feathers would grow again. +Meanwhile it was hard on the hen.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i035.png"><img src="images/i035-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>Nothing of the sort happened; one, two, three months +<span class="pgnum">31</span><a id="Page031" name="Page031"/> +passed and not the least vestige of down appeared on the hen, who +had to be protected like a human being from the changes of climate +and so forth. Like a well-to-do farmer's wife Yollande had her +linen-chest and a complete outfit.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i036.png"><img src="images/i036-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>It was, I assure you, my dear children, kept up most carefully. +There was always a button to sew on, a buttonhole to remake, or a +tear to be mended. Thus constantly in touch with the household +Madame Hen soon thought she belonged to it. Indeed, worn out by +the teasing of her companions, by the constant arguments she had +with them, and touched on the other hand by the affectionate care +of her mistresses, Yollande +<span class="pgnum">32</span><a id="Page032" name="Page032"/> +stayed more and more in the house. Coddled and swathed in her +fantastic costumes, she sat in the chimney corner like a little +Cinderella changed into a hen; from this corner she quietly +watched; nothing escaped her notice.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i037.png"><img src="images/i037-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>Meanwhile her reputation had grown, not only amongst her comrades, +but amongst all the animals of the neighbourhood, who, hearing her +discussed, were anxious to see her.</p> +<p>Woe to the cat or dog who dared venture too far into the room! +Very annoyed at this impertinent curiosity, she would leap upon +the importunate stranger and punish him terribly with her sharp +beak. Of course he would run off howling and frightened to death. +It was very funny to watch.</p> +<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">33</span><a id="Page033" name="Page033"/> +<a href="images/i038a.png"><img src="images/i038a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i038b.png"><img src="images/i038b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>Mother Etienne and Germaine were much amused at these little +comedies, and whenever visitors came to the farm<span class="pgnum">34</span><a id="Page034" name="Page034"/> +they would try to provoke one. Everyone enjoyed them hugely.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i039.png"><img src="images/i039-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>Germaine treated Yollande like a doll. She made her all sorts of +fashionable clothes. The Cochin-China would be dressed sometimes +like a man, sometimes like a woman. She had made her quite a +collection of little trousers and vests, which had style, I can +tell you. She had copied, too, from a circus she had seen, an +English clown's costume which was most becoming. Nothing could be +funnier than to watch this tiny dwarf, to see her strut, jump, +dance, coming and going, skipping +<span class="pgnum">35</span><a id="Page035" name="Page035"/>around suddenly,—one moment skittish, the next very important.</p> +<p>Petit-Jacques loved to tease her, but not roughly; he would push +her with his foot, and make her jump at him impatiently, looking +perfectly ridiculous in her quaint dress. You could have sworn she +was a miniature clown. Add to all this, the queer inarticulate +sounds she made when she was angry, and even then you can have no +idea how very amusing these pantomimes were.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i040.png"><img src="images/i040-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p><span class="pgnum">36</span><a id="Page036" name="Page036"/>Soon the fame of Yollande spread far +and wide. She became +celebrated throughout the district. Instead of asking Mother +Etienne how <i>she</i> was, people asked:</p> +<p>"How's your hen today, Mother Etienne?"</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i041.png"><img src="images/i041-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> + +<h2><span class="pgnum">37</span><a id="Page037" name="Page037"/>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>FATHER GUSSON'S SECRET</h3> +<p>One day a peddler, such as often come round to villages, laden +like a mule, and leading by the bridle an ass still more laden, +appeared at the farm. Both looked well but tired and dusty—they +seemed to have had a long journey.</p> +<p>Father Gusson, such was the good man's name, sold all sorts of +things, from tooth-brushes to shoes,—including hardware, +glassware, notions, drugs, and even patent medicines.</p> +<p>Mother Etienne received him kindly and after letting him show her +the things in which she was interested, she offered him +refreshment and suggested that he should take a little rest at the +farm. This he accepted without needing any pressing.</p> +<p>The donkey, relieved straightway from his load, was led into the +paddock, where he wallowed in the tall grass, rolling on his back, +his feet in the air. He enjoyed cleaning himself up like this +after his dusty journey, then, rested—he took his luncheon, +choosing here and there the daintiest morsels; after which he lay +down and philosophised at length.</p> +<p>All this time, Mother Etienne and Germaine were buying, tempted by +one thing after another, silks, laces, stuffs for dresses, and a +number of toilet articles, for both were, though you would not +have suspected it, rather coquettish. +<span class="pgnum">38</span><a id="Page038" name="Page038"/> +Father Gusson—delighted with his visit to the farm and the +business he had done there—was anxious to leave Mother Etienne a +little remembrance.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i043.png"><img src="images/i043-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> + +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i044.png"><img src="images/i044-tn.png" + alt="Father Gusson the peddler comes to the farm." /></a><p>Father +Gusson the peddler comes to the farm.</p> +</div> +<p>"Madame," he said, holding out a small china jar carefully sealed +with parchment, "assuredly you do not need this just now, but if I +should never come back, and if it should happen that one day your +beautiful hair should grow thin, turn grey, or fall out, you have +only to rub your head with this sweet-scented ointment and at once +your hair will grow again thick +<span class="pgnum">39</span><a id="Page039" name="Page039"/> +and of its original colour. I cannot, alas! give you the recipe, +it is a secret left me by my parents." +</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i045.png"><img src="images/i045-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>Then Father Gusson bade farewell to the two women and went on his +way with "Neddy," both much refreshed by their pleasant rest.</p> +<p>Mother Etienne handed Germaine the precious pot of ointment +<span class="pgnum">40</span><a id="Page040" name="Page040"/> +to put with their other purchases into the big cupboard, and they +thought no more about it.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i046.png"><img src="images/i046-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>One day as she sat by the fire with Yollande, watching the dinner, +a bright and whimsical idea occurred to the maid. "Supposing I +were to try the ointment on the hen? But—it might be good for +feathers too—anyhow, it could not do any harm."</p> +<p><span class="pgnum">41</span><a id="Page041" name="Page041"/>Saying this she went, found the +ointment, and delicately rubbed a +little onto Yollande's head. Yollande did not appear to mind at +all. Germaine did this three days running.</p> +<p>Two weeks later Mother Etienne while dressing her hen, as she did +each day, found a thick reddish down sprouting round her head like +a little flat wig. She showed it to Germaine, who paid no +attention, having quite forgotten her childish trick.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i047.png"><img src="images/i047-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>But during the next few days the wig prospered; the hair was two +finger-breadths long, very thick and curly. Mother Etienne could +not understand it at all. Germaine could not, at first, make up +her mind to confess to her mistress what she had done. +<span class="pgnum">42</span><a id="Page042" name="Page042"/> +</p> +<p>At last one evening, Mother Etienne being in a particularly good +humour, the young girl took courage and told her all about it. Far +from scolding her, her mistress was delighted, and so pleased at +the news that she there and then undressed Yollande and rubbed her +from head to foot with Father Gusson's marvellous ointment. She +did the thing thoroughly—rubbing it into every pore. Then they +made a good fire so that the poor little model, thus exposed, +should not take cold.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i048.png"><img src="images/i048-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>After that they watched her every instant; they were for ever +undressing her to see if the cure was working—they could hardly +bear to wait. Just think—if it were to succeed.<span class="pgnum">43</span><a id="Page043" name="Page043"/> +It would be the end and aim of all their care. Yollande could once +again take her proper place in the world.</p> +<p>At last what had happened to the head, happened to the body too. +Before a week had gone by a thick down completely covered the big +hen. The good women, much wondering, imagined that as it grew +stronger the hair would change into feathers. Anxiously they +awaited the change. Nothing of the sort happened. The hair +remained hair—red, Titian red—fine and soft, curling round your +fingers, admirable in quality and colour.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i049.png"><img src="images/i049-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>The hair on the head, older than that on the rest of the body, was +much longer, which suggested to the mischievous Germaine the idea +of making her an elaborate headdress.</p> +<p>Nothing like it had ever been seen before.</p> +<p>Soon Yollande was able to discard some of her clothes. Her +<span class="pgnum">44</span><a id="Page044" name="Page044"/> +breast and back required for a time yet a little covering, but +this grew gradually less and less.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i050a.png"><img src="images/i050a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<div class="figureL"> +<a href="images/i050b.png"><img src="images/i050b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>Naturally the phenomenon was much discussed in the neighbourhood, +and it attracted many and delightful visitors to the farm, all of +whom Mother Etienne welcomed cordially. Yollande was less pleased +with this desire to inspect her. Generally some unbeliever would +tug at her hair, a painful experience for her. So, except towards +her mistress and Germaine, she had become exceedingly +<span class="pgnum">45</span><a id="Page045" name="Page045"/> +vindictive and watchful. Every time she had the chance she pecked +with her short, stout beak at the person indiscreet enough to take +such liberties. One little visitor, more daring than the rest, +nearly lost his finger over it.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i051.png"><img src="images/i051-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>The fame of the curly-haired hen was tremendous, it spread even +beyond the limits of the district. It was really worth a journey +to see her. They wrote of it in the newspapers. The +<span class="pgnum">46</span><a id="Page046" name="Page046"/> +"Daily Mirror," I think it was, had a fine long article about her.</p> +<p>But in certain quarters, the whole thing was looked upon as a +"fish story."</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i052.png"><img src="images/i052-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> + +<h2><span class="pgnum">47</span><a id="Page047" name="Page047"/>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>SIR BOOUM CALLS UPON MOTHER ETIENNE</h3> +<p>Just about this time placards were posted about the whole village, +announcing the arrival of a Great American Circus, bringing in its +train the most wonderful spectacles. Menageries,—curiosities of +all kinds, such as had not been seen since the time of the +Caesars.</p> +<p>Incredible things were on show. Nobody, however small their purse, +could resist the pleasure of witnessing these sights. Nobody, that +is, except the people in and around this village.</p> +<p>The menagerie prepared for its performance by splendid +processions. Caparisoned in gold the elephants marched around. +There were horses of all colours and of all sizes, dromedaries, +rhinoceroses, black men and white monkeys, bands of musicians, +fairy chariots.</p> +<p>The inhabitants saw the gorgeous procession pass with +indifference, with a superior kind of air and without the least +enthusiasm.</p> +<p>On the evening of the first performance, in spite of the placards, +processions, bands, notices, and illuminations, nobody appeared at +the ticket-office of the theatre and they played to an empty +house.</p> +<p>"What," cried the impresario, tearing his hair. "Crowds flocked to +me in London, Paris, St. Petersburg, and New York. +<span class="pgnum">48</span><a id="Page048" name="Page048"/> +I have been congratulated by the Shah of Persia, invited to lunch +by the Grand Turk, and this little hole despises me, mocks at me, +considers me a failure."</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i054.png"><img src="images/i054-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>The lights out, Sir Booum spent a terrible night, wondering what +evil genius could thus attack his laurels. At dawn, worn +<span class="pgnum">49</span><a id="Page049" name="Page049"/> +out by his sleepless night, he set out, eager to learn the cause +of his failure.</p> +<p>All those whom he met winked knowingly, laughing in their +sleeves, and courtesied to him without giving him any +information. At last one, touched by his despair, answered:</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i055.png"><img src="images/i055-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>"Why should we come to you? We have here in this very place, where +we can see it for nothing, a marvel beside which yours are +commonplace. Have you in your menagerie a curly-haired hen?"</p> +<p>"A curly-haired hen!" cried Sir Booum. "Gracious, goodness me! +What are you talking about? Three times have I been round the +world and have never heard of such a thing."</p> +<p>"Go to the big farm down yonder and you can see the +<span class="pgnum">50</span><a id="Page050" name="Page050"/> +one I am telling you about. You will be ashamed to think how +uninteresting in comparison are the things you show."</p> +<p>A few minutes later, a magnificent equipage, driven by an elegant +gentleman and drawn by two light bays, entered the courtyard of +the big farm.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i056.png"><img src="images/i056-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>"Does Madame Etienne live here, please?" he asked Petit-Jacques, +who was busy grooming Coco.</p> +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> +<p>"Will you kindly give her this card and ask if she will see me?"</p> +<p>"Certainly, sir, at once." +<span class="pgnum">51</span><a id="Page051" name="Page051"/> +</p> +<p>Petit-Jacques returned a few minutes later with Mother Etienne.</p> +<p>The gentleman got down from his seat, handing the reins to his +groom.</p> +<p>"Excuse me, Madame. I am Sir Booum. It was my circus which gave +its first performance here yesterday as announced on the placards +posted on the walls throughout the village.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i057.png"><img src="images/i057-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>I have heard, Madame, that you have a most extraordinary hen, and +I have come to beg you to show it to me. If it is really such as +it was described to me, I will buy it at once."</p> +<p>"Sir," said Mother Etienne, "I am very pleased to meet you; I will +show you Yollande as you ask, but sell her to you?—never. I love +the dear thing far too well to part with her."</p> +<p>"But, Madame, if I give you a large sum? How much do you ask? Name +your figure."</p> +<p><span class="pgnum">52</span><a id="Page052" name="Page052"/> +Mother Etienne, without answering a word, went off to fetch the +Cochin-China hen to show to her visitor.</p> +<p>American as he was, he was astounded and was soon convinced that +there had been no exaggeration. This was indeed the curly-haired +hen.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i058.png"><img src="images/i058-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>"Well, Madame, how much is it to be?—$1,000, $2,000, $4,000? +Can't you make up your mind?"</p> +<p>"No, sir, please don't insist. I do not want to part with dear +Yollande," and Mother Etienne, distressed and trembling, covered +her hen with caresses.</p> +<p><span class="pgnum">53</span><a id="Page053" name="Page053"/> +In vain the American urged. His eyes shone with the desire to +include this marvel in his collection. He could do nothing, and +was finally obliged to retreat. +</p> +<p>"Night brings counsel, Madame. I will return tomorrow to visit +you, and I hope you will then decide in my favour. Until tomorrow, +then, Madame."</p> +<p>The gentleman bowed politely and got into his carriage. The +equipage left the courtyard, turned onto the high road, and was +lost in the distance in a cloud of golden dust.</p> + +<h2><span class="pgnum">54</span><a id="Page054" name="Page054"/>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>THE SEPARATION</h3> +<p>Mother Etienne was much distressed. The unexpected appearance of +this personage, the offer of this huge sum of money, were enough +to excite a woman more worldly-wise than she. Germaine strove to +persuade her mistress to accept the offer.</p> +<p>"But, my dear mistress, think of it—$4,000. It is a fortune. +Don't let it escape you. It is a chance which will never come +again. Think how well Yollande will be cared for. He does not mean +to eat her at that price. Think of a stew costing $4,000. No +indeed, the gentleman will try to keep her well as long as +possible. It will be to his interest not to hurt her. Be sure of +it, she will be as well cared for as she is here, if not better."</p> +<p>Thus they talked all evening.</p> +<p>Mother Etienne, feverishly affectionate, looked at the hen lying +as usual asleep in the chimney corner. She could not make up her +mind to sell her sweet Cinderella. Her affection for Yollande had +increased with the constant care she had needed during so many +long months. Besides, the silky tresses curling like corkscrews, +which Germaine had kept so smooth, had been a source of amusement, +not only to the farm but to the whole neighbourhood.</p> +<p>That night Mother Etienne was much agitated in spite of the hot +drink Germaine had given her. She was haunted by +<span class="pgnum">55</span><a id="Page055" name="Page055"/> +a horrible nightmare. She seemed to be lying on a bed of +banknotes, whilst the Cochin-China, sitting heavily on her chest, +reproached her bitterly for having handed her over to a stranger +in exchange for a little filthy lucre. Mother Etienne, bathed in +perspiration, seemed to suffocate under her sheets.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i061.png"><img src="images/i061-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>At last dawn came, the good woman rose, her heart still terribly +oppressed. Germaine calmed her as best she could with reassuring +words and also with a foaming bowl of hot coffee.</p> +<p>All morning Mother Etienne endured torments.</p> +<p>It was three o'clock in the afternoon when suddenly the sound of a +heavy carriage drawn by four horses was heard in the courtyard. +Labric barked with all his might, Coco whinnied loudly, the three +cows all mooed at the same time, and the entire poultry-yard in an +uproar added its piercing <span class="pgnum">56</span><a id="Page056" name="Page056"/> +and varied tones to the general tumult. The pigs especially made a +great noise.</p> +<p>It was the American's four-in-hand.</p> +<p>He was driving himself, and on his left sat a young and pretty +woman, exquisitely dressed in white.</p> +<p>The newcomers were at once shown into the huge kitchen, which +served also as a reception room. On the hearth burned a small +bundle of scented herbs which filled the whole room with +fragrance. Yollande was sitting in her usual place.</p> +<p>"Well, Madame, have you at last decided to let me have the +curly-haired hen?"</p> +<p>Mother Etienne neither moved nor answered.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i062.png"><img src="images/i062-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>"See here, Madame, I offer you $4,000, $6,000, $8,000," and so +saying he took from a red morocco pocketbook in banknotes the sums +he mentioned, and spread them out on the table before the +astonished eyes of Mother Etienne and Germaine.</p> +<p>Mother Etienne still shook her head in refusal.</p> +<p><span class="pgnum">57</span><a id="Page057" name="Page057"/>Germaine, driven wild by this sight, +began to exclaim: "Yes, +sir,—yes, Madame. Yes, sir,—yes, Madame," and threw herself into the +arms first of the American, and then of Mother Etienne, who still +remained obdurate.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i063.png"><img src="images/i063-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>Miss Booum, taking Mother Etienne's hand, said coaxingly: "You can +safely trust her to me. I will take care of her myself, Madame. +With us she will become famous throughout the world. All the +newspapers will speak of her. From your poultry-yard she will come +into contact with the greatest courts of the world. She will be +petted by Grand Duchesses, and receive +<span class="pgnum">58</span><a id="Page058" name="Page058"/> +hands. Besides all this she will be in good +company and will have plenty to amuse her."</p> +<p>This pleading succeeded in dragging from Mother Etienne the +longed-for "Yes," which, though stifled by emotion, was seized +upon by the American.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i064.png"><img src="images/i064-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>The good woman had said "Yes," she had conquered the selfishness +of a mother for two reasons. She did not want to prevent Yollande +from getting on in the world, and also she wished to let Germaine +share this fortune, for it was owing to her that the hen had +become so valuable, and she did not think it right to deprive her +of the benefit.</p> + +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i065.png"><img src="images/i065-tn.png" + alt="Miss Booum brings Mother Etienne to the circus tent." /></a> +<p>Miss Booum brings Mother Etienne to the circus +tent.</p> +</div> +<p>"That's all settled, then. Here's the contract," said the +<span class="pgnum">59</span><a id="Page059" name="Page059"/> +American, "you have only to sign it." And a receipt duly prepared +was handed to Mother Etienne, who in a trembling hand appended her +signature and a flourish. I don't know that she did not even +embellish it with a huge blot of ink.</p> +<p>Then Miss Booum stooped and gently took under her arm Yollande, +who oddly enough made no resistance.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i066.png"><img src="images/i066-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>"Oh please, please let me kiss her again," and, tears in her eyes, +Mother Etienne tenderly embraced the Cochin-China.</p> +<p>"You will take great care of Yollande, won't you? You will send me +news of her? Where is she to sleep to-night?"</p> +<p>"Oh, as to that, Madame, would you like to see the place prepared +for her? Come with us. There is room in the carriage and I promise +to have you brought back again at once. The +<span class="pgnum">60</span><a id="Page060" name="Page060"/> +camp is not far from here, the road is good, the horses fast, and +in half an hour at most you will be perfectly reassured and can +return with your mind at rest."</p> +<p>Mother Etienne, without further thought, still guided by her +tender maternal heart, needed no urging, but followed by the two +Americans, walked with a brisk, firm step towards the carriage. +Suddenly changing her mind, she said:</p> +<p>"Will you just let me change my dress? I can't very well go out +like this."</p> +<p>She went to her room, an idea having entered her head, and soon +returned very neatly dressed with a little basket in her hand.</p> +<p>The steps were adjusted and the three people took their places on +top, whilst Yollande, wrapped in soft woollen covers, was +carefully placed inside, in a basket provided for that very +purpose.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i067.png"><img src="images/i067-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>When Germaine saw her mistress start off she would have liked to +go with her, but the farm needed her attention. Besides, +Miss Booum's promise of seats for the next performance quite +consoled her.</p> +<p>The carriage made a curve in the yard, went through the gate, and +soon disappeared, bearing the two new travellers. +<span class="pgnum">61</span><a id="Page061" name="Page061"/> +As Miss Booum had said, it did not take more than half an hour to +reach the camp, the cobs went so quickly.</p> +<p>On the way Mother Etienne met many acquaintances to whom she waved +a simple but cordial greeting. In most cases the carriage was +already out of sight before they recovered sufficiently from their +astonishment to wave back.</p> +<p>It was a nine days' wonder.</p> + +<h2><span class="pgnum">62</span><a id="Page062" name="Page062"/>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>SIR BOOUM'S CIRCUS</h3> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i069.png"><img src="images/i069-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>Our travellers came in sight of the circus. Imagine, children, a +huge encampment like a small town,—with sections, and streets, +houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans +<span class="pgnum">63</span><a id="Page063" name="Page063"/> +on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, +and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, +walking up and down.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i070.png"><img src="images/i070-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, +little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with +goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,—in +fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,—men to suit +every possible taste.</p> +<p>All the most curious specimens were represented. Besides these +there was a colossal menagerie. In it there were more +<span class="pgnum">64</span><a id="Page064" name="Page064"/> +than twenty elephants, giraffes, hippopotami, rhinoceroses, +zebras, dromedaries, camels, and the rarest kinds of antelopes. +Then came the reptiles,—from the boa constrictor, who was ten +yards long, to the smallest blind-worm, amongst them some of the +most dangerous kinds. Crocodiles twenty feet long, monstrous +toads, tortoises as big as donkeys. Then there were the wild +beasts too. Lions from Abyssinia, from Atlas, tigers from Bengal, +from Persia, jaguars, panthers, leopards, all the big cat family, +lynx, onca, tiger cat. Bears of all kinds, grizzly, grey, black, +and white. Then came wolves, foxes, coyotes, in fact the whole +series of the dog tribe with every possible domestic variety.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i071.png"><img src="images/i071-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>In little barred cages was a collection of smaller carnivorous +animals and rodents. In a huge room all the monkeys from the big +gorilla to the minute ouistiti or witsit, were installed; they +squabbled, pulled one another's tails, bit one another, uttered +piercing cries. There were constant battles going on in that +corner.</p> + +<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">65</span><a id="Page065" name="Page065"/> +<a href="images/i072.png"><img src="images/i072-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>Then in an immense aviary were all the birds of creation, divided +into classes, from the humming-bird, the size of a hornet, to the +ostrich. This was, to tell the truth, the part that interested +Mother Etienne most of all. She was more used to creatures of this +kind, they reminded her of her beloved poultry-yard. In spite of +the signs put up everywhere, "Do not feed the animals," the good +woman who had purposely filled her basket with cakes threw them in +indiscriminately. There were enough for all the animals she +passed. First she threw some to the lions. The lions took no +notice, at which she was most surprised. Her idea in offering the +cakes was to see if the animals +<span class="pgnum">66</span><a id="Page066" name="Page066"/> +were hungry and to find out that way how they were treated.</p> +<p>Miss Booum, who was acting as her guide, was much amused at her +astonishment and could not resist saying:</p> +<p>"Madame, to offer a cream bun to a tiger is like offering a +beef-steak to an elephant. Just keep your cakes for the ostriches, they +are so greedy that they will eat stones. If they were to keep a +hardware store they would be certain to eat up their stock."</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i073.png"><img src="images/i073-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>Pleased at this permission, when she came to the ostriches, Mother +Etienne offered them a cake, but they looked down at it very +haughtily and suspiciously. From this she concluded that even +those birds were so well-fed that they were not hungry and felt +quite satisfied about Yollande.</p> +<p><span class="pgnum">67</span><a id="Page067" name="Page067"/>After half an hour's walk through the +circus, having visited every +corner of it, they went towards the manager's house. There five +o'clock tea was served. Mother Etienne, quite at ease, did honour +to the lunch so graciously provided, and after thanking Miss Booum +gratefully, she kissed Yollande very tenderly and prepared to +return to the farm.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i074.png"><img src="images/i074-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>At a sign from the young American girl, a stout piebald pony, +harnessed to a trap, was led forward by a groom.</p> +<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">68</span><a id="Page068" name="Page068"/> +<a href="images/i075.png"><img src="images/i075-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>"That is my own carriage and my horse Charlie, which you can drive +yourself, Madame, if you like. He is quick and safe, +<span class="pgnum">69</span><a id="Page069" name="Page069"/> +you may be sure of that. You will be at home again in less time +than it took to come here with four horses. Farewell, dear Madame, +a pleasant drive. Remember that we expect you tomorrow for the +afternoon performance, and that nice little maid of yours too. +Your seats will be reserved."</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i076.png"><img src="images/i076-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>The two women shook hands cordially, Mother Etienne got into the +carriage, and took the reins. The pony feeling a hand used to +driving, set off at a quick trot, then warming to his work flew +over the ground. He had the paces of a big horse and had to be +kept well in hand.</p> +<p>Mother Etienne soon reached home delighted with her adventure. She +was assailed by questions from Germaine and +<span class="pgnum">70</span><a id="Page070" name="Page070"/> +Petit-Jacques. They sat there drinking in her words. Mother +Etienne told them as best she could all that had happened and all +that she had seen in the most secret wings of the gigantic circus. +Germaine in her excitement was forgetful enough to let the soup +boil over and the roast burn, but all the same they dined gaily. +There were still plenty of questions to be asked. Mother Etienne +had to go over every detail and even to tell some stories over +again. They went on talking far into the night—so charmed were +the listeners at the recital.</p> +<p>Nobody thought of going to bed. Germaine was longing for the +morrow, she was so anxious to see for herself this fairyland.</p> +<p>At last, midnight striking, reminded Mother Etienne that it was +time for sleep. Then they all went to bed, each head full of the +wonders of tomorrow's performance.</p> + +<h2><span class="pgnum">71</span><a id="Page071" name="Page071"/>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>MOTHER ETIENNE'S DREAM</h3> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i078.png"><img src="images/i078-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>Mother Etienne was very restless again that night, haunted, not by +a dreadful nightmare as before, but by a troublesome +<span class="pgnum">72</span><a id="Page072" name="Page072"/> +dream. Everything she had just seen at Sir Booum's appeared before +her, the tiniest incidents, the least important details.</p> +<p>All the explanations, concerning the creatures in the menagerie +given her by the trainer, came back to her, like an object lesson +in a curious dream.</p> +<p>The principal person in it was Yollande. Yollande as Barnum, +Yollande as trainer, Yollande holding in one hairy wing a stout +whip, in the other the pitchfork as a protection against claws and +teeth.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i079.png"><img src="images/i079-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>"You see here," said Yollande in a loud voice, "you see here the +wild ox from Madagascar, which takes the place of +<span class="pgnum">73</span><a id="Page073" name="Page073"/> +the horse. In that country he is harnessed to small, light +vehicles which he draws along rapidly. This other is a buffalo +from Caffraria. He is a Jack-of-all-trades, sometimes ridden, +sometimes driven, sometimes laden, sometimes yoked to the plough. +Those big striped animals you see yonder are giraffes. Their long +necks permit them, without having recourse to a ladder, to eat the +young shoots of the mimosa, of which they are very fond, as well +as the fresh dates which usually grow at the tops of the palm-trees."</p> +<div class="figureR"> +<a href="images/i080.png"><img src="images/i080-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>In this kind of dream a strange idea was at work in the brain of +the sleeper. With these object lessons were mingled strange, +quaint asides.</p> +<p>"If children had long necks like that, one couldn't keep the +jam-pots out of their way by putting them on the top shelves of the +cupboard."</p> +<p>"There," went on Yollande, "are the elephants. They are +<span class="pgnum">74</span><a id="Page074" name="Page074"/> +used for all sorts of tasks. Their trunks, a continuation of their +nostrils, serve both for breathing and holding. It is, as it were, +an extremely sensitive and powerful hand."</p> +<p>"Great goodness me," cried Mother Etienne; "imagine having a hand +at the end of your nose! Would it have a glove on it and rings on +its fingers?"</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i081.png"><img src="images/i081-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>All sorts of ridiculous ideas like that came into her head. The +little beaver, who builds his houses all along the Canadian +streams, appeared trowel in hand, mortar-board on his head, and +Mother Etienne felt most anxious to have his valuable assistance +in repairing her barns and mills. Dear little marabout, how useful +you would be in the village, sweeping the streets, cleaning up the +refuse, advance-guard of the street-cleaner with his, "Now then, +everything into the gutter."</p> +<p><span class="pgnum">75</span><a id="Page075" name="Page075"/>"The antelopes are +very silly, coquettish creatures to wear such +long boas round their necks in this warm country. But, after all, +perhaps they are wise enough, for they have chosen a kind which, +unlike our make of furs, is cold to the touch."</p> +<p>Yollande, in her rôle of trainer, went on and on like a brook.</p> +<p>"Here, now, is a dromedary. He has a hump on his back, a fatty +exerescence which enables him to bear much fatigue, without eating +or drinking for several days. It is owing to this fat, rather like +a box of provisions on his back, that he can traverse hot and +sandy deserts where it would be difficult to find a single blade +of grass to eat."</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i082.png"><img src="images/i082-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>Then through the farm bedroom passed long caravans of camels, led +by carnival Arabs, their humps changed into gigantic +<span class="pgnum">76</span><a id="Page076" name="Page076"/> +larders in which rattled all sorts of canned things. Canned +salmon, Russian caviare, dried biscuits, smoked meats, tongues, +sardines, canned peas, foies-gras, lobsters, and fruits, in fact +all those things which Mother Etienne had seen piled up in +many-coloured pyramids at the best grocery stores. Really it was too +ridiculous.—Miss Booum must have been making fun of her visitor.—That +couldn't really be the best food for camels.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i083.png"><img src="images/i083-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> + +<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">77</span><a id="Page077" name="Page077"/> +<a href="images/i084.png"><img src="images/i084-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>It was still worse when it came to the turn of the hippopotami. A +thousand ill-digested memories from the illustrated papers were in +her mind, all mixed up. Where did the Nile and the Zanzibar flow? +Which was it that separated Egypt from Senegal? And the gigantic +hippopotamus, looking perfectly huge and out-of-place in a gondola +fit for a sultana, appeared to her, floating down the calm stream, +a red +<span class="pgnum">78</span><a id="Page078" name="Page078"/> +fez with a golden star on his head, puffing away at a peculiar +double-bowled pipe, the pride of the collection of a retired +police-officer in the village, who had it from the real cousin of +a sea-captain from Marseilles.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i085.png"><img src="images/i085-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>"Do you see those little lumps there enclosed between four boards? +It is a nest of land-tortoises. The largest, called the Giant +tortoise, easily supports on its back a weight of two hundred +pounds. This shell which weighs so heavily is its house. At the +least alarm, it retreats into its house and stays there, till +<span class="pgnum">79</span><a id="Page079" name="Page079"/> +all danger is past." This plan of walking about with your house on +your back seemed rather a good one to Mother Etienne. You could go +out on rainy days without getting wet, and on cold days it would +keep your back nice and warm.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i086.png"><img src="images/i086-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>"Near at hand is a collection of mammals, the kangaroo family. The +kangaroo is the largest mammal of Australia. It is generally a +peace-loving animal, but bites, scratches, and claws if it is +teased. Its best defence however is flight." All these technical +details left the good woman cold. What she remembered best were +the practical qualities of the creatures. The kangaroo has one +very great peculiarity, the female has a pouch, a sort of bag, in +which she hides her young if danger appears, just as the soldier +has his knapsack.</p> + +<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">80</span><a id="Page080" name="Page080"/> +<a href="images/i087a.png"><img src="images/i087a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i087b.png"><img src="images/i087b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>For the first time in her life Mother Etienne was much struck by +certain resemblances between animals and human beings, +<span class="pgnum">81</span><a id="Page081" name="Page081"/> +finding in them actions, looks, and habits which reminded her +irresistibly of many of her acquaintances. It was amongst the +monkeys that it was the most marked. Two chimpanzees, with pensive +faces garbed in black, seemed to be mourning some beloved +relative. It was as though their sad but shining eyes, gazing at +the straw which half-covered them, were seeking something hidden, +intangible.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i088.png"><img src="images/i088-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>A family of big African monkeys, by their challenging, +<span class="pgnum">82</span><a id="Page082" name="Page082"/> +crafty air, reminded her unpleasantly of a band of good-for-nothings +who for months had spread terror and desolation +throughout the country. The chief—or the one who appeared to be +the chief—the biggest and strongest, hurled himself at the bars +and shook them in his clenched hands. He would certainly have +enjoyed strangling Mother Etienne, had he been able to do so. +Since he was not able to, he displayed in a huge yawn, a +terrifying set of teeth, worthy of a wild beast. They were horrid +animals, I assure you, not the kind you would like to meet loose +on a lonely road.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i089.png"><img src="images/i089-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>Fortunately some pretty little witsits, with black faces, no +bigger than your fist, and white and grey ruffles, whistling like +blackbirds, by their pretty tricks did away with the bad +impression made by these sinister neighbours.</p> + +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i090.png"><img src="images/i090-tn.png" alt="Cake Walk; Mother Etienne's dream." /></a> +<p>Mother Etienne's dream.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pgnum">83</span><a id="Page083" name="Page083"/> +This one was a regular little mother, that one had just been +sweeping out the yard, another was the living image of the Count's +servant when he followed his master on his walks, carrying under +his arm a shawl or a sunshade. An orang-outang, an elderly +peasant, whose four big hands were clasped, suggested to her how +useful it would be to have a helper like that to milk the cows. It +would go twice as fast with four hands. What a lot of precious +time it would save.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i091.png"><img src="images/i091-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>And many other queer things came into her head. That yowling dog, +that sharp-faced rabbit, are the type who come on fair-days to cry +their papers, sell their toys, etc.—a noisy, rough crew. +<span class="pgnum">84</span><a id="Page084" name="Page084"/> +Goodness gracious! Where was Mother Etienne's absurd dream leading +her? She, whose life was always so calm, and who, to tell the +truth, with Germaine, were rather like the two little monkeys at +the corner of the fire-place, hands clasped under their aprons, +feet on foot-warmers, and little pointed handkerchiefs on their +heads.</p> +<div class="figureL"> +<a href="images/i092a.png"><img src="images/i092a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>At this personal picture everything turned as though by +enchantment into one huge, vast medley, which ended in a general +cake-walk of the whole menagerie, passing before +the tired eyes of Mother Etienne, roaring, bellowing, mewing, +whistling, howling, whinnying, and braying. Poor Mother Etienne +was thoroughly exhausted.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i092b.png"><img src="images/i092b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> + +<h2><span class="pgnum">85</span><a id="Page085" name="Page085"/>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>MOTHER ETIENNE'S FORTUNE</h3> +<p>When she woke up the good woman thought of her small fortune. She +gave it for safe keeping into the hands of her lawyer, M. La +Plume, while she was making up her mind how she should dispose of +it. She wanted plenty of time to think it over. She had already +decided to give Germaine a dowry, for the whole thing was largely +owing to her. She knew that she and Petit-Jacques were in love.</p> +<p>"They will make a fine couple," she thought, "and later on how +pleased I shall be to have a nice family around me—with dear +children who will love and care for me."</p> +<p>Then she thought of P&egrav;re Gusson—the good old man could +have no +idea of all that had happened at the farm. He was going his +rounds, selling his wares as best he could. It was three months +since he had appeared, he would be back again before long—he had +already been away longer than usual.</p> +<p>And, sure enough, two days later Neddy announced his entrance into +the courtyard with a loud bray. If his master was glad to see +Mother Etienne who always received him so cordially, and who +bought so much from him, the donkey fully appreciated the hours of +rest and the good food he found in the paddock with the cows.</p> +<p><span class="pgnum">86</span><a id="Page086" name="Page086"/> +Mother Etienne went forward to meet the old man and gaily told him +the whole story. +</p> +<p>He, utterly astounded, could not at first believe it. He made her +repeat the wonder over and over again. It certainly was a very +curious thing. He had always known his ointment was effective, +but—as to making hair grow on a hen—that was quite another +thing. He was just petrified by it.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i094.png"><img src="images/i094-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>Mother Etienne told Germaine to serve some good cider, and all +three drank to one another's healths.</p> +<p>"That is not all," said Mother Etienne, "I want you to have a +share in my good fortune. That's only fair. You have worked all +your life, you must think of taking a rest. You have certainly +earned it. Here is a check for $2,000 which +<span class="pgnum">87</span><a id="Page087" name="Page087"/> +my lawyer, M. La Plume, will cash for you. This sum, together with +what you have saved, will be enough to buy a little house and +garden and to keep you from want. If one is wise and knows how to +manage, one can live here for very little."</p> +<p>Father Gusson, quite upset and touched, could not find words to +thank dear, kind Mother Etienne. It was as though he had +unexpectedly won the big prize in the lottery. He could hardly +believe his eyes and ears.</p> +<p>Soon he pulled himself together and began to calculate.</p> +<p>"I have a few savings, it is true, but I think it would be wise to +take advantage of the fame of the ointment and double my small +fortune. I hope that, thanks to the already widespread fame of +Yollande, if (with your kind permission) I were to call my +ointment, 'Ointment of the Curly-Haired Hen' I should have +considerable success."</p> +<p>"Not only am I quite willing, but I thoroughly approve of your +idea and strongly advise you to carry it out," replied Mother +Etienne warmly.</p> +<p>No sooner said than done.</p> +<p>Father Gusson withdrew from the notary the sum, so fairly but +generously given him, and spent his time henceforth in +manufacturing (according to the recipe of his ancestors) the +wonderful ointment. He filled a great quantity of jars of all +sizes, and like the good business man he was, having adorned them +with magnificent labels he doubled the price of the ointment and +put on a trade mark so as to prohibit imitations. Then he bought a +cart like Mother Etienne's and harnessed Neddy to it. On the hood +of the cart was a huge picture of +<span class="pgnum">88</span><a id="Page088" name="Page088"/> +a Curly-Haired Hen, and under it was the inscription, "Ointment of +the Curly-Haired Hen." Now the peddler could go his rounds, +selling only this specialty, without need of further +advertisement. The effect was magic. Doors, hitherto too +<span class="pgnum">89</span><a id="Page089" name="Page089"/> +often closed against him, opened wide at his coming and there was +not a soul who did not buy quite a lot of it.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i096.png"><img src="images/i096-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>In a month and without effort, Father Gusson took in ten times +more money than he had earned in all his long and hardworking life +before.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i097.png"><img src="images/i097-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> + +<h2><span class="pgnum">90</span><a id="Page090" name="Page090"/>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>TRIUMPH OF THE OINTMENT</h3> +<p>The craze of the public for this new preparation was +extraordinary. A china factory, about to close its doors, made a +fortune out of manufacturing jars for it. Of course all the bald +people bought it. Everyone expected it to work miracles. The women +with tow-coloured rat-tails expected to grow luxuriant black +tresses and others with coarse scrubby black hair dreamed of +having fine soft golden braids.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i098.png"><img src="images/i098-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>A very rich land-owner, who did not care how much he spent, rubbed +with it the back of his mangy dog, and his horse's tail, which was +growing somewhat thin.</p> +<p>The mayor even, they tell me, put a thick layer of it onto his +wig, which was beginning to wear out. The district was steeped in +it, the air seemed to smell of musk.</p> +<p><span class="pgnum">91</span><a id="Page091" name="Page091"/>Alas! everything has +its bad side. The good side of this was for +the merchant alone, who, though he guaranteed his wares for human +beings, refused any further responsibility. The bad side was for +the hens and ducks. (I believe even the geese suffered +occasionally.) I can't tell you how many people, knowing all about +the effect it had had on Yollande and the resultant fortune, tried +to duplicate the famous Curly-Haired Hen, bought by Sir Booum.</p> +<div class="figure"> +<a href="images/i099.png"><img src="images/i099-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a> +</div> +<p>In the poultry-yards around, the hens for several months had a +pretty bad time. They were nearly all plucked and rubbed with the +ointment. It was a craze, a rage with the farmers, and those hens +who could retain a vestige of their plumage esteemed themselves +fortunate.</p> +<p>It was a sad sight to see all the feathered creatures fly at the +<span class="pgnum">92</span><a id="Page092" name="Page092"/> +sight of a human being. They knew by bitter experience what to +expect. Alas! with all these attempts with roosters, chickens, +ducks, and turkeys, none had the desired effect. They long +remained scented and devoid of plumage, that was all. We must take +it that no subject as good as Yollande presented itself. Nature +makes these queer incomprehensible distinctions, you know, which +we just can't understand. There was <i>one</i> Curly-Haired Hen, +there was to be no other! For, since her metamorphosis, for a +reason unknown to this day, the Curly-Haired Hen absolutely +refused to lay eggs. This was, I must confess, a great +disappointment to Sir Booum. Like the good American he was, he +would have liked to continue the race.</p> +<div class="figure"><a href="images/i100.png"><img src="images/i100-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">93</span><a id="Page093" name="Page093"/><a href="images/i101.png"><img src="images/i101-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">94</span><a id="Page094" name="Page094"/><a href="images/i102.png"><img src="images/i102-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div> +<p>He had perforce to content himself with portraits of her from the +pen of M. Vimar. One of these was sent, affectionately dedicated +by Yollande, to her good Mother Etienne, who regards +<span class="pgnum">95</span><a id="Page095" name="Page095"/> +it as her greatest treasure, and keeps it, elegantly framed, above +the mantelpiece in her bedroom. Never a day passes but the good +woman looks at it with tender, motherly affection.</p> +<p>Father Gusson is now the owner of a pretty little house and +cultivates his own garden, in which is a corner reserved for +Neddy, for he too has earned his rest.</p> +<p>Germaine, to whom her mistress and adopted mother gave a good +dowry, has just married Petit-Jacques, quartermaster, lately +returned from his military service.</p> +<p>It is hard to tell which is the happiest. The wedding was +performed with much ceremony. The whole village was present, and +amongst the various healths drunk they did not omit that of the +"Curly-Haired Hen."</p> +<p>Love animals, my children, be kind to them, care for them, you +will certainly have your reward.</p> +<p class="front"> </p> +<p class="front"> +FINIS</p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13302 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |