Jacques Bonneval; Or, The Days of the Dragonnades

onder I heard plenty about it. It is true, that in my time, the world-famous fair did not exercise so vast an influence on commercial

th rich silks, cloths, serges, camlets, and furs, from Montpelier, from Narbonne, from Toulouse, from Carcassonne, and other places, would wend towards Beaucaire, as the day called the Feast of St. Magdalene approached, on which the fair was opened. The roads were then thronged with travelers; the city was choke-full of strangers; not a bed to be had, unless long pre?ngaged, for love or

ing the year. Those at a distance, finding communications difficult and journeys expensive, were glad to make an annual pilgrimage serve

colas, and we went the day before the festival in order to see it from the beginning. I drove a large and commodious char-a-banc, in which were my father and mother, my younger brother

my mind, was the most charming girl in the world. Nor was she behindhand in the way of ornament, for she and her sister were dressed in their best, and looked as fresh

of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." My father dwelt on this in his prayer, and said, "Lord, I know that these dear young people cannot pass through life without hearing and seeing much of evil: but, oh, keep them unspotted by it! Let an atmosphere of sanctity and safety surround them even in the midst o

I could hardly account for: and as he had recently been explaining to the children the nature of a hauberk, as a coat o

nc. I would gladly have had Madeleine next me, but, as ill-luck would have it, M. Bourdinave placed himself at my side, and my father just behind; so that I was completely shut out

ithout paying much heed to them. I believe they reminded one another that not only wild beasts but Christians had formerly been put to death there, for the recreation of those who were wild b

e, approvingly. "Hold fast the form of sound words which hath

for Beaucaire. The women were now in great delight, looking from side to side, commenting on the dress of one, the equipage of another, nodding to acquaintance, and crying "O, look!" to each other, when they saw anything beyond common. I h

ll you, are very imperfect cocoons; dupions have two threads, and confuse one with another; and pointed cocoons are apt to break in the winding. But all these, as you know, are turned to accou

y figure, standing bolt upright in a cart. He was tall and meagre, and wore a long black robe and tall pointed cap, both of which appeared spangled with silver; instead of which

id house was depicted, many sizes larger than life, a great human tooth, with bleeding fangs. Beneath was

, was not impaired by natural decay, but only accidentally broken in cracking a cherry-stone. "The edge is so rough," said s

e," said M. Bourdinave. "Sure, you would not hav

it, inside that nice littl

sket she carried on her arm, and discovered cherries as red as her own lips, nestling in d

eing handed round, we were soon all eating cherries; and Gabriel

mean," said I, turning half r

tual advice. Their names were St. Honorat and St. Marguerite. At length the brother grew rather tired of his sister's visits, and called them a waste of time. 'Henceforth, let it suffice that I shall visit you occasionally, said

, with displeasure. "I am grieved that you sh

they exercis

ad mistress. The Jews exercised their fancies in the wild Talmudical fables. What said our Saviour of them

mediately recover his equanimity, but addressing my father, said it more than ever behooved good Reformers to walk warily, and not give in to any of the ensnaring practices of the surrounding Catholics. "Little by litt

we are under the protectio

last two or three years, by edicts differing greatly from the Edict of Nantes. That one, for instance, which rendered us liable to the intrusion of Catho

said my fath

for mutual protection, when all our closed meetinghouses were re

idered measure," sa

ous; whereas the want of concert among our people betrayed their weakness, and l

my father. "I trust there will be no

ave, gloomily. "Satan desires to have us, that he ma

s horse began to kick. Giving the reins to my father, I jumped out, and ran to his assistance; but he was so prickly all over, that it was difficult to lay hold of him. His needles and pins ran into my fingers in a dozen places. To make matters worse, his nose began t

! and what a noise! Music playing, bells ringing, people talking at the top of their voices. What joyous meetings I what hearty welcomes! what various sme

heavily-freighted barges. As for the streets, they were hung from their upper windows with the richest tapestries; silks, damasks, velvets, and goldsmiths' work were displayed in the richest abundance; the most costly valuables exposed,

ehind us, formed such a phalanx that we made way for ourselves, or had it made for us, wherever we went, and saw everything we wanted to see. We even saw the dentist, and Alice would not be foiled this time, but almost thrust herself on his notice. He made her sit on the ground, put her head betwe