Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-12-18
The Reformed Robber.

town in Normandy, was one day sent for into
the country 10 prepare highwayman for death.
The criminal was not more than two or three
and twenty, with an interesting physiognomy,
and had been seduced by bad company. He
had frankly confessed all the circumstances of
his guilt; his chains were already taken off, as
usual, previous TO his execution and as there
was no convenient place in the prison, the cler-
gym0n and the culprit were shut up in a small
chapel, which stood detached from any other
buildings, at the extremity of the village, and
received all its light from an aperture in the
middle Of a vaulted roof.
Here the ecclesiastic Immediately commenced
an earnest exhortation to repentance; but though
he made it as persuasive and pathetic as possi-
Bile, he observed that the poor fellow paid very
little attention to what he said. As his appear
ance, age, and confession gave the father no
reason to suppose him hardened criminal, he
was somewhat surprised at his inattention.
He ascribed it, however, 20 natural levity Of
disposition, which he did not fail seriously to
reprove, and reminded his companion to make
the best use of the short time he had 10 live
BY all means, reverend father replied the
priioner, that is Just what should wish to do
Your exhortations are indeed excellent; but yet
dmbt whether your reverence would yourself
pay much attention to the finest prayers in the
world if you were in my place. For, to say
nothing about the confoundedy disagreeable
sensatlon arising from the knowledge, that in q
few hours ones neck is to be broken, there is
one idea that suggests itself with such force as
to occupy my whole son.'
We'll, and what is that"
That might yet find means to get off, il
our reverence chose to spare my life !?
'P-I? What do you mcan?'
Don't you see that opening in the roof?
YES certainly ; but what then?'
That it is considerable height is eviden
enough. But if we were TO put that altar eX
acty underneath it, and upon the altar thai
chair; if your reverence would get upon thu
chair. aud then suffer me to mount upon you
ehoGdars, | celtaih.y should be able TO reach it.
Ana when you mad got up there what &oalC
you dO?'
would scramble down the roof to the cor
nice, and then leap of five or six yards woult
be but trfe for man in my situation hopt
that nobody is watching on the outside. Tht
chanel stands detached, wood is not far off
can assure you that as soon as | reached th'
ground, | would run as fast as my legs woulC
carry me-
Here the poor fellow paused. The priest con-
siderIng the whole plan in silence, with difficulty
repressng an involuntary smile, and rejolned:
Excellent! And am to assist you to d.
this! At great risk to myself, l am to enable
robber to continue his guilty course All thu
depredations which you would henceforth com
init
mo, reverend sir, never would commit any
more. | am now fully aware of the consequen
ces. have approached too near the gallow
not TO avoid TIN future as far as lies in my pow
er. will betake myself to work, and maintain
myself honestly, let me toll ever so hard to d
it. Help me but this once, entreat you
The father did not suffer him to solicit long
he only exacted a solemn promise of amcndmen
and then, though his heart was long befor
softened in favor of the prisoner, he compile
with his request. He assisted to remove th
altar, placed the chair upon it himself, and pa
tiently served 10 lengthen out this singular Lad
der. The poor fellow certainly had great diff
Guilty to reach the opening but what will nj
the fear of death accomplish? ? When he ha
crept out the father listened attentively for som
, time, and as the leap was followed by no outci
, or noise, he removed the altar and chair to the
, proper places, and contentedly waited for tv
hours 10 see how the affair would end. Atleng
:, the officers of justice conceving that the pri
t oner had been allowed sufficient time to prepar
q the TAILOR and executioner went TO fetch hi
a away. The eccesiastic from within repli'
a that he had long been anxiousy wishing 10
released. With astonishment they opened u
70 door of the chapel, and with still greater asto
10 ishment, they beheld the father sitting all alo
9. in the midst of it. 'Where is the prisoner
,r was very naturally the first question.
,t The prisoner calmly replied the cccesia
n tic, was either an angel or devil it is impo
~ sible that he could be man. While | W
;. endeavoring, to the best of my ability, to brir
:. him to due sense OF guilt he suddenly ro
n from the place, and uscended through the ape
ture. looked after him, petrifed with asto
of isbment. unable to move limb, or utter woI
m 1t was not till you knocked that | regain
Of the power to stir or speak,
j. The TAILOR and executioner would willing
n. have supposed that the fathers intelIects We
=. deranued but as the criminal was irrecoverat
to lost they knew not whether to consider 1t m
- acle or deception. Several of the villagers
- sembed; but after the most diligent search
every corner of the chapel, no trace OF the crl
inal could be discovered. The execu'lonerW
b. was the greatest loser by this accident, hasten
70. to acouaiDt the officers of justice with the
le, cumslance. They repaired to the spot, and
is them the eccesiastc repeated the same story
ID. before He added that in no case was 1t
yro duty to act the part of keeper to prisoner
Of that he was almost convinced this reputed c
at. prt was inn ocent and solemnly swore that
i'd went out the aperture in the roof The SUP
ew stition of the multitude led them to suspect s
old cery and the father took no pains to refute