Madame De Sevigne.*

care of her natural uncle , the Abbe de Coulanges , who took her with him to his " abbaye de Livry , " and became to her indeed a true friend and guide for many eventful years . She always terms him " le Bienbon . " Probabl y the happiest hours of her own life were spent at Livry , where she grew up a charming young woman , receiving , happily , an admirable educationwhich afterwards bore sweet good fruit . At eighteen she is

, described as most " lovel y "—an heiress , surrounded with numerous admirers , and among them her cousin , the notorious Bussy Rabutin ; and then all of a sudden a marriage is arranged between this fascinating heiress and the rich and good-looking young Marquis de Sevigne , allied with the highest families in France including that of " Duguesclin , " and in 1644 , August 4 th , the young couple are married in the Church of St . Gervais and St . Protais at Paris . Thus

ends happily the first chapter of Madame de Sevigne ' s eventful life . The second , alas , does not close so well . For some time all went cheerily with the young couple , for theirs was a " rnariage d'affection , " ancl they seem to have led a very contented and enjoyable life , and to have had a very flourishing " menage " both in Brittany and at Paris .

But , alas , evil days soon came on—the blue sk y became overclouded . The charming and loving wife , clever , graceful , devoted , whom everyone admired but her own husband ( though he did , no doubt , in a way ) , was deserted for long and weary hours . Her husband hacl come under the baneful influence of a certain well-known , " Ninon cle L'Enclos , " on whom he wasted large sums of his own and his wife ' s fortuneancl for whom he neglected the

, wife who lived onl y for him . A daughter was born to them in the autumn of 1646 , ancl in the March of 1648 , the birth of a second child , a son , afterwards the Marquis de Sevigne , took place . In 1651 , five years after their marriage , her husband was slain in a duel by the Chevalier d'Albret , a deed unlamented apparently except by his ever faithful wife . The poor grieving widow then took refuge with her good

old uncle , ancl who , happily for her , lived until 1687 , nine years only before her own death . Henceforth , refusing all offers of marriage , she devoted herself to the education of her children ancl the payment of her husband ' s debts .

She was still young , beautiful , clever , fond of society and intellectual culture , and at one time proved the delight of a congenial circle of famous literati ancl graceful dames . But all this she gave up , for some years living in absolute retirement . There are many descriptions of her in her corporeal and mental charms , all no doubt perfectly true and life-like . Some of us who read old French poetry may remember some lines of " Montreuil , " which Mrs . Ritchie gives us . They were written on seeing her play at " Blindman ' s Buff . "

De toutes les facons vous avez le droit de plaire , Mais surtout vous savez nous charmer , Voyant vos yeus bandes , on vous prend pour 1 'Amour , Les voyant decouverts , on vous prend pour sa Mere . Mrs . Ritchie adds " the original has not lost by the change , " and then sets before us a translation b y Mr . Hallam Tennyson , which all will admire : —

Tour right is to enthral , Yon charm in every way ; But surely most of all , You charm ns all to-day . Your blind-fold eyes we see , And deem you Love—none other , Your blind-fold eyes we free , And lo ! you are Love's Mother .