Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1854-07-07
NEW SERIES, VOL. ), NO. %.

parish indeed, the rial hero Of the tale. filled
iba, very Office. YOu may Lave observed
two names frequently rcPss.fd over the shops
bath in the village below and at Ponlaven-
both Naour and Flecher arc common here
abouis the irst are extremely proud OF their
name, Tor Improves them to be descendants
of the once powerful lord Of the castle Of
Rusietan, in days when lords were people
who had the command Of an tie country and
an the peasants within their Ken. As i'r
Flechcr IL was never more illustrious than II
is now, yet Is connected with the history Of
these old ruins as much as the other.
The peasants Of Bri,anny are 'cry ambi'
tious that their sons should enter the church
/, removes them from evil habits and hard la
bor Il gives them education and certain SUI
perori,y which every mother wishes her
child TO attain morcoycr in their opinion, II
secure, them heaven, and provides prayers for
their kindred, aud if the pres, should happen
to turn out saint the whole family is made
immortal IN fame.
"Mlrie Flcchcr, a widow vi,h an only son
lived at Pon,avcu, and, every slime her pretty
little boy Ivan came home from the hills after
tending the fo,ks Of the farmer who employ
cd him, she sighed to think ,ha, so promising
a achilt should have no better occupation. A.
be grew older, her rcsre, increased, until at
las, she became quite unhappy, and impaired
to her SON her desire lha, he should so to
school o., Quimpcr and study to b, a priest,
instead Of wasting his time in keeping sheep
and dancing and flirting with the Young girls
of,hc village. This Is no,the life ofyou,'
she said, IL have had a dream, 10 which the
Blessed Virgin directed mc to dedicate you,o
her service she hates iilencss and igucnncc
and you mus, go to the good father a, Quinn.
Ter, who will give YOU an education ior moth.
iur. You will frs, become a o'rrt, then a
priest, have a salary, be able TO kcep yourPooi
mother when -lc can work no longer, and
pray Ur ,hc soul Of your ilther."
"Bu'. said Ivan laughing and carcssIrs
t,r, for be vas very gay, 81 don't wan, to be
either a rr.c,, or a monk : have !os, my
hear, to the prc,iles, girl in the parish
marie started aud look disturbed "'rhis
vii uo, DO Ivan, ." she said, 'you are too poor
for that You mus, leave your sheep aud the
younr girls. and come with the to QuimPer t,
learn to be something more than a clown, and
20 gain heaven by becoming a priest. You
shall study, and shall be a c'srr."
.'Thc mos, beautiful girls in rha,rar, Of BE
country were the daughters Of the Castle Of
Ruy,cian. whose name was Nlour, and whose
lady. was ,he coJmo,hcr Of Ivan Fcchcr no
one could loak a, any one else Whcn these
yorrr ladies came down on their white ponies
to the Pardon OF P.unvcn, cll',criug along
the stony street. and dressed 90 green silk
with gold chains round their nccks. They
were an handsome but the Youngest, Gene
We've. was ar bcyuni the Others, aud every
body at Toa,aycn said she was 90 love with
,hc haads1mr., Young man Of the village, and
he ras Ivan Fletcher, who was no~ a o'1r,
studying foy the priesthood
1T was a, the Pardon Of Poa,a,sn that
Gene,ic,e and Ivan met, onI, for moment,
angr h,, absence a, the school Of OuimPcr.
"Iyau, " said the Young girl TO him, 81 have
had four lovers who we're r'ae,, and each of
them has become a pics, the Jas, Of them
is named Ivan FI,cher, and D., Intends TO
break my heart
The Young lady rode on, and Ivan d.d not
dare TO reply. Tor il had been arranged with
out h.. cou,cn, being asked, ,ha, he was to-
take hoIy orders. Ga the DAY when he was
To- GO through the ceremony Of being received
into the church, he passed the village castle
and ther, was the beautiful Genc,icve, sit
ting a, the gate cmbroijeriag . chal.se cloth
10 gold thread. She looked up as he passed
and said, 'lyau Flechcr. ifyou will be ad'is-
ei by me, you will no, receive orders, because
of an tha; YOU have said to me IN former
DAYS"
...I canno, withdraw now" replied he
turning as pale as death, "for ] should be
called pc1ured.'
".You have then forgotten" said Gene.
We've, call ,ha, has passed between us two
YOU have los, the ring l gave You the last
time We danced together ~
".No, " said he, trembling "bu, God has
taken !, from me-"
"'lylu Flechcr ,'' cried the Young girl in
accents Of despair, shear me return. All |.
possess is yours. will folloN you to any
fate. will become 4 peasant like You. II
YOU will no, listen to me. all that remains
is to bring me the sacrament for my life is
ended"
"'Alas alas 90 sobbed Ivan, 81 have no
power to follow you | arm in the fe,iers Of
Heaven am held BY the haud Of Heaven
and mus, become PRIEST"
lit was no, likely tina, the lther Of the
beautiful Gcneyieys should favor their loves.
lie vas. therefore glad when be found iha,
the handsome yourg e'ere had taken orders,
and received him in the most friendly manner
when he came 10 the castle to beg that be
would assist at his FRS, mass. The favor
was Immediately gnn,ed, with promise that
hrs godmoiher, the lady Nsour, should be the
frs, to put an Offering in the plate.
"Bul IN the day when Ivan was TO say his
FIRST mass, there was a sad confusion IN the