The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-10-27

to the Cabinet, enriched with thousand
curious objects Of nature and art, many OF
them presented by travellers, grateful for
kindness they had received, and some Of
them relics Of the old Romans who once had
temple 10 Jupiter on this spot. The recep.
ton room, which was also sitting aud dining
room, was now rapidly filling up with trav-
ellers, arriving al nigh,lall. One English
lady, overcome with the exeriion OF climb
Ing the hill on horseback, sank upon the
floor and tainted as soon as She was brought
in. A gentleman who had bu, little more
nerve in him, was also exhausted. The
kindhearied priests FASTENED 10 bring resio-
ra,ives, and speedily carried off the invalids
to their beds-lhe best place for them. 1t
was quite late, certainly seven in the cven-
ing before dinner was served, and with
edged appe,i,es, such as only mountain
climbing in snow time can set, we were
ready at the call The monks wait upon
their guests, girded with napkin taking the
place of servants, and thus showing, or max.
ing show Of humility. II was not pleas.
ant 10 my feelings 10 have ST. Augustine
monk, in the habit Of his order, a black
cloth irock reaching TO his feet, and button.
ed, with white band around his neck and
passing down in from, and behind 10 his
girdle, now standing behind me while was
eating, offering TO change my plate, and
serving me with an alacri,y worth Initiating
by those whose whose business il is 10 wait
on tables.
And when said, "ihank you, father" it
was no more than The tribute OF respect due
10 gentleman Of education and taste, whose
religion had condemned him TO such life
as this. Father Maillard presided at The
table, and was very conversible with the
guests; chcerfully impar,ing such informa-
lion as we desired. OF the eight or len
monks here, no, one OF them spsaks The
English language; but the French, Italian
and German are all in use among them.
Breakfast was not prepared for all at once
but each person rs he was ready called ioi
his coffee and rolls, and they were immedia
lely brought.
The celebrated dogs OF ST. Barnard were
playing in the snow as stepped out aile'
breakfast, noble Sc, OF fellows, they were
ard invested with sor, OF romantic nobility
when we thought Of their ploughing ,lieil
way through drifts, leading on in search ior
lost travellers, and carrying on their necks
ba,ke, of bread and wine which may be
as life 10 the dead.
The dead Come and see them Close
by the hospice is square stone house, into
which are carried the liieless bodies OF those
who perish in the snow and are found by
the dogs, or OH the melting Of the snow in
summer. They cannot dig graves on those
rocky heights, and il is always so cold that
the bodies do moi ro,, bu, they are placed in
this charnel house just as they are found,
are left &c dry up and gradually return 10
dust. l counted thirty skulls lying OF the
ground in the midst Of ribs, arms and legs
and twenty skeletons were standing around
the sides OF the room ghas,ly sight. In
one corner dead mother held the bones oil
her dead Child in her arms; as she perish
ed so she stood, 10 be recognized II ii might
be, by anxious friends, but none had ever
come 10 claim her. What tale Of tender
and tragic interest, we read in these bones,
Sad and sickening the sight is, and am
willing TO get away.
Father Mailard walked with me into :he
chapel, showed me the paintings, and the
monument, 10 Gen. Dessaix, and when
asked him for the box into which aims are
put, he pointed 10 j, and fastened away that
he might not see what pu, III. They
make no charge for entertaining travellers
bu, every honest man will give a, least a:
much in the way Of donation, as he would
pay at hotel.
NY friend, as now called him, Father
Mailard, embraced me ,enderly, aud even
kissed ME, when bsde him farewell, ant
mounting my horse, set off at eight in the
morning, with a bright sunshine, 10 descend
the mountain. lREN&us.