Regional popular literature has preserved for us, by chance, certain tales and other fiauves. Whether it’s the famous tales of Fraimbois, with their caustic humour, or old fantastic legends like that of the Polyboot Fairy or the high hunting of Buzy, all these stories belong of course to the local heritage.
Allow us to relate one of these stories here, in order to give the reader a glimpse of what our ancestors could hear by the fire, during the long winter evenings. She is a bit cavalier, but who cares! If she can make one or two smile, that’ll be it.
“Mother Volette was seriously ill and the doctor had come many times. As she was getting better and she was stingy, she was worried about paying the bill. Once, in the middle of the night, the doctor, a good doctor from Verdun who took good care of her, arrived, looked at her and examined her. And now, stirring in her bed, Mother Volette lets out a big fart.
– Oh ! Oh ! Madam, said the doctor, here is a wind that is well worth twenty francs.
– So much the better doctor! replied the Shutter. You will only have to take it as a deposit! »
Nice story, isn’t it? However, it would be necessary to add to it the story of the darou hunt and other tales that Fernand Rousselot, Georges Chepfer and a few others were able to transmit with humor and good nature. Such as this short story, which comes to us from Cumières:
“Dad, is it true that you married Mum because she fell into the water and you saved her when she was drowning in the Meuse?
– Yes my son, it is perfectly true! »
– So Dad, why don’t you want me to learn to swim? »
Tasty, isn’t it? These stories used to be told, by the fireside.
