The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-09-03

Towards evening the pastor was in.
formed that the danger was past but
he did not know at what price his par
ishioners had paid for his safety. lie
returned with those who accompanied
him, not TO the village of ST. Agathy
but to the smoking ruins where it had
once been. No words can express the
deep pain he felt as he saw the desola>
ton of the scene, in which the families
TO which he had so long administered
we're gathered in the open air, robbed
of their all. With streaming ewes, he
reproached them for not having hindered
so great a misfortune. Would it not
have been better TO have delivered the
old man of three score and ten, who has
at most but short time to live, and thus
have saved the resl?' They answered
him that he was the father of the com.
munity, and that good children should
shun no sacrifice for their father, He
rejoined, that such sacrifice was wor-
thy of equal love, and that he hoped to
show them on his part what he was able
TO do for his children.
Three days AFTER as the commissary,
or represcnfant Of the Convention sat in
his cabinet at Mort, an old, bald-headed
man was led before him, supported upon
a stick, his shoes covered with dust and
wearing the gown Of a priest sadly worse
of the wear. The old man approached
and said Citizen Representant, you
have mace known at St. Agathy, that
20, 600 francs will be given TO him who
shall deliver up the head OF the pastor
of that village. / am ready TO earn the
price"
Much as the representative was ac-
quain;ed with the baseness Of men. he
was yet astounded at such a proposition
from man who was himself evidently
so near his own end
d" Priest" said he. "thou Inakcst me
a proposition, which, for man of thy
age and profession, must fill me with as.
tonshment."
"Not so much as you think Do you
accept my offer ?"
"Who art thou, that thou wilt sell
the life of thy fellow priest r.
"What has that to do with the mats
ter. ifI only keep my word! I ask you
again, do you accept my offer?"
" | accept it. but may the blood shed
fall upon thy head ~
" BE it so-you pay me the sum prom.
ised."
"Thou shalt haye it."
"Can you not add something TO it,"
"Thou old miser, dost thou not find
thyself well enough paid for thy bases
ness p
" Well, well, we will let it stand a,
twenty thousand francs"
" When wilt thou deliver thy man 7"
81 have one thing still TO remark
You must promise to let Inc use the
money as | wish"
" AS soon as thou hast received thy
reward it is thy property, aad thou canst
do with il what thou wilt"
81 know that but have my reasons
for being particular on this point"
" Little as ] see thy reasons, | give
thee my word of honor, that no difficult
ties shall be raised that would affect thee
in laying out the money"
" That is enough. | am myself the
pastor of St. Agathy, and deliver my
self into your hands. Give me now the
money!
"You are" exclaimed, in surprise,
the representative.
81 am" answered the old man, calm
ly.
What do you wish 10 do with this
money! And do you no, know what
punishment awaits you p
al know all that, and your threats
are superfiuous. Let me now receive
the promised sum, and be brought once
more to my parishioners of ST. Aga
thy"
What do you wish to do there ?"
You will learn that. have per-
formed my promise, now perform yours. I"
I" 1t shall be done 4"
The representative ordered 10000
francs, in assignats, to be paid over to
the old man, who. after putting them in
his pocket, repeated his wish TO be
brought once more to the ruins of his
desolated parish.
The inhabitants of St, Agathy had
been filled with the greatest uneasiness
at the sudden disappearance of their
pastor.
AS they went to call him one morn
ing to prayer, they found the hut empty
which they had built in haste for him,
aud they had sought him every where in