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the Sergeant of Waterloo; one evening in the spring of 1818; would certainly have attracted; by its mass; the attention of any painter who had passed that way。
It was the fore…carriage of one of those trucks which are used in wooded tracts of country; and which serve to transport thick planks and the trunks of trees。
This fore…carriage was posed of a massive iron axle…tree with a pivot; into which was fitted a heavy shaft; and which was supported by two huge wheels。 The whole thing was pact; overwhelming; and misshapen。 It seemed like the gun…carriage of an enormous cannon。
The ruts of the road had bestowed on the wheels; the fellies; the hub; the axle; and the shaft; a layer of mud; a hideous yellowish daubing hue; tolerably like that with which people are fond of ornamenting cathedrals。 The wood was disappearing under mud; and the iron beneath rust。 Under the axle…tree hung; like drapery; a huge chain; worthy of some Goliath of a convict。
This chain suggested; not the beams; which it was its office to transport; but the mastodons and mammoths which it might have served to harness; it had the air of the galleys; but of cyclopean and superhuman galleys; and it seemed to have been detached from some monster。
Homer would have bound Polyphemus with it; and Shakespeare; Caliban。
Why was that fore…carriage of a truck in that place in the street? In the first place; to encumber the street; next; in order that it might finish the process of rusting。
There is a throng of institutions in the old social order; which one es across in this fashion as one walks about outdoors; and which have no other reasons for existence than the above。
The centre of the chain swung very near the ground in the middle; and in the loop; as in the rope of a swing; there were seated and grouped; on that particular evening; in exquisite interlacement; two little girls; one about two years and a half old; the other; eighteen months; the younger in the arms of the other。
A handkerchief; cleverly knotted about them; prevented their falling out。 A mother had caught sight of that frightful chain; and had said; 〃e! there's a plaything for my children。〃
The two children; who were dressed prettily and with some elegance; were radiant with pleasure; one would have said that they were two roses amid old iron; their eyes were a triumph; their fresh cheeks were full of laughter。
One had chestnut hair; the other; brown。 Their innocent faces were two delighted surprises; a blossoming shrub which grew near wafted to the passers…by perfumes which seemed to emanate from them; the child of eighteen months displayed her pretty little bare stomach with the chaste indecency of childhood。 Above and around these two delicate heads; all made of happiness and steeped in light; the gigantic fore…carriage; black with rust; almost terrible; all entangled in curves and wild angles; rose in a vault; like the entrance of a cavern。
A few paces apart; crouching down upon the threshold of the hostelry; the mother; not a very prepossessing woman; by the way; though touching at that moment; was swinging the two children by means of a long cord; watching them carefully; for fear of accidents; with that animal and celestial expression which is peculiar to maternity。
At every backward and forward swing the hideous links emitted a strident sound; which resembled a cry of rage; the little girls were in ecstasies; the setting sun mingled in this joy; and nothing could be more charming than this caprice of chance which had made of a chain of Titans the swing of cherubim。
As she rocked her little ones; the mother hummed in a discordant voice a romance then celebrated:
〃It must be; said a warrior。〃
Her song; and the contemplation of her daughters; prevented her hearing and seeing what was going on in the street。
In the meantime; some one had approached her; as she was beginning the first couplet of the romance; and suddenly she heard a voice saying very near her ear:
〃You have two beautiful children there; Madame。〃
〃To the fair and tender Imogene〃
replied the mother; continuing her romance; then she turned her head。
A woman stood before her; a few paces distant。
This woman also had a child; which she carried in her arms。
She was carrying; in addition; a large carpet…bag; which seemed very heavy。
This woman's child was one of the most divine creatures that it is possible to behold。
lt was a girl; two or three years of age。 She could have entered into petition with the two other little ones; so far as the coquetry of her dress was concerned; she wore a cap of fine linen; ribbons on her bodice; and Valenciennes lace on her cap。 The folds of her skirt were raised so as to permit a view of her white; firm; and dimpled leg。
She was admirably rosy and healthy。 The little beauty inspired a desire to take a bite from the apples of her cheeks。
Of her eyes nothing could be known; except that they must be very large; and that they had magnificent lashes。 She was asleep。
She slept with that slumber of absolute confidence peculiar to her age。
The arms of mothers are made of tenderness; in them children sleep profoundly。
As for the mother; her appearance was sad and poverty…stricken。 She was dressed like a working…woman who is inclined to turn into a peasant again。
She was young。
Was she handsome?
Perhaps; but in that attire it was not apparent。
Her hair; a golden lock of which had escaped; seemed very thick; but was severely concealed beneath an ugly; tight; close; nun…like cap; tied under the chin。
A smile displays beautiful teeth when one has them; but she did not smile。 Her eyes did not seem to have been dry for a very long time。 She was pale; she had a very weary and rather sickly appearance。 She gazed upon her daughter asleep in her arms with the air peculiar to a mother who has nursed her own child。
A large blue handkerchief; such as the Invalides use; was folded into a fichu; and concealed her figure clumsily。
Her hands were sunburnt and all dotted with freckles; her forefinger was hardened and lacerated with the needle; she