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Updated: September 11, 2025
"Father Poupard," admonished his irate mate, brandishing a spade, "Father Poupard, mind what I say!" And then in a more moderate tone, but which was distinctly audible some thirty yards away, "I've put a bottle into your lunch basket. You won't need to buy anything more."
She could be seen three times a day, on her return from the fields, standing by the bridge corner, wailing her distress to any passerby who had time enough to stop and listen. Poupard now possessed all the qualities of mankind and it was probably through his noble soft-heartedness that some ill had befallen him. What a misfortune, especially as the vines needed so much attention.
The curate Poupard, in his History of Sancerre, mentions the inhabitants of Issoudun as remarkable among the other Berrichons for subtlety and natural wit. To-day, the wit and the splendor have alike disappeared.
From the boys George and Leon I learned that old father Poupard had not yet put in his appearance since his departure three days before with his nag, and that mother Poupard had abandoned her belligerent attitude and had resorted to tears.
They pressed so closely about someone that until they were almost upon us I could not distinguish who it might be. Then as mother Poupard pushed her way through the crowd, it parted and displayed her husband; drunk, but with pride; delirious, but with glory proudly bearing his youngest grandson in his arms, leading the other by the hand.
"Shall we ever get through saying 'good-bye'? When will these departures cease?" thought I, as I turned from the gate. But I was given no time to muse, for a most amazing clamor arose from a gateway a little higher up the road, and glancing in that direction, I saw old father Poupard leading his horse and cart into the open.
And then followed a very touching family scene in which the delinquent was forgiven, and during which time one of the bystanders explained that father Poupard had walked from Chateau-Thierry to Epernay, to fetch his orphan grandchildren, and had returned on foot, carrying first one and then the other accomplishing the hundred miles in not quite four days!
And mother Poupard began brandishing a pitch-fork with such violence that I commenced to fear that failing her delinquent spouse, she would fall upon George to wreak vengeance. "Oh, the old devil! Oh " "Look here, I'm not his nurse now clear out, the lot of you!"
"How do I know?" "Was our horse taken? Can you tell us that?" "I think so; yes." "Then why didn't Poupard come back with you and Leon in the cart? Did you see him?" "Yes." "Where was he?" "In front of a cafe as we drove past." "Oh, the old villain! The wretch! Oh, mon Dieu, what shall we do! Oh, the wicked old man if I had him here, I'd thrash him good!"
"Well, thank God, we've got one left anyhow," thought I as I entered the hall. Just then the gate creaked and I could vaguely distinguish in the deepening twilight the forms of mother Poupard and Julia hurrying towards the stables. I followed. "George! George!" called Julia. "Well?" came the answer from within. "George where's the old man?" queried mother Poupard in excited tones.
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