The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-05-17

were Dut as the rattllng OF pebbles beneath the
swell ola summer wave. The next morning
monsieur sent for the pasteur. The good man
seemed terror stricken as he entered The hall;
but monsieur filled him quart of gold coins
out of leathern bag, to repair his church, and
that quickly; and grasping his hand as he de.
parted, looked him steadily in the face. AS
he did so, large drops stood like beads upon
his brow; his stern, coarse features were
strangely moved while he gazed upon the calm
pale minister of peace and love. YOU he
said, bid God bless the poorest peasant that
passes you on the mountain have you no bles-
sing to give the master Of Roheanq
"My son. answered the good man, Il give
you the blessing l may give May God bless
you, and may your heart be opened to give and
to receive
sIknow can give replied the proud man;
but what can receiver
Love- he replied 'All your wealth has
not brought you happiness, because you are
unloving and unloved?
"Ihe demon returned to his brow, but it did
not remain there.
"You shall give me lessons in this thing
he said: and SO the good man went his way
"Amee continued close prisoner; but
change came over monsieur. At first he shut
himself up in his chamber, and no one was suf.
fered to enter his presence he took his food
with his own hand from the only attendant who
ventured to approach his door. He was heard
walking up and down the room, day and night.
When we were going to sleep, we heard his
tramp; at daybreak, there it was again; and
those of the household, who awoke at intervals
during the night said it was unceasing.
"Monseur could read. All, you may smile;
but in those days, and in those mountains, such
men as the master did not trouble themselves
or others with knowledge; but the master of
Rohean read both Latin and Greek, and COM
manded THE BOOK he had never opened since
his childhood to be brought to him. 1t was ta-
ken out of his velvet case, and carried forth
with; and we saw his shadow from without,
like the shadow of a giant, bending over the
book; and he read in it some days; and we
greatly hoped it would change his nature-and
though cannot say much for the softening,it
certainly affected great ceange; he no lon-
ger stalked moodily along the corridors, and
banged the doors, and swore ut the servants;
he rather seemed possessed Of merry devil,
roaring out an old song
Aux bastions de Geneve, nos cannons
Sont branquez;
Sill yaquelque attaque nos les feront ronAer,
Viva les cannoniers
and then he would pause, and clank his hands
together like a pair of cymbals, and laugh
And once, as was passing along, he pounced
out upon me, and whirled me round in waltz,
h. - 60
tise that and break my embroidery frame. He
formed band of horns and trumpets, and in
sisted OH the goatherds and shepherds sounding
revees in the mountains, and the village chill
dren beating drums, his only idea Of Joy and
happiness was noise. He set all the the canton
to work to mend the bridge, paying the work
men double wages; and he,who never entered
a church before, would 60 to see how the labor
ers were getting on nearly every day. He talk
ed and laughed great deal to HIMSELF and in his
gayety OF heart would set the mastifis; fighting
and make his excursions from home-we know
ing not where ho went. At last, Amelie was
summoned to his presence, and he shook her
and shouted, then kissed her: and hoping she
would be good girl, told her he had provided
a GOOD husband for he.; An,elie wept and
prayed, and the master capered and sung. At
last she tainted; and taking advantage Of her
unconciousness, he conveyed her to the chapel;
aud there beside the alter stood the bridegroom
-lo other than Charles LIE Maitre.
"'rhey lived many happy years together and
when monsieur was in every respect better,
though still strange man, the Femme Noir'
appeared agair to him-once. She did so with
Il placid air, on summer night, with her arm
extended towards the heavens,
"Tho next day the muhcd bell told the vail
ley that the stormy, proud old master of Rohcan
had ceased to lived.
A BETTER Man THAN HIS BROTHER.
following story is true in every particular,
strange as it may seem. On Thursday lasta
wedding party arrived from the country, con,
sisting of the bride and groom, the brother of
the latter, and several friends. They put up at
ono OF our public houses, and in the evening,
the prcIirninaries having been all settled; aud
the clergyman in attendance, the ceremonies
about to begin, when the groom manifested
some dissatisfaction, The bride pcrceiving this.
and being high spirited, showed as much inde-
pendence as the lover In the midst of the con-
fusion which ensued the brldegroom's brother
stepped up to the bride and said, "siuce --
won't marry you, Pll have you myself, it you
have no objections"
"None in the least" said the bride, 81 always
l,of