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Christmas time she fell down； unconscious； in the snow； and was found
dead the next morning。
And when Chicot came in for the farm； he said：
〃It was very stupid of her； if she had not taken to drink she would
probably have lived ten years longer。〃
BOITELLE
Father Boitelle （Antoine） made a specialty of undertaking dirty jobs all
through the countryside。 Whenever there was a ditch or a cesspool to be
cleaned out； a dunghill removed； a sewer cleansed； or any dirt hole
whatever； he way always employed to do it。
He would come with the instruments of his trade； his sabots covered with
dirt； and set to work； complaining incessantly about his occupation。
When people asked him then why he did this loathsome work； he would reply
resignedly：
〃Faith； 'tis for my children； whom I must support。 This brings me in
more than anything else：'
He had； indeed； fourteen children。 If any one asked him what had become
of them； he would say with an air of indifference：
〃There are only eight of them left in the house。 One is out at service
and five are married。〃
When the questioner wanted to know whether they were well married； he
replied vivaciously：
〃I did not oppose them。 I opposed them in nothing。 They married just as
they pleased。 We shouldn't go against people's likings； it turns out
badly。 I am a night scavenger because my parents went against my
likings。 But for that I would have become a workman like the others。〃
Here is the way his parents had thwarted him in his likings：
He was at the time a soldier stationed at Havre； not more stupid than
another； or sharper either； a rather simple fellow； however。 When he was
not on duty； his greatest pleasure was to walk along the quay； where the
bird dealers congregate。 Sometimes alone； sometimes with a soldier from
his own part of the country； he would slowly saunter along by cages
containing parrots with green backs and yellow heads from the banks of
the Amazon； or parrots with gray backs and red heads from Senegal； or
enormous macaws； which look like birds reared in hot…houses； with their
flower…like feathers； their plumes and their tufts。 Parrots of every
size； who seem painted with minute care by the miniaturist； God Almighty；
and the little birds； all the smaller birds hopped about； yellow； blue
and variegated； mingling their cries with the noise of the quay； and
adding to the din caused by unloading the vessels； as well as by
passengers and vehicles； a violent clamor； loud； shrill and deafening； as
if from some distant forest of monsters。
Boitelle would pause； with wondering eyes； wide…open mouth； laughing and
enraptured； showing his teeth to the captive cockatoos； who kept nodding
their white or yellow topknots toward the glaring red of his breeches and
the copper buckle of his belt。 When he found a bird that could talk he
put questions to it； and if it happened at the time to be disposed to
reply and to hold a conversation with him he would carry away enough
amusement to last him till evening。 He also found heaps of amusement in
looking at the monkeys； and could conceive no greater luxury for a rich
man than to own these animals as one owns cats and dogs。 This kind of
taste for the exotic he had in his blood； as people have a taste for the
chase； or for medicine； or for the priesthood。 He could not help
returning to the quay every time the gates of the barracks opened； drawn
toward it by an irresistible longing。
On one occasion； having stopped almost in ecstasy before an enormous
macaw； which was swelling out its plumes； bending forward and bridling up
again as if making the court curtseys of parrot…land； he saw the door of
a little cafe adjoining the bird dealer's shop open； and a young negress
appeared； wearing on her head a red silk handkerchief。 She was sweeping
into the street the corks and sand of the establishment。
Boitelle's attention was soon divided between the bird and the woman； and
he really could not tell which of these two beings he contemplated with
the greater astonishment and delight。
The negress； having swept the rubbish into the street； raised her eyes；
and； in her turn； was dazzled by the soldier's uniform。 There she stood
facing him with her broom in her hands as if she were bringing him a
rifle； while the macaw continued bowing。 But at the end of a few seconds
the soldier began to feel embarrassed at this attention； and he walked
away quietly so as not to look as if he were beating a retreat。
But he came back。 Almost every day he passed before the Cafe des
Colonies； and often he could distinguish through the window the figure of
the little black…skinned maid serving 〃bocks〃 or glasses of brandy to the
sailors of the port。 Frequently； too； she would come out to the door on
seeing him； soon； without even having exchanged a word； they smiled at
one another like acquaintances； and Boitelle felt his heart touched when
he suddenly saw； glittering between the dark lips of the girl； a shining
row of white teeth。 At length； one day he ventured to enter； and was
quite surprised to find that she could speak French like every one else。
The bottle of lemonade； of which she was good enough to accept a
glassful； remained in the soldier's recollection memorably delicious； and
it became a custom with him to come and absorb in this little tavern on
the quay all the agreeable drinks which he could afford。
For him it was a treat； a happiness； on which his thoughts dwelt
constantly； to watch the black hand of the little maid pouring something
into his glass while her teeth laughed more than her eyes。 At the end of
two months they became fast friends； and Boitelle； after his first
astonishment at discovering that this negress had as good principles as
honest French girls； that she exhibited a regard for economy； industry；
religion and good conduct； loved her more on that account； and was so
charmed with her that he wanted to marry her。
He told her his intentions； which made her dance with joy。 She had also
a little money； left her by； a female oyster dealer； who had picked her
up when she had been left on the quay at Havre by an American captain。
This captain had found her； when she was only about six years old； lying
on bales of cotton in the hold of his ship； some hours after his
departure from New York。 On his arrival in Havre he abandoned to the
care of this compassionate oyster dealer the little black creature； who
had been hidden on board his vessel； he knew not why or by whom。
The oyster woman having died； the young negress became a servant at the
Colonial Tavern。
Antoine Boitelle added： 〃This will be all right if my parents don't
oppose it。 I will never go against them； you understand； never！ I'm
going to say a word or two to them the first time I go back to the
country。〃
On the following week； in fact； having obtained twenty…four hours' leave；
he went to see his family； who cultivated a little farm at Tourteville；
near Yvetot。
He waited till the meal was finished； the hour when the coffee baptized
with brandy makes people more open…hearted； before informing his parents
that he had found a girl who satisfied his tastes； all his tastes； so
completely that there could not exist any other in all the world so
perfectly suited to him。
The old people； on hearing this； immediately assumed a cautious manner
and wanted explanations。 He had concealed nothing from them except the
color of her skin。
She was a servant； without much means； but strong； thrifty； clean； well…
conducted and sensible。 All these things were better than money would be
in the hands of a bad housewife。 Moreover； she had a few sous； left her
by a woman who had reared her； a good number of sous； almost a little
dowry； fifteen hundred francs in the savings bank。 The old people；
persuaded by his talk； and relying also on their own judgment； were
gradually weakening； when he came to the delicate point。 Laughing in
rather a constrained fashion； he said：
〃There's only one thing you may not like。 She is not a white slip。〃
They did not understand； and he had to explain at some length and very
cautiously； to avoid shocking them； that she belonged to the dusky race
of which they had only seen samples in pictures at Epinal。 Then they
became restless； perplexed； alarmed； as if he had proposed a union with
the devil。
The mother said： 〃Black？ How much of her is black？ Is the whole of
her？〃
He replied： 〃Certainly。 Everywhere； just as you are white everywhere。〃
The father interposed： 〃Black？ Is it as black as the pot？〃
The son answered： 〃Perhaps a little less than that。 She is black； but
not disgustingly black。 The cure's cassock is black； but it is not
uglier than a surplice which is white。〃
The father said： 〃Are there more black people besides her in her
country？〃
And the son； with an air of conviction； exclaimed： 〃Certainly！〃
But the old man shook his head。
〃That must be unpleasant。〃
And the son：
〃It isn't more disagreeable than anything else when you get accustomed to
it。〃
The mother asked：
〃It doesn't soil the underwear more than other skins； this black skin？〃
〃Not more than you