Page:Account of a most surprising savage girl.pdf/2

 THE SURPRISING

ONE evening, in the month of September last, 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 of France. She had nothing on her feet, her body was covered with rags of skins, her hair with a gourd leaf, and her face and hands were as black as a Negro’s. She was armed with a short baton, thicker at one end than the other, very like a club. Those who first observed her, took to their heels, crying out, There is the devil.And, indeed, her dress and colour might well suggest this idea to the country people; and happiest were they who could soonest secure their doors and windows. But one of them thinking that the devil was afraid of dogs, set loose upon her a bull dog with an iron collar. The little savage seeing him advance in a fury, kept her ground without flinching, and grasping her little club with both her hands, stretched herself to one side, in order to