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attention rivetted by his fascinating and animated way 

 of reading aloud. 



So attractive this style of amusing others had proved 

 that M. de Gaspe* has translated, for the benefit of the 

 family circle, in French and copied out in his own 

 hand, nearly all the Waverly. Novels for evening 

 readings. This furnishes a clew to, and the origin of 

 the Canadians of Old, that fragrant blossom of spring 

 amidst the snows of winter. A deep study of the 

 master-minds in literature had sharpened his intellect 

 to that degree, that this volume, like an antique 

 Minerva, sprang from his brain, a complete and fully- 

 equipped creation. Occasionally, to whet the appetite 

 of his youthful listeners for intellectual treats, he would 

 get them to act some of Berquin's exquisite, short 

 dramas or a scene from the Arabian Nights. The grand 

 salon on such occasions was put in requisition; a few 

 friends were then admitted on these gala nights, as 

 well as a sprinkling of his tenants. 



Day time was devoted to shooting or angling excur- 

 sions, saunterings on the shore, field or garden opera- 

 tions on his grounds, with scraps of legal advice — he 

 being a barrister — given gratis to neighbors and tenants 

 from far and near. 



Now and then a fete champetre or picnic was set on 

 foot to the adjoining hills, or under the shade of his 

 verdant maple groves. The jolly young folks, approach- 

 ing the manor on their return, were heard from afar, 

 brimful of glee and boisterously repeating some old 

 Norman or Canadian ballad : 



" Kamenez vos moutons, bergere, 

 Belle bergere, ramenez vos moutons." 



