Bolax Part 28

Sans que je te nomme, Mon pet.i.t "Bon Homme,"

Je m' adresse au ciel; Et je te souhaite Une belle fete, Un heureux Noel, Un coeur pur et sage, Voila le presage, D'un bonheur reel.

MADAME.

Avec beaucoup d' amour je suis votre fils.

B. ALLEN.

_Bien Chere Mere_: Vous me demandez encore une autre lettre en francais!

Whew! How am I to manage it? Why on earth do they have male and female verbs, and adjectives, and spell the participles differently at every turn. It's no use, I'll never do it! Brother Director tells me I read well, talk well, p.r.o.nounce well, that ought to be enough.

Hier j'aide le frere Pascal, qui est le cuisiniere de porte le bois dans la cuisine, without thinking, j'ai laisser tomber les morceau de bois dans un chaudron de soup.

Le bon frere didn't get mad, he just said: "Tu a fais ton mieux mon pet.i.t, voici des pommes en payment de votre ouvrage." I didn't consider it work, it was just play.

J'ai achete' des raquettes (snow shoes) we have a fine skating rink, and we play hockey every day.

I had to buy new moccasins, mine were all cut after a long walk over a rough road. I have a new Cache-nez (m.u.f.fler) and a surtout; et un casquette Canadian, which covers toute ma tete et mes oreilles, leaving only my eyes and nose free, so I don't feel the cold, although the thermometer is always below zero.

March 5th.

_Dear Papa and Mamma_: It is now three weeks since I wrote the above. I have been in the infirmary, but don't be alarmed; I'm all right now. The way it was, the boys dared me to climb a telegraph pole covered with ice. As I had once climbed a greased pole, I thought I could manage this one. I succeeded somehow, though I had a hard tussle to accomplish the feat.

The boys cheered and made such a racket, one of the Brothers came out, in my hurry to descend I fell when within a few feet of the ground, and broke my ankle. Dr. Dion, a fine surgeon, set it, and placed my foot in plaster-of-paris. Brother Director wrote to Aunt Lucy and Dr. Carroll, but not to Papa or you, as it was no use to worry you. I have had the best of care, the Brother Infirmarian was a doctor out in the world and knows all about nursing.

I am fed on "sugar and spice and everything nice."

Monsieur Le Cure sits with me every day. I could walk now if they would let me.

I am not losing my lessons, but keep up as near as possible with the cla.s.ses.

Brother Director hears me the lessons. Brother Paul (the Infirmarian) does not speak a word of English, so that will help my French. Give my love to dear Papa and to Aunt Euhler. I will write her a letter soon, her last about the tame alligator was enjoyed by the whole College. She says you all eat alligator's tails, that the meat is like chicken. I wish you could send one up here, I'd like to taste it. Now don't worry, I'll soon be as well as ever.

J'ai l'honneur de me dire, avec une parfaite affection, Votre fils--Ahem!

BOLAX.

EASTER SUNDAY.

_Bien Cher Papa et Chere Maman_: I still continue strong and well, and pray that you and dear Papa are in good health. I have really tried hard to study and keep the rules of the College. With this I send another "Gold Certificate," which shows I have given satisfaction.

I long so to see you as the time approaches for vacation.

I go to Holy Communion every Sunday and First Friday, but you needn't think I am going to be a Christian Brother, or a Priest. I would be afraid I might get tired and cut up didoes like that Monk we read of in Ivanhoe.

Always votre fils,

BOLAX.

P. S.--The Monk's name was Friar Tuck. I remember Uncle d.i.c.k telling about him.

"Hurrah, Hurrah! for vacation's coming, And the weeks of Jubilee!"

AWARDING PRIZES.

The weeks rolled on in spite of the oft-repeated saying among students, "Vacation will never come." The examinations began on June 15th; quite a number of patrons attended. Bolax stood the test of examination finely, all things considered, but his former lack of application showed itself in several things, particularly arithmetic.

In addition to the three medals given by the gentlemen, a prize had been offered for the best declamation. All prizes were to be awarded at the closing exercises on Commencement Day.

The large exhibition hall was crowded on that afternoon, which was a regular fete for the people of L'Islet. Great pains had been taken to dress the hall, its walls were festooned with evergreens, and the s.p.a.cious platform gay with flags.

The boys were dressed in white pants and blue jackets. Everything that skill and taste, combined with economy, could suggest, had been done to make the place attractive, and the occasion pleasant.

"What uncouth creatures boys are!" observed one young lady to a bevy of misses seated near her. "Look, there isn't one in that crowd sitting gracefully, they all act as if their hands were in their way." "You don't mean to say my brother is ungraceful, do you?" asked Julie Bernier.

"Oh, I'm not referring to the collegiate cla.s.s; they certainly are gentlemen, but the juniors."

"I think," remarked Anaise Latour, "Young Allen, one of the American boys, is very graceful, and he has such a pleasant expression of face."

"Oh, he's too fat to be graceful," retorted Julie Bernier.

A general t.i.tter followed this remark. Before the girls were ready to renew their criticisms, the call bell rang. Brother Director announced that the exercises would open with an address by Monsieur Le Cure.

After the address came the spirited hymn, "Nous Sommes Les Soldats de la Foi" (We are the Soldiers of the Faith), played by the College band, and sung by all the boys.

Next on the program came the declamations by the juniors, of course, most of the pieces were given in French, as few among the audience understood English.

George Fulton came first, with a comic Piece, taking off "Stump Speaking." This elicited much applause, because of the excellent mimicry of the speaker.

Bolax Allen gave Joaquin Miller's "Columbus." As he imitated the Admiral's "Sail on! Sail on! Sail on and on!" he thrilled the audience with the power of his voice. One could almost fancy they saw Columbus as he paced his deck on the eventful night before he sighted land.

Mr. H. Bernier and Mr. L. Harrison entered into a comic debate as to the superior merits of their respective nations. Bernier for the French, Harrison for the English. The young gentlemen seemed so in earnest, got into a dispute and spoke in such angry tones, that every one expected to see them resort to fisticuffs. At a point when they appeared to be in a rage against each other, old Farmer Tourier happened to come into the hall, and being struck with what he thought the disgraceful conduct of the boys, jumped on the stage to separate them.

"Have you no respect for Monsieur Le Cure and the Brothers?" he demanded in a loud voice.

Monsieur Le Cure and the other gentlemen on the platform were so convulsed with laughter, it was some minutes before any one interfered.

The audience fairly shouted and clapped, it was a regular pandemonium.

At last one of the Brothers went up to poor old Tourier and whispered to him. You should have seen his crestfallen appearance when he found he had been making a laughing stock of himself.

Poor old fellow, all summer the villagers laughed whenever they met him, as his wife said: