Short Story Summary
Mamzelle Aurelie was a strong woman who lived alone in her farm house. She had never married and even turned down a proposal at the age of twenty. Her only companion was her dog Ponto and the slaves who attended to her farm. One morning she was standing on her porch when a small group of children and their mother unexpectedly arrived. It was her neighbor Odile and her children. Neighbor was a word used loosely in those days seeing as the closest home might be miles away. There were four children Marceline, Marcelette, Ti Nomme and the youngest Elodie. Odile had brought the children to Mamzelle Aurelie’s home in hopes that she would take care of them while Odile went to care for her sick mother.
Odile’s husband was away in Texas and therefore left her with no one to care for the children while she attended to her dangerously ill mother in a town nearby. Odile begged Mamzelle Aurelie to care for her children and not to turn them away. Odile turned hastily and left without even allowing Mamzelle to respond. Odile left Mamzelle and the children standing on the porch and it took a few moments for Mamzelle Aurelie to contemplate her plan of action and then she decided to start by feeding them. Over the first few days it was to be determined that she had no clue what to do, but with the help of Marceline, Marcelette and her negroes she managed to get a handle on it. At first she complained about the children. After two weeks time Mamzelle grew to like the children and then like grew into love. It was at that same time that Mamzelle spotted Odile’s wagon coming towards the farm house and as quickly as the children arrived they were gone in a flash. With the departure of the children Mamzelle’s heart broke and she sat down to cry. She sobbed so hard she did not even notice her dog Ponto licking her. Thus exhibiting Mamzelle Aurelie’s regret.