Claude the colporteur

Chapter 1. Claude First Sees Lisa

" "TTOU look tired, my son," said an old woman, I bending under a load of fresh-cut grass on her back, as she came up to a dusty, travel-worn wayfarer resting on the road-side. ,A " Tired I am, good mother," replied he, turning towards her a frank though somewhat careworn countenance; "tired, foot-sore, and thirsty; yet must I reach the town to-night, for I shall be busied there early to-morrow. Have I much farther to go ? " " A good league ; that is to say, a long league," replied the old woman. " Ha ! that is a bad hearing," rejoined he, " for B the fact is, I have broken a thorn into my foot, and limp sadly." " Let me take it out for you," said the old woman, " for I am counted to have a ready hand at such matters. Stay, I fear I have no sharp implement about me I have left my house wife at home, and a brass pin might poison the flesh.

Come on with me a little way, if you can ; my cottage is but on yonder knoll, behind the cherry-orchard, and I will there take out your thorn before you can say Ave ! " " It will be long enough before I say that," returned the traveller, smiling ; " but I thank you heartily, good mother, and will readily accept your kindness." "Gently, then — don't hurry," said she, helping him up. " If it were not for this load of fodder for our old white cow, I'd carry your bag for you, if not yourself into the bargain." " Come," said he, laughing, " I'm rather too heavy for that." " I'm not worth what I have been, it's true," said she, " but the time bas been, I can tell you, when I have lifted a sick person a good deal heavier than you are. However, no good comes of boasting ; the case, as it stands, is, that you must carry your bag, and I my grass."

" In England, now," said the traveller, " they let the cows help themselves to their grass." " Is it possible ?" said the old woman. " What strange people they must be ! Ah, I don't grudge my trouble for poor Snowdrop ; and I am sure she thanks me in her dumb way with her large brown eyes." "The English would tell you," rejoined the wayfarer, " that she would thank you much more for turning her out into a fine field of clover." "She would conduct herself like a maniac," returned the old woman, " fling up her tail and heels sky-high, trample and waste ten times more than she ate ; and eat till she burst ! Children, sick persons, and irrational animals must take what is given them, and be thankful. But see, there is our cottage, with a row of white pigeons on the roof, and there's Lisa in her scarlet petti coat standing in the porch, feeding her tame thrush from her mouth.

The poor bird is so fond of her that he often shows his gratitude by bringing her a crumb or a berry; and one day he popped into her mouth a line live worm ! Lisa b will soon give me one of her sharpest needles, and I will have out your thorn in a minute. Mean time, I cannot bear to see you limp so. Surely, I can carry your bag ? Let me try ! Why, 'tis as heavy as lead ! You must be carrying an iron weight slung round your neck for a penance ? " " Oh no, good mother, I torment myself with no such self-imposed punishments ; and as to my load of books, I assure you that to me my burthen is light." " Books, have you ? My son Hans will be overhauling them presently ! He's a regular book-devourer, that fellow ! I often tell him he should have been a priest instead of a poor wood carver." By this time they reached the foot of a few rustic steps which led to the door of the low, steep-roofed, heavy-built cottage, with its tiny casements peering out through a luxuriant mantle of ivy, which also clustered round a niche in the porch, containing a rude, weather-stained group of the "Virgin and Child, with a little lamp of blue glass hanging before it.

In the porch, feeding her tame bird, stood a young girl of eighteen, with a fresh, sweet, round face, drooping eyelids, and sweeping dark lashes falling on her rosy, peach-like cheeks. There was a great air of modesty and goodness about her : as soon as she saw the old woman approaching, she ran out to relieve her of her burthen, and cast a look of smiling inquiry towards her com panion. " I want one of your sharpest needles, Lisa," said the old woman ; " this worthy young man has broken a thorn into his foot, and I have pro mised to extract it for him." " Lie there, then," said Lisa to the grass, tumbling it down against the wall, and tripping into the cottage. " Is this one too small, grand mother ? " "No, this will do exactly," said the old woman. " Come in, friend, come in, make no ceremony — you are heartily welcome."

The stranger, thus bidden, stepped into the cottage, and found himself in a large old kitchen, with a funnel-shaped chimney in it, on the hearth of which glowed the embers of a very small fire. A thick wooden pillar, decorated by a cru cifix, supported the rafters, from which dangled strings of onions, dried apples, and sausages. A I rude table was covered by a clean white cloth, on which were spread knives and cups, a large loaf, a strong-smelling cheese, a dish of huge crimson radishes, their green leaves yet glittering with recent washing, and a tall brown jug of beer. On a smaller table, near one of the little case ments, was heaped quite a cloud of clear white muslin, at which, to judge by the thimble, scissors, and reel of cotton close at hand, Lisa had recently been busily employed.

At a work-bench just beneath the other window, sat a somewhat hard featured man of about forty, intently occupied in manufacturing what seemed to be rather clumsy dolls, some of which were in progress, others finished, and adorned with a little red and white paint on their faces ; while round him lay tools, shavings, paint-pots, and brushes, ready to hand. "Welcome, friend," said he, nodding at the stranger as he looked up for a moment from his work, which he immediately resumed. " That's my son Hans," said the old woman. " He is very busy, which is the reason he cannot seem more glad to see you. Now, then " — patting a wooden settle by the hearth as she spoke — " sit down here, my good fellow, whip off your shoe and sock, put your foot on this stool, and we'll have out the thorn in a trice.

Come, give me the other shoe, too, and I'll clap them together outside the door, for they are covered with dust. Mercy on us, though ! how your foot is inflamed ! You must have walked far on it, I fancy, after the mischief was done. Just look at it, Hans ! " Hans cast a hasty glance over his shoulder, and at the same time eyed the new-comer from head to foot. There was something foreign and picturesque in his simple dress ; he was of light yet vigorous make, and appeared about eight-and twenty years of age. The expression of his mouth and eyes was exceedingly good, his complexion was brown and healthy, his hair dark, and slightly curling. " Whew ! " cried he, drawing in his breath with a comic air of pain, as the old lady made rather a sharp inquisition with her needle. " If I can find aught of the thorn," said she, " my name's not Agnes.

The long and short of the matter is, your foot must be poulticed. Set on a little bread and milk to boil, Lisa." "That I will, directly," said the girl ; proceeding to obey her with alertness — " the milk stands outside — I had but just finished milking when you came in." " I am afraid you are going to make a long job of it, my kind friend," said the wayfarer. "Is your time so precious?" said Mother Agnes, looking up in his face. " Oh, no ! only I had hoped to push on to the town before dusk, and get me a bed." " The town is full to overflowing," said she, " for to-morrow, as you doubtless know, is our saint's day, and there is to be a grand procession, which strangers are flocking from all parts to see. Wherefore, even if you could manage to limp or hobble thither, which I very much doubt, it is extremely unlikely that you would get any better accommodation than a stable.

Whereas, if you remain here, you shall sup with us, and have a clean bed, and I will dress your foot and ensure your travelling with comfort to-morrow. Will that suit you, do you think ! " " Suit me, my generous hostess ? I am only too ready to accept your kindness ! " " Say no more, then, but consider yourself one of us till the morrow. You are welcome — is not he, Hans ? " " Heartily welcome," said Hans. " And now," said she, " that I have bound up your foot, you shall remain just where you are, and get your bread and cheese. Not your beer, though, for milk will be better for you to-night ; or, suppose, coffee? Yes, there is some fresh roasted ; not that we allow ourselves such a treat often, but to-morrow is a festival. I will grind it directly ; and, meantime, as you are feverish, Lisa shall give you a draught of new milk."

He gratefully applied his lips to the brim of the foaming pail, which she, smiling, held to him. " Delicious ! " cried he. " Yes ; there's nothing like new milk, when you can't get beer or coffee," said Hans. " Hallo, Lisa ! You've knocked over the red paint. Mind where you're going, girl. Do you come from far, master ? " " Oh, yes, I am always on the tramp. They call me Claude the Colporteur. I have books to hawk." " Books ! capital ! " cried Hans, suspending his work for a moment. " I should like to turn over the contents of your bag, only that I am so busy. Maybe you will read us a spell by and by — " "Gladly," said Claude. " Do you happen, now," pursued Hans, "to have a copy of ' The Terrible and Unparalleled History of the Man- Wolf, who lived in the Forest of Bondy, and devoured many Women and Children ? ' ' "No." " Ah, I fear 'tis out of print ; more the pity !

Have you, then, ' The Heroic History of Count Rudolf, who, on his Return from the Holy Land, found his Wife married to his deadly Enemy : ' whereon the Count fought his rival, the rival slew the Count, and the Countess took poison ? " " Neither have I that, Master Hans. Oh, no ; mine are good books — godly books." " Well, I hope I like godly books too," said Hans, looking a little disappointed however. " You shall read me a spell after supper — " "Which is now ready," said his mother; "so wipe the paint off your hands, Master Hans, and come and say grace like a good Christian." " What a noble white lily you have in your garden ! " said Claude, gazing at it through the open door with admiration. " Ah, that's for me to-morrow," said Lisa, with a bright smile. " I am to walk in the procession, dressed in white, crowned with ivy, and carrying the lily.

Will not that be charming ? " " You will be charming, doubtless," said Claude, rather gravely. "And my two little brothers are to sing hymns of praise, in white albs, and crowned with flowers ! " " Hymns to God ? " " To our patron saint." " Oh," said Claude, coldly. Then addressing himself to Hans, " You seem very busy making dolls, master," observed he. "Dolls!" repeated Hans, laughing. "No; my time is not quite so much wasted as in doing that. They are images of our patron saint ! " « Oh !— " " I suppose you are aware that an image of our blessed Lady fell down from heaven many years ago, into a certain pool in these parts? Ever since, the water of that pool has been famous for effecting miraculous cures, especially on the day of our patron saint. A church was built over the pool, a town formed round the church, and for many years the throngs of pilgrims resorting to it on the Saint's day caused money to circulate freely among us.

Of late years the zeal of pil grims has been much diverted to other shrines ; but a revival has been occasioned by the zealous preaching of some monks, which will, we .expect, result in a great influx of pilgrims to our shrine to-morrow. To supply the demand for images of the Virgin and our Saint, which is looked for, I have nearly completed a stock that would surprise you. Most of them are already dressed ; my mother will finish the others after supper, as fast as I can hand them over to her, and will sell them at the church gate to-morrow. So, there you have the history of my dolls, as you call them," concluded Hans, laughing. " The pageant will be lovely," continued Lisa, turning her beautiful eyes towards Claude. " The streets are already decorated with birch boughs, arching across, so as to form charming arcades ; shrines adorned with gold, with silver, and with flowers, will be seen at the corners of the streets ; blue, green, and scarlet banners will float from the windows ; the bells will ring, the pilgrims will sing hymns, incense will perfume the air ; — the scene will be one of enchantment !

" " And there is to be a miracle-play," added her grandmother, " and Lisa was to have played the Virgin Mary ; but another girl manœuvred her out of the part, which our Lisa bore, I will say for her, with the sweetest temper ! " " Oh, granny, it is not worth speaking about," said Lisa, softly blushing, and looking away. " The Virgin Mary ? " repeated Claude, reflec tively. "Do you know, now, the sound of her name, coupled with a play, grates on my ears ! I suppose you will think me a fastidious fellow." " Oh, no, I shall not," said Lisa, " for really a strange kind of feeling came over me after I had accepted the part, for it seemed to me I was not good enough. So that, on the whole, I was rather thankful that Theresa put herself forward." " I am sure, if you are not good enough, she is not, nor cannot be! " cried Mother Agnes, warmly. " What say you, son Hans ? "

Chapter II Claude Troubles Lisa

" __. HAT I say'" returned Han8> bluntly' \ V " is, that I think you had best not make the girl conceited. I'm pretty nearly sick, for my part, of hearing of nothing from morning to night but muslin gowns, ivy crowns, and all the rest of it. They're all very well in their way. And why are we supping without the children ? Where are Max and Quentin ? School must have been over long: ago." " They're being kept in for a rehearsal," said Mother Agnes. " Their voices are sweet as lin nets', pretty dears ! as Master . Hamelin knows right well. He makes much count of them, and will tutor them to the last. 'Tis no use setting on their thick milk before they return, it will only burn. Oh, here they are ! " At the same moment, two rosy, panting little boys burst into the kitchen. They had evidently been racing home, and were still so full of play that they could not refrain from giving each other sundry pokes and punches.

Fine, curly-headed little urchins, they were, too ; but much more fitted for their coarse blouses and clouted shoes than for angels' garments of white and gold. " Give over, Max," said Quentin, returning his brother's box on the ear, and then staring hard at Claude and his swathed foot. " What made you so late, boys ? " said their father. " There was another rehearsal, father ; thank goodness, the last ! — and crowds of people to hear us. Among others, some English travellers, such comical bodies ! but so grand ! — and I heard one of the ladies whisper to one of the milords that we sang like little angels, and how spiritual it was. Father Jan heard her as well as I, / know ; I could see it in the corner of his eye ; and then he swelled out his chest and beat time more con sequentially than ever ; but just then little Peter kin, who is always up to eome mischief, ran a brass pin into me, up to the head, I do believe ! so that made me cry out ; and then Father Jan, in a rage, gave me a rap on the head, for which I could have cried out still louder, only I dared not.

So I only whimpered a little ; and the English lady looked greatly put out, and muttered, ' What a shame !' — It icas a shame, too, wasn't it, father?" " See ! there goes another procession along the road ; priests, pilgrims, banners, and all ! " cried Max, running to the door. " How tired they look ! — all in a smother of dust ! Men and boys, women and girls, all muttering over their rosaries. I wonder where they'll all sleep to-night !" "Where, indeed!" grumbled Hans; "they never consider that beforehand ; that's the worst of these pilgrimages." " All the inns are full, even the stables," said Quentin ; " I heard people say so." " Oh, the}7 must pack in where they can," said Mother Agnes, gazing after the procession. " Well, but there's no place left to pack in ! " persisted Quentin. " The Lord will provide," said Mother Agnes.

" Well, I hope He will," muttered Hans, returning to his work-bench, " but I shouldn't like Lisa to be among that rabblement, for all that." "Lisa!— no." "AVell, and why not Lisa, as well as any other honest girl, if the Lord will provide? Where's your faith, mother?" His mother made no answer, but began stirring the thick milk over the fire. Claude, unable to leave his seat, had obtained a bird's-eye glimpse of the procession through the door. " Picturesque ! " sighed he. "And yet you look sad," said Lisa, who over heard him. "I feel sad," he replied, averting his eyes. "Do you know," said she softly, as she stood near him at her sewing, " I liked what you said about the Virgin just now." "Indeed?" " Yes, even though it was rather at my expense. There seemed something beautiful in your reve rence for her.

For my part, I quite adore her ! " "Ah," said he, with another sad smile, "that is precisely what I do not ! " " Is it possible ? And yet — " — " Come, master ! " cried Hans from his workc bench, "you promised to read me a spell from one of those books of yours after supper." "And so I will, gladly," replied Claude, un tying his bag. " You know I told you they were all on grave subjects." "None the worse for that. Are they pub lished by authority?" "Oh, yes ; by the highest authority." "Nay then, you can't read amiss." "What will you have?" said Claude, hesi tating. "Here is the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, and what he said on earth, and what people said to him." "That cannot be otherwise than good," said Hans, wringing the nose of one of his little saints with a pair of pincers; "but yet, — one knows all that so well.

Have you ne'er a life of some saint ?" " Oh yes, here's the life of as great a saint as ever lived." "That must be St. Peter, then," said Hans. "No, it is not St. Peter. I won't tell you his name, but I will read you something about him, and then you shall tell me who he is." " Very well ; perhaps I may be deeper versed in legends than you think, unlearned fellow though I am," said Hans, smiling, and dipping his brush into the white paint. "'At this time/" began Claude, reading aloud in a distinct, impressive voice, "'there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain to the craftsmen ; whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this . . ." "Now I come to his name," said Claude, in terrupting himself, "can you give it me?" " No, you baffle me," returned Hans, who had paused from his work. " But go on ; the style and story please me. But craft ? Who was this Diana? a saint? — Why was it a craft to make and sell her shrines ?" " Ah, now you are stretching the word beyond what is here meant," said Claude. " Craft here stands for trade ; though it might well be said that it was craft, truly, in the worst sense, to c make shrines, and get silly, ignorant people to buy them, in honour of a false goddess or saint. Diana was the personification of chastity ; of womanly holiness and purity." — " Hum !" said Hans ; " well ; go on." — " ' this (man) hath persuaded and away much people, saying that they can be no gods which are made with hands : so that not only this our craft is in danger,' — [trade, you know, Master Hans, just as your craft is making saints,) — ' but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence destroy _d, whom all Asia and the world wor shippeth.'" " Just as we all worship the Virgin Mary," put in Hans.

"'When they heard these sayings,"' pursued Claude, " ' they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians ! And the whole city was filled with confusion ; and, having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia (Paul's companions in travel) ....'" "Ah, now you've let the cat out of the bag!" cried Hans; '"Tis St. Paul!— keep on: I like it." i I — " ' they rushed with one accord into the theatre. And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. Some there fore cried one thing, and some another : for the assembly was confused ; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward.

And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians ! And when the town-clerk had appeased the people, he said, Men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?'" " Just like our Virgin," muttered Hans. " 'Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. For ye have brought hither these men, who are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blas phemers of your goddess. Wherefore, if Demetrius and the craftsmen which are with him have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies : let them implead one another!

But if ye inquire anything concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful as sembly. For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly."' — " How well he reads ! " exclaimed Mother Agnes, with admiration, as Claude closed the book. "How spirited the narration is!" said Hans, resuming his brush, which had remained idle. " You may set aside that life of the saint for me, Master Claude ; I shall buy it." " But there are lives of other saints bound up along with it," said Claude. "All the better," said Hans, "if they are equally well written ; I like the sample so much, that I will take them on trust." "Thank you, my worthy friend. May God's blessing be on you as you read ; I think you will find you have not made a bad bargain.

But yet, shall I give you another sample or two ?" " By all means," said Hans. Claude spent a little time in turning over the pages. " I hardly know whether you will like to hear what I have opened upon now," said he, hesitat ing ; " it is spoken by one having authority." " Let's have it then, by all means," said Hans. "Don't scruple, man, nor mince matters!" "The speaker says," pursued Claude, '"They that make a graven image are all of them vanity ; and their delectable things shall not profit ; they are their own witnesses ; they see not, nor know ; that they may be ashamed. Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for anything ? Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed : and the workmen, they are but of men : let them all be gathered together, let them stand up ; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.

The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms : yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth ; he drinketh no water, and is faint. The carpenter stretcheth out his rule ; he marketh it out with a line ; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengthened for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. Then shall it be for a man to burn : for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it to bake bread, and yet maketh thereof a graven image, and worshippeth it !

He burneth part thereof in the fire ; with part thereof he roasteth flesh ; he warmeth himself with it, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire! — and with the residue thereof he maketh a god! falleth down to it ! worshippeth it ! prayeth unto it ! sayeth, Deliver me, for thou art my God ! '" "That is strongly put," said Hans, as Claude paused. " Strongly put ? Is it not true ?" said Claude. " Has not your good mother just swept up your shavings and thrown them on the fire?" " Yes— only, I don't worship these dolls." "If you don't, those will who buy them." "Well, that's true. If one could suppose, now, that what you have just been reading was spoken by one who had a right to speak — " "It is!" cried Claude, his whole face lighting up with some fire from within ; " it's the word of God himself!

It begins, 'Thus saith the Lord.'" " Aye ? And the book i3 " "The Bible!" "I thought as much!" ejaculated Mother Agnes, with a long breath that was almost a sigh. "The Bible? I'm curious to see one," said Hans, with a singular expression stealing over his face ; " I've heard of it often." And he stretched out his hand. "Don't touch it, father!" cried Lisa, stepping forward. " Not touch it, pussy ? And why not ?" "It's dangerous !" " How do you know ? Have you read it ?" "Oh, no! But the priests say so. It teaches bad things. It teaches people to despise the blessed Virgin." "Nay," interposed Claude, "listen to this, — 'And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee : blessed art thou among women.'" "That's the Angelus," said Lisa. "What you call the Angelus is nothing more or less than a text taken out of the Bible.