Abroad | Page 4

ten minutes quite they stayed.
Dennis bought chocolate to make a feast--?They had _three_ dinners in the train, at least.?At Rouen here they are at last, though late--?The bedroom clock there shows 'tis after eight!
Mabel looks tired--she lies back in her chair?Beside the wood fire burning brightly there.?Rose says--"Good-night!"--to Bertie fast asleep,?While her own eyes can scarcely open keep.
Next morning, through the quaint old streets of Rouen?They went to see the old church of Saint Ouen,?With eager feet, and chatting as they walked,?About the ancient Town, together talked.
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éGLISE de ST · OEUN
Said Dennis, first,?"This city bold?Belonged to us?In days of old."?Said Nellie, "Here?Prince Arthur wept--?By cruel John?A prisoner kept.?Here Joan of Arc?Was tried and burned,?When fickle fate?Against her turned."?Said Rose, "Oh dear!?It makes me sad?To think what trouble?People had?Who lived once in?This very town,?Where we walk gaily?Up and down."
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Now they have come into the entrance wide?Of great St. Ouen's Church; see, side by side,?Dennis and Nellie going on before:?The others watch yon beggar at the door--?Poor blind Pierre; he always waits just so,?Listening for those who come and those who go.?He tells his beads, and hopes all day that some?May think of him, 'mongst those who chance to come.?Though he can't see, he is so quick to hear,?He knows a long, long time ere one draws near,?And shakes the coppers in his well-worn tin--?"Click, click," it goes--see, Bertie's gift drops in.?'Tis his _one_ sou that Bertie gives away--?It might have bought him sweets this very day.?When through St. Ouen's Church they'd been at last,?Along its aisles and down its transept passed,?They went to the Cathedral, there to see?The tomb of Rolf, first Duke of Normandy.?But Mabel said, "Why should we _English_ care?About that Rolf they say was buried there?"?Then she ran on, not waiting for reply--?My little reader, can _you_ tell her why?
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ROUEN
RUE DE L'éPICERIE
The Cathedral was cold,?With its dim solemn aisles,?But outside our friends found?The sun waiting, with smiles,?To show them their way,?So hither they came?Along an old street?With a hard French name.
And still walking onward,?Through streets we can't see,?At length reached the Crèche?Of "Soeur Rosalie"--?Where poor women's children?Are kept all day through,?Amused, taught, and tended,?And all for one _sou_.
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Children are happy with "Sister" all day,
Mothers can't nurse them--they work far away.
Good Sister Rosalie, she is so kind,
E'en when they're troublesome, she doesn't mind.
Here in the first room the Babies we see, sitting at _dejeuner_ round Rosalie.
Dodo is crying, he can't find his spoon--some one will find it and comfort him soon.
Over yon cradle bends kind Sister Claire,
Dear little Mimi is waking up there.
Sister Félicité, sweetly sings she,
"Up again, down again, _Bébé_, to me."
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The school-room of the _Crèche_ is wide,?The children sit there, side by side,?While "Sister" hears their lessons through,?And when there's no more work to do?They all get up, and form a ring,?And as they stand, together sing.?Now hand in hand, tramp, tramp they go,?Now in a line march to and fro,?For with the rattle in her hand?The "Sister" makes them understand?When to advance and when draw back--?Click-clack it goes, click-clack, click-clack.?On Stéphanie now turn your eyes,?She's only five, but she's so wise--?She knows the alphabet all through,?And, more than that, can teach it too.?Just now, she moves her wand to J,?And tells the children what to say.?But 'tis no use to tell Ninette,?For she is but a _bébé_ yet.
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ARRIVAL AT CAEN.
Through Rouen when our friends had been,?And all its famous places seen,?They travelled on, old Caen to see,?Another town in Normandy.
Arrived at Caen, the travellers here?Before the chief Hotel appear,?Miss Earle, Rose, Bertie you descry--?The rest are coming by-and-by.
_Monsieur le Ma?tre_, with scrape and bow,?Stands ready to receive them now,?And Madame with her blandest air,?And their alert _Commissionaire_.
Next up the staircase see them go,?With _femme de chambre_ the way to show.?Father and Dennis, standing there,?Are asking for the bill of fare.
_Monsieur le Ma?tre_, who rubs his hands?And says, "What are _Monsieur's_ commands?"?With scrape and bow, again you see--?The most polite of men is he.
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Now that dinner is ordered, we'll just take a peep?At the cooks in the kitchen--just see! what a heap?Of plates are provided, and copper pans too;--?They'll soon make a dinner for me and for you.?French cookery's famous for flavouring rare,?But of _garlic_ I think they've enough and to