The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-09-29
VOL. lX.-NO. 10.
The Priest and the RObber.
A Tgrr STORY.

! Forty years ago, the scenes related occur
rcd in the heart of France. A Roman
Catholic Priest was called on 10 prepare
I Tor has last change, highway robbcr, a
bout to perish on the scaflold. The good
father used all his e,oquence and his efforts,
TO lead the prisoner 10 repent Of his aggra-
waited crimes, in vain. He observed that
the mind of the latter was absorbed-that
he seemed to heed him not. What could
engage his thoughts at such an awful hour!
DO you reflect, said the priest, that in two
hours you are to appear before your Maker?
l do, said the criminal, but | wish Just now
to live and repent, not to repent and die
and the thought has come into my brain,
and can't for the soul Of me, drive it out,
that you are tie very man TO save me from
death, not to pave my way TO it. But, said
the priest, even if had the power, and i
can't see that have, shonld not be doing
wrong to mankind by setting you free,
and be subjecting you 10 a farther load OF
guilt? Ifthat's the only obstacle in the way,
you may, my good father, he entirely easy
on that score. i have seen the scafiOld too
near, ever to expose myself TO its terfors a
gain. Never viii | rob or defraud more.
! will be hencelorth a changed man. With
eyes lmpiorlng and bathed in tears, he knelt
before the holy man, and begged his life.
lie appealed tr Kind heart, and saw the
impression he had made. The chapel in
which they were, was lighted only by q
window near the ceiling, aud was moIe than
fifteen feet from the floor. You have but,
said the prisoner, toput your chairupon the
altar, which we can place near the wall;
you will then ascend on the chair, and will
mount upon your shoulders, from which
can gain the window.
In an instant the criminal was beyond
the reach ofthe law. The priest remained
TRANQUILITY seated in the chair, having resto-
red the altar to its place. Some hours after
the flight, the hangman was impatient at
the long prayers of the priest, who, he
thought, might have put hali-a-dozen souls
Oh the road to heaven in less time, knocked
at the door. Not seeing the prisoner, he
demanded what had become Of him. He
must be an angel of light, said the father
for on the faith Of priest, he went out by
that window. Isaw it with my own eyes.
The hangman was in a maze. Having
closely questioned the priest, he demanded
If he wasin earnest On his replying TO the
affirmative, he ran 10 warn the judges.
They FASTENED TO the chapel, examined the
chair, the window, the height from the floor.
They saw no other means Of escape, than
were perplexed. But they could not pre-
serve their gravity at the sang froid Of the
good father while describing the flight Of
the angel, as lie styled him, through the
window the praye he was tempted Ia
make 10 him, as he vanished, to take him
along with him TO the skies. BE this as it
may, the church was too powerful in those
days to question the word Of priest, who
assumed To himself the merit Of converting
sinner into an angel in an hour.
Twenty years aiierwafd. the holy father
was lost in tie woods of Ardein, Tire
nlghteame on; hewas without food or a
-rplace otreSt. The spot was infested with
robbers. Wild beasts were prowling around
Step by step. weak and desponding, he
wandered farther in the mazes Of the woods.
His frame sank exhausted with hunger, ia
tigne and terror. He commended his soul
= to the care s'heavcu, and laid him down to
die. LA had lain there some hours, when
! the light of lantern shone Oh bis face. 1t
was held by peaSent, who examined his
features ai'entivcly. He aided him 10 rise.
With his Sinewy arm he bore the exhausted
form OF the priest TO neat farm house de-
= liGhtu!ly situated in n fertile plain OH the
skirts Of the woods. The father was nursed
with care and restored to life, and warmly
thank ed his benefaotor. On his recovering
sufficiently to eat, the table WAS spread for
the new guest. a fine capon was cooked
aud nicely dressed, and every luxury the
farm afforded set before him. A female
neatly at,ired. with eight little ones, sur
rounded the table. Father, exclaimed the
peasant apart to him. after they had finish
ed their iCpast, n wife, children. farm, all
these blessings owe 10 you. You saved
. my life when was condemned 10 die OH
the scaiiold, have in turn saved yours
have redeemed my pledges made to you.
wandering a menlicant, chance brought me
to this house. where 10y industry aud honest
dealing, won the confidence of the father
oimy wife, who, on his death left us this
farm. have proSpered ever since in my
=, affairs. My wife has been real blessing
to me, and my children with their uddy ia
, ccs and their sweet smiles, remind me each
. day as return from my daily toll what
owe TO heaven and 10 you.
- The good father, whose conscience had
. often srno'c him for the fraud he had practi-
= ccd on the magistrate, and the danger of
: letting robber loose 10 depreda,e on the
. public highways. was set at ease. He en-
!, braced the peasant, and thanked his God
y that he had been the means of retaining
= guilty soul rom'periion, and raising a con-
demned ielon to the dignity OF an homes
man.