Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-09-17
Story Of La Roche.


h More than forty years ago, an English Phi
losopher resided at a little town IN France
Some dlsappointmenls III his native country
had first driven him abroad and he was atler
wards induced to remain there, from having
found that perfect secluSion and retirement Sc
favorable TO the development of abstract sub
jecls
I Perhaps, in the structure Of such mind a,
Mr.. 5 the finer and more delicate seusi
/ Ibililies are seldom known to have place, or, il
| originally implanted there are in great mea
! sure exinguished by the cxertionS of intense
study and profound investigation Hence the
united, has become provehial, and, in com.
mon language, the former word is often used to
express the latter. Our Philosopher was cen
sured by some as deficient in warmth and feel.
ling; but the mildneSS of his manners were al
lowed by al and it is certain that, if he was
not easily melted into compassion, ii was at
least not difficult TO awaken his benevoence.
One morning while he sat busted in his spec.
ulalionS, an old female domestic brought hun
word that an elderly gentleman and his daugh-
ter had arrived in the village the preceding
evening, on their way to some distant country
and that the father had been suddenly seized
in the night with dangerous disorder which
the people of the inn feared would prove mortal;
that she had been sent for, as having some
knowledge in medicine, the village surgeon be-
ing then absent and that it was lruly plleoaS
to see the good old man, who seemed not 50
much afflicted by his own distress, as b. that
which it caused to his daughter. Her master
laid aside the volume in his hard and broke
Off the chain of ideas it had inspired. His
lnighl.gown was exchanged for a coat, and he
followed his gouvernanle to the sick mans
apartment
! Twas the best in the lillle inn where they
lay, but paltry one notwithstanding. Mr-
was obliged to Stoop as he entered 1t. II was
noored with earth and above were the joSt, not
Ipa>lercd, and hung with cobwcbS. On flock
bed at one end lay the old man he came TO Wis
! it at the foot Of it sat his daughter. She was
dressed in a clean white hedgown her dark
locks hung loosely over it as she bent forward,
watching the languid looks of her ialher.--
Mr. and his housekeeper had stood some
moments in the room, without the young ladyS
being sensible of their entering it, "Mademo.
Isee - said the old woman at la>l. in a soft tone
She turned and showed one of the finest faces
in the world Il was touched not spoiled with
sorrow and when she perceived a stranger
whom the old woman now introduced 10 her, a
blush at first, and then the gentle ceremonial of
native polieneSS, which the affllcllon of the
time tempered but did not extnguSh, crossed
1t for a moment, and changed its cxprcS>ion.--
Twas sweetness all, however, and our PhiloSo-
phcr felt It strongly. II was not a time for
words he offered his services IN few >uccre
ones. Monsieur lies miSerahly i'll here, said
the gouvcrnanle ri he could possibly be NOV
ed any where" "If he could be moved To our
house" said her master He had spare bed
for n friend and there was garrei-r1om un-
occupied, next to the gouvenan,e II was
contrived accordingly. The ScrupleS OF the
stranger, who could look scruples, though he
could not speak them, were overcome, and the l
bashlul reluctance of his daughter gave way
to her belief of lis use to her father The SICK
man was wrapt IN blankets, and carried across
the street 10 the English gentlemanS. The old
woman helped his daughter to nurse hIm there
The surgeon, who arrived soon after. pre-.
Scribed lule and nature did much for HIM
in a week he was able to thank his bcneiactor.
By that time his host had learned the name
and character of his guest lie was a ProlcS
tani clergyman Of Switzerland, called La
Roche widowcr, who had lately buried hl>
wife, after long and lingering illness for
which travelling had been preNcrhed and was
now returning home after an Intellectual and
melancholy journey with his o"ly child, the
daughter we have mentioned.
He was devout man, a became hiN pro-
fcs>ion lie possessed devotion in all its warmth
but with none of its aSpcrlly; mean, that as
perlty which men, called dcvout, sometimes in
iulge in MIR ---, though he felt no devotion 4
never quarrelled with II in others Ills gov.
prnante loincd the old man and his daughter m
he prayers aud thank>glving> which they put
up on his recovery for She, too, was hereto,
in the phrase Of the village. The philosopher
walked uul, with his long staff and his dog, and
Ell them To their prayers and thanksgiving -
Nv master" said The old woman, alas He
: not Christian, but he IS the best Of unbe.
icverSn Not Christian exclaimed Made 4
nuiSelc La Roche, "yet he saved my father I
Heaven bless him for II ! would he were r
'hrSlian" There iA pride IN human '
my child" said her father, which d
,nen blinds men 10 the sublime truths Of revell.
ION hence, cpposers Of Christianity are found
moug men ol vlnuouS lives, as well aS among ,
hose OF di>SipaIed and licenlous characters.-