Page:Account of a most surprising savage girl, who was caught wild in the woods of Champagne, a province in France.pdf/2



NE evening, in the month of September, 1761, a girl nine or ten years old being pressed, as it would seem, by thirst, entered about the twilight into Songi, a village four or five leagues south of Chalons in Champagne, a province in France. She had on her feet, her body was covered  rags and skins, her hair with a  leaf, and her face and hands were  black as a negro's. She was armed  a short baton, thicker at one end  the other very like a club. Those first observed her, took to their heels, crying out, There is the devil. Bad indeed her dress and colour might well this idea to the country people, and happiest were they who could soonest  their doors and windows; but one  them, thinking that the devil was  of dogs, set loose upon her a bull  with an iron collar The little  seeing him advance in a fury, kept  ground without flinching, and  her little club with both hands, stretched herself to one side, in order to  greater scope to the blow.