Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1838-03-15
FEMALE GeNERosIrY.

I. | was one evening in a mixed company
of ladies and gentlemen, when the CONVEX
sation happened to. turn upon the subject
of generosity. II twas maintained by some
of the gentlemen that ii was more inherent
in the male, than in the female breast. Az
ter many arguments on the subject, lady
related The following INSTANCE Of generosity
in the female heart.
In the latter part of the French revo-
luton, young man who was closely pnr-
sued by body of gems d'armes. in the
streets Of Paris, stopped al a door in which
stood young female. aud requested con-
cealment. There was no time to consider,
as the soldiers we're close at hand. She
conducted him to back building, and lock-
ed him in. She had scarcely done this
when the soldiers passed. As it happened,
the very body Of gems d'armes who had
pursued the young man, we're invited by
the owner OF the house, to take up their
quarters for the night, and were put into a
room in the same building in which the
refugee had kenshelter; and as they oc-
cupied the room next the entrance, he
could not escape without passing through
the room where they lay. III this dilem-
ma, the young lady resolved 10 extricate
him. if possible. She waited until she
thought the soldiers oil asleep. and passed
through the room without waking any of
them, acquainted the stranger Of his\peril,
and told him that il he would conscnh she
would conduct him to neighboring chutch,
Of which her uncle kept the keys, and se-
crete him until the danger was over. He
consented. She took him by the arm, and
they entered the room where the soldiers
were sleeping, when, in passing he struck
his foot against one of them, who jumped
up, seized the young man and demanded
who it was; when the young lady, with
great presence Of mind, answered, 1t is
only J., who came to seek for fortunately
she had nothing more to say, as the soldier,
hearing female voice, let 60 the ARM
They passed on, and entered the church,
she conducted him to the door Of vault,
which was curiously concealed behind the
altar, told him to enter there, and she would
bring him food daily until he should be ena-
bled TO venture forth in safety. She gave
him the lamp, and, shutting the door, in,-
mcdiately returned to the house.
He descended into the vault, and seating
himself on tomb stone, he there beheld
recorded the names Of his illustrious ances-
tors, who had mouldered into dust ages
ago. lie was overpowercd with fatigue,
and fell asleep, and did not awake until the
morning of the second day, when he per-
ceived that his beEefactress had not been
there, and he began to fear that something
had happened to prevent her from coming
again. He waited 10 horror and anxiety
until night, but still she came not, and he
laid himself down in despair on tomb
stone, resolved 10 endure the lingering
dealt, which awaited him. He sunk into
lethargy, from which he was awakened
OH the third morning by the voice Of his
bcnesactress calling on his name; but it
seemed as if animation had ceased, for he
was unable to move or articulate sound.
He heard the dreadful sound Of the door
as it fell he uttered faint cry, and rush
ed up the steps. Fortunately the young
lady had not left tho spot j; she raised the
door, entered the vault, and restored new
life to the sufferer. She Informed him that
she had been unable to get to the church
since his concealment, on account OF the
vigilance Of the guards who were stationed
at her uncle's, but that she had made ar
rangements by which she could supply him
with food daily; she prepared to depart,
and had just assembled tho steps, when they
heard persons entering the church. She
Immediately closed the door Of the vault,
aud the next moment they heard the steps
Of body Of soldiers passing about the
church, and who were searching for some
refugees whom they suspected were con-
cealed there. They we're conducted by
the .unsuspicions uncle, who led them to
every part Of the building, to prove his IN
nocence.
Their footsteps were often heard by the
trembling couple below, passing over the
vault, but they did not perceive it. When
they left the church, she left the vault with
repeated assurances Of daily supplying him
with vic,uals. She performed her prom
Use, and in few days conducted him from
his place Of concealment, and he was ena-
bled to reach his home in safety"
GEoLoGY-BY EDWARD EVERETT.
1t has been as beautifully as truly said,
u