Excerpt from In the Village of Viger

City came and put up the oddest wooden house that one could imagine. It was perfectly square there was a window and a door in front, a win dow at the side, and a window upstairs. There were many surmises as to the probable occupant of such a diminutive habitation and the widow Laroque, who made dresses and trimmed hats, and whose shop was directly opposite, and next door to the Post Oflice, suffered greatly from unsatisfied curiosity. No one who looked like the proprietor was ever seen near the place. The foreman of the laborers who were working at the house seemed to know nothing all that he said, in answer to questions, was: I have my orders.

At last the house was ready; it was painted within and without, and Madame Laroque could scarcely believe her eyes when, one morning, a man came from the City with a small Sign under his arm and nailed it above the door. It bore these words: Mademoiselle Viau, Milliner. Ah! Said Madame Laroque, the bread is to be taken out of my mouth. The next day came a load of furniture, - not a very large load, as there was only a small stove, two tables, a bedstead, three chairs, a sort of lounge, and two large boxes. The man who brought the things put them in the house, and locked the door on them when he went away; then noth ing happened for two weeks, but Madame16 IN the village OF viger.

Laroque watched. Such a queer little house it was, as it stood there S) new in its coat of gum colored paint. It looked just like a square bandbox which some Titan had made for his wife; and there seemed no doubt that if you took hold of the chimney and lifted the roof off, you would see the gigantic bonnet, with its strings and ribbons, which the Titaness could wear to church on Sundays.

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