AN ACCOUNT
Of a Surprising Savage Girl.
ONE 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 ⟨nothing⟩ on her feet, her body was covered ⟨with⟩ rags and 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. Bad 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 ⟨grasped⟩ her little club with both hands, stretched herself to one side, in order to ⟨give⟩ greater scope to the blow. ⟨Perceiving⟩
