The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-06-12

Harris reformed.-T Nat. Intelligcnccr.
.SUPERSTITIOUS CREDULITY.
AN AUTHENTIC FACT.
A widow lady at Paris, aged about 65,
who lodged in two pair OF stairs floor,
with only maid servant, was accustomed
to spend several hours every day before
the altar dedicated to St. Paul in a neigh
boring church. Some villains, observing
her extreme bigotry, resolved, as she was
known to be very rich, to share her
wealth. One of them, accordingly, took
the opportunity to conceal himself behind
the carved work Of the altar, and, whcnno
person but the old lady was there, in the
dusk ofthe evening, he contrived to throw
a letter just before her. She took it up,
and not seeing any one near supposed it
came by miracle. In this she was the
more confirmed, when she saw il signed,
|" Paul the Apostle" expressing the sat
islaction he received by her prayers adj
dressed to him, when SO many cannonized
saints engrossed the devotion Of the world,
and robbed the primitive saints of their
wonted alteration; and to show his rcgcrd
for the devotee he promised to come from
heaven with the angel Gabriel, on a GER
tain evening and sup with her at eight o.
clock. The infatuated lady believed the
whole, and rose from her knees in trans
port, and Immediately began to make pre-
parutions for the entertainment Of her heav
emily guests. 81
The supper being bespoke, and the
sideboard set out to the best advantages,
she thought that her own plate, worth a.
bout f4OO, did NOT HIaAa 90 elegant nm
appearance as might be wished: and th.r.
fore sent to her brother, counseIIof in
the parliament of Paris, to borrow all his
plate. The maid, however, was charged
not to disclose the occasion, but only to
say, that she had company to supper, and
would be obliged to him he would lend
his plate for the evening. The council
lor surprised at the application, well know
ing his sisters frugal life, began to sus-
pect, that she was enamourcd of some
fortune hunter, who might marry her, and
thus deprive his family of what he expect.
ed at his sisters's dcuth. He therefore
positively refused to send the plate, unless
the maid would tell what guests were ex-
pected. The girl, alarmed for her mis-.
trcss' honor, declared that her pious lady
had no thoughts of a husband--but that
st. Paul, having sent her letter from
heaven, promising that he and the angel
Gabriel would sup with her, she wished to
make the entertainment as elegant as pos !,
sible.
The counsellor Immediately suspected
hat some villain had imposed on her; and
sending the maid with the plate, proceed
ed directly to the commissary of that quar-
.er On the magistrates going to the
house adjoining with him, they saw, just
before o'clock, tall man, dressed in n
ong vestment, with white beard, and q
young man in white, with large wings at
his shoulders, alight from hackney
coach, and go up to his sisters apartment.
The commissary immediately ordered
l2 of the police guards to post themselves
OH the stairs while he knocked at the door,
and desired admittance. The lady repli-
ed that she had company, and could not
speak to any one. But the commissary
that he must come in, for that
he was St. Peter, and had come to ask ST.
Paul and the angel Gabriel, how they
came out ofheaven without his knowledge.
The dirine visitors were astonishcd at this,
not expecting ony more saints 10 join, but
he lady oveneycd at having so great On.
Apostle with her, ran cngcrly to the door,
when the commissary, her brother, and
he police guards, rushed In, presented
heir muskets, seized her guests, and car
lied them to prison. =. >
On searching the criminals, two cords,
razor and pistol, were found in ST. Paul's
pocket, and agagin that Of the angel Ca
,ricl. Three days afterwards, the trial
.amc on; when they pleaded In their dc.
encc, that one was soldier in the French n
infantry, and the other barbcr's appren- (,
ice; that they had no other design than to-
'rocure good supper at the widows sxr ,
'ense; that il being carnival tins, ,lhey be- Z,
borrowed these dresses; snd he solder
ayinq picked % the two cords. pot thsvn