o learn all that was going on in the
country.

"Ah! it is really Anna-Marie!" said he rising, "it is a long time since
we have seen you."

"Three months, Mr. Goulden, three long months. I have made pilgrimages
to Saint Witt, to Saint Odille, to Marienthal, to Hazlach, and I have
vows for all the saints in Alsace, in Lorraine, and in the Vosges. But
now I have nearly finished, only Saint Quirin remains."

"Ah! so much the better, your affairs go on well, and that gives me
pleasure. Sit down, Anna-Marie, sit down and rest yourself."

I saw in his eyes how happy he was to have her unroll her budget of
news. But it appeared she had other matters to attend to.

"Oh! Mr. Goulden," said she. "I cannot today. Others are before me,
Mother Evig, Gaspard Rosenkranz, and Jacob Heilig. I must go to Saint
Quirin, to-night. I only just came in to tell you that the clock at
Dosenheim is out of order, and that they are expecting you to repair
it."

"Pshaw! pshaw! stay a moment."

"No, I cannot, I am very sorry, Mr. Goulden, but I must finish my
round."

She had already taken up her bundle, and Mr. Goulden seemed greatly
disappointed; when Catherine put a great dish of cabbage on the table,
and said, "What! are you going, Anna-Marie? you cannot think of it!
here is your plate!"

She turned her head and saw the smoking soup and the cabbage, which
exhaled a most delicious odor.

"I am in a great hurry," said she.

"Oh! pshaw! you have very good legs," said Catherine, glancing at Mr.
Goulden.

"Yes, thank God, they are very good still."

"Well, sit down then and refresh yourself. It is hard work to be
always walking."

"Yes, indeed, Madame Bertha, one earns the thirty sous that one gets."

I placed the chairs.

"Sit down, Anna-Marie, and give me your stick."

"Well, I must listen to you, I suppose, but I cannot stay long, I will
only take a mouthful and then go."

"Yes, yes, that is settled, Anna-Marie," said Mr. Goulden; "we will not
hinder you long."

We sat down, and Mr. Goulden served us at once. Catherine looked at me
and smiled, and I said to myself, "Women are more ingenious than we,"
and I was very happy. What more could a man wish for than to have a
wife with sense and spirit? It is a real treasure, and I have often
seen that men are happy when they allow themselves to be guided by such
a woman. You can easily believe that when once seated at the table
near the fire, instead of being out in