The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-10-04
ROMANTIC.

We extract the following incident from
recent letter Of the St. Louis Republicans
correspondent in France. Fact is surely
stranger than felton,
A most angular story has come out BY
a death which took place at monastery
near Paris, last week.
Several years ago, rich miller, living
10 one Of the provinces, became SO unhap-
by by the death Of his wife, that placing
his only child, a girl Of only ten years Of
age, in a convent, he repaired to the mon
ss,ery near Paris, and became monk.
During six or seven years be led most
pious life, but, from the gloom Of bis cell
he thought often Of his daughter. The de-
sire 10 see her grew SO much upon him, that
he at last resolved to open correspon-
dence with her; the answers he received to
his letters, were such as to reawaken all
the affections Of other days, within his bo-
som. The young girl on her side, was no
less eager to zee once more parent whose
early tenderness she still remembered.
With resolution surprising in one Of her
age, she quilted the convent, dressed her
self in male attire, and sought the monas-
terv 10 which her father resided. She
there resumed the habit Of the order, and
was named brother Robert. She was then
but seventeen years Of age. She took care
not 10 reveal herself to her father until the
|irrevocable vows had been pronounced;
when At last she followed him to his cell
and told her story. The Joy he expressed
at folding his beloved child once more to
his heart, and the regret which her act Of
devotion caused him, brought on fever
which ended his life in few days. The
young girl found herself now in situation
which nothing but the religious education
she had received, could have enabled her TO
bear. Deprived Of the support which the
daiIy sight Of her father would have given
her, she valiantly mortified herself 10 eve-
nv possible way to keep down the worldly
regrets which arose in her heart. She be-
came the example of The convent, and the
sa nctitv Of Friar Robert was spread abroad
10 all France. The most holy Offices were
confided principally to her; it was she who
was sent to pray by the bedside Of the dy-
ing, and to console the afflicted. Blu, she
did an immense deal Of good among the
Young girls Of Paris, whom the world and
its pleasures had drawn from the path Of
duty. To these she never wearied d talk
ing; her humility surprised them; the sim
plicity Of her soul, and the sweetness Of
her voice, charmed them completely, and
Friar Robert rarely failed ia bringing these
wanderers back to the right way.
At last, however, slander attacked the
fair fame Of Friar Robert and he wns &C
cused Of being too fond Of visiting female
sinners. The Able Of the monastery i'm
posed upon the pretended brother, as peni-
tence, to serve the whole community, and
to do the most repugnant and the toughest
work. She did all without murmur, and
during three years, accomplished the rude
duties laid upon her, without failing 10 a
single one.
Last week she died, and the remorse Of
the monks may we'll be imagined, when It
was discovered that it was sister instead
Of brother whom they had been punish.
ing SO long.
NApoLEoN's DRIvING AND DANCING
Dodsley tells Us, under date Of the llth Of
May, lSO3:-"The first consul, driving
phaton with four horses in hand, was
thrown from his seat in the park near St.
Cloud. The shock was severe. but no Sc
rious injury was sustained. When ho re-
covered, he said, alt was best for people to
confne themselves to their own occupa-
tion." Somewhere about this time it was.
at ball in Paris, he disconnected the
whole quadrille by his awkwardness. He