Through the chimney filters the light of the sky, green tones fall from
above on the stones of the hearth, and through the open door appears the
Breton lane, with a ray of the setting sun on the honeysuckle and the
ferns.
We become dreamers, Yves and I, on this visit we have come to pay to the
dwelling of the grandparents.
Besides, grandmother Marianne speaks only Breton. From time to time Yves
addresses her in this language of the past; she replies, smiles, seems
pleased to see us; but the conversation quickly flags and silence
returns.
Vague melancholy of the evening, dreams of far-off days in this old
dwelling which soon will collapse by the roadside, which will fall into
ruin like its old inmates, and which no one will ever rebuild.
Little Pierre is with us. He is very fond of this little cottage and of
this old grandmother, who spoils him with adoration. He loves especially
the little oaken cradle, a work of another century, in which he was put
when he was born. He is longer than his cradle now and uses it, sitting
within, as a see-saw, looking about him with his wide-open dark eyes.
And now his grandmother, stooping near him, her back bent under her
frilled collarette, begins to rock him herself to amuse him. And as she
rocks she sings, and he, every now and then, interrupts the quavering
notes with a burst of his child's laughter.
Boudoul galaïchen! boudoul galaïch du!
Sing, poor old woman, with your broken, trembling voice, sing the
ancient lullaby, the air which comes from the distant night of dead
generations, and which your grandchildren will no longer know!
Boudoul, boudoul! Galaïchen, galaïch du!
One expects to see gnomes and fairies descend by the wide chimney, with
the light that comes from above.
Outside, the sun gilds stills the branches of the oaks, the honeysuckle
and the ferns.
Inside, in the lonely cottage, all is mysterious and dark.
Boudoul, boudoul! Galaïchen, galaïch du!
Rock your little grandson, rock him still, old woman in white frilled
collar! Soon the Breton songs, and the old Bretons who sing them, will
be no more!
And little Pierre joins his hands to say his evening prayer.
Word for word, in a very sweet voice which has a strong Toulven accent,
he repeats, watching us the while, all that his grandmother knows of
French:
"Oh God, and blessed Virgin Mary, and good Saint Anne, I pray to you for
my father, for my mother, for my godfather, for my grandparents, for my
little sister Yvonne. . . ."
"For my Uncle Goulven who is far away at sea," adds Yves in a grave
voice.
And still more solemnly:
"For my grandmother at Plouherzel."
"For my grandmother at Plouherzel," repeats little Pierre.
And then he waits for something more to repeat, keeping his hands
joined.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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