ional peddlers, who tempted the women with _chiffons_ and
trinkets. The few slaves owned were humble members of the household,
assisting in the cultivation of small patches of maize, sweet potatoes,
and cotton, from which last the women manufactured the wonderful
Attakapas _cotonnade_, the ordinary clothing of both sexes. Their little
_cabanes_ dotted the broad prairie in all directions, and it was
pleasant to see the smoke curling from their chimneys, while herds of
cattle and ponies grazed at will. Here, unchanged, was the French
peasant of Fenelon and Bossuet, of Louis le Grand and his successor le
Bien-Aime. Tender and true were his traditions of la belle France, but
of France before Voltaire and the encyclopaedists, the Convention and the
Jacobins--ere she had lost faith in all things, divine and human, save
the _bourgeoisie_ and _avocats_. Mounted on his pony, with lariat in
hand, he herded his cattle, or shot and fished; but so gentle was his
nature, that lariat and rifle seemed transformed into pipe and crook of
shepherd. Light wines from the Medoc, native oranges, and home-made
sweet cakes filled his largest conceptions of feasts; and violin and
clarionet made high carnival in his heart.

On an occasion, passing the little hamlet of Grand Coteau, I stopped to
get some food for man and horse. A pretty maiden of fifteen springs,
whose parents were absent, welcomed me. Her lustrous eyes and long
lashes might have excited the envy of "the dark-eyed girl of Cadiz."
Finding her alone, I was about to retire and try my fortune in another
house; but she insisted that she could prepare "monsieur un diner dans
un tour de main," and she did. Seated by the window, looking modestly on
the road, while I was enjoying her repast, she sprang to her feet,
clapped her hands joyously, and exclaimed: "V'la le gros Jean Baptiste
qui passe sur son mulet avec _deux_ bocals. Ah! nous aurons grand bal ce
soir." It appeared that _one_ jug of claret meant a dance, but _two_
very high jinks indeed. As my hostess declined any remuneration for her
trouble, I begged her to accept a pair of plain gold sleeve buttons, my
only ornaments. Wonder, delight, and gratitude chased each other across
the pleasant face, and the confiding little creature put up her rose-bud
mouth. In an instant the homely room became as the bower of Titania, and
I accepted the chaste salute with all the reverence of a subject for his
Queen, then rode away with uncovered hea