The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-08-09
Misc eAEaHne GUS.
THE BELL OF ST. REGIS.

converted settled them IN the village which is now
called ST. Regis,on the banks of the St. Lawrence
The situation is one of the most beautiful shat
noble river, and the viliage TO this day, the most
picturesque in the country The houses high
rooted aud of French app sarance, scat
tered round the semi~circle of little bav, and on
projecting head-and stands the church, with its
steeple giitterIng with vvacity ncunceivabla by
those who have not the brlIiancy of the tin
roofs OF Canada contrasted in the sunshine with the
dark woods
This little church IS celebrated or the legend of
its bell.
When il was erected, and the steep 6 completed,
Father Nicholas took OCCASION in one of his SER
mons, 10 inform his simple flock that bell was as
necessary to steepIe priest is TO a church and
exhorted them ,therefore to collect as many fIrs
would enable him procure one from France. The
Indians were not sloth in the performance of this
pious duty. Two bales speedily collected &
shipped for Havre de Grace, and in due time the
worthy ecciesnstic informed that the bell was
purchased and put on board the Grand JFonargne
bound for Quebec
1t happened that this took place during one of
those wars which the French and English are nat
uraily in the habit OF waging against one another
and the Grand AOnaTqae, in consequence never
reached her destination. She was taken by New
England privateer and carried into Salem, where
the ship and cargo were condemned as a prize. and
sold by the captors. The bell was bought for the
town of Deerfield, on the Connecticut river where
church had been recently built, to which that
great preacher the Rev. John Williams was ap-
pointed. With much labor it was carried to the
village, and duly elevated in the beIfry
When Father Nicholas heard of this misfortune
he called his flock together and told them OF the
purgatoIial condition ct the bell in the hands OF
the heretics and what Iaudble enterprise it would
be TO redeem it.
This preaching within his sphere as inspir.
ing as that of the hermit Peter. The Indians Ia
mented TO another the depIorabIe unbuptized
state of the bell. OF the bell itself they had no
very clear idea but they knew thar Father Nicho
las said mass and preached in the church and they
understood the bell was perform some analogous
service in the steeple. Their wonted activity in
The chase was at end; and some of them roamed
alone, rumnatng the OF rescuing it,
The squaws, who had been in formed tina its voice
would be heard farther than the roaring Of the rap
ids and that il musical than the call of
the whip poor.wiH in the evening, moved about in
silence and detection. u were melancholy, and
finely touched with holy enthusiasm many fas
ted, and some voluntarily subjected themselves to
penauces. TO procure relief for the captive,
mitigation of its sutferings.
At last the day of delivsrance drew near The
Marquis de Vandrieui, the Governor of Can adj re-
solved to send expedition against the British
colonies OF Massachusetts and New Hampshire ;
the command was given 10 Major Hertei de Rou.
Vile and one of the priests belonging to the Jesu
It's College at Quebec, informed Father Nicholas,
by pious voyageur, of the proposed ncursion
The Indians Immediately assembled in the
church; the voyageur elevated in the midst
of the congregation, and Father Nicholas, in sol
emn speech, pointed him out TO their veneration
a messenger of glad tidings- He then told them
of the warke preparations at Quebec, and urged
them TO join the expedition. AT the conclusion,
the whole audience rose, giving the war whooP;
tn en- simultaneously retiring TO their houses, they
began to paint themselves with their most terrible
coIors for battle, and, if animated by one will
at their council fire, they resolved Join The expe
Gtion
In was in the depths of winter when they set
out to unite themselves with De Rouviiie S party
at the fort of Chambly. Father Nicholas, with
tall staff and the top OF 1T, headed hem;
and as they marched off their wives and children,
in imitatIo of the hymns which animated the de
parture of the first crusaders under the command
of Godfrey de Boulogne, chanted a sacred song
which the holy father had especially taught them
for the occasion.
Thew arrived at Chamby, after journey of in
credible fatigue, as the French soldiers were noun
ting their sleighs proceed TO Lake Champaign
The Indians followed the tracts of the seIghs,wth
a perseverance, peculiar to theircharacter- Father
Nicholas. to be the more able to do his duty when
it might be required, rode in a sleigh with DE Rou
vile.
In this order and array, the Indians, far behind,
followed in silance until the whole party mad rem
dezvo9sed on the borders OF Lake ChampiaIn,
which, being frozen ,and the snow but thInlY upon
it.. was chosen for their route Warmed IN their
,u1aginations with the unhappy captivity OF the
bell. the Indians pIodded solemniy their weary
wav no symptom OF regret, OF fatigue, or of appre
h7fsiop. relaxed their steady cunntenanccs- thew
-.q with equal iadIlEerenco the black and w0iie'