This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 Excerpt: ... PIERRETTE To Mademoiselle Anna de Hanska Dear Child, --You, the Joy of a whole house, you, whose white or rose-colored cape flutters In the summer like a wlll-o'-the-wlsp through the arbors of Wierzehownia, followed by the wistful eyes of your father and mother--how can I dedicate to you a tale full of sadness? But is It not well to tell you of sorrows such as a girl so fondly loved as you are will never know? For some day your fair hands may take them comfort. It Is so difficult, Anna, to find In the picture of our manners any Incident worthy to meet your eye, that an author has no choice; but perhaps you may discern bow happy you are from reading this tale, sent by Your old friend, De Balzac. In October 1827, at break of day, a youth of about sixteen, whose dress proclaimed him to be what modern phraseology insolently calls a proletarian, was standing on a little square in the lower part of the town of Provins. At this early hour he could, without being observed, study the various houses set round the Place in an oblong square. The mills on the streams of Provins were already at work. Their noise, repeated by the echoes from the upper town, and harmonizing with the sharp air and the clear freshness of the morning, bewrayed the perfect silence--so complete that the clatter of a diligence was audible, still a league away on the highroad. The two longer rows of houses, divided by an arched avenue of lime-trees, are artless in style, confessing the peaceful and circumscribed life of the townsfolk. In this part of the town there are no signs of trade. At that time there was hardly a carriage-gate suggesting the luxury of the rich--or if there were, it rarely turned on its hinges--excepting that of Monsieur Martener, a doctor who was obliged to keep and use a c..

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