Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-05-02

i3inbiuS sptii, anu signed 10 his WlIe 10 re-
move the child (. His crles distract my brain, y
said be. as he passed his attenuated hand
across his brows. Give me drink, Ange-
lique !; I choke with thirst
Alasl There remained not single drop of
cruel in the bowl. which the poor woman had
involuntarily seized and held convulsiye in her
grasp.
The babe began to scream.
6 Oh my head--my head Must suffer
in this way, Angelique? Why viii you not
remove the brat. and give me to drink / am
thirsty. pszy thirsty, and will perish unless
have some moisture for my throat"
:. There is nothing in the house that can
give, replied the wife, as she sought to quiet
the cries of the child
ssAh is this your forethought Angelique
am dying with thirst, and you have nothing
10 offer me Oh God When shall my suffer
ings cease ?''
'sCalm yourself, husband! I viii get you
something, dearest get it Immediately"
She started and descended the stairs with
no fixed purpose in her mind, save that she
acould obtain the succor required some way or
other. She did not know where to go for food
or drink. On arriving in the street, and
seeking the keeper of the fruit shop, she could
only weep, and in this manner cloquently
plead the miserable fate to which herself and
family were now reduced. The despair depic-
ted In her countenance and the suffering ap-
pearance of the pulling infant she held in her
arms, spoke language which the old crone
could not resist. Her stony heart was touched
with compassion. and she instantly gave the
poor woman a pot of milk and a bountiful
supply Of herbs and fruits. Angelique sob
bed out her thanks to the benevolent donor,
,4s,1
Der of her afflicted husband
The act had been observed by an aged
priest, who happened to be passing by at the
moment. He was struck with the unhappy
appearance of the artists wife, and from her
tattered raiment that hers was an extreme
case of misery and destitution He was
pleased with the charitable feeling of the shop
keeper, though be has found on questioning
her IN regard tc the subject of her charity, that
she had opened her heart to some sudden
proInptings of humanity rather than from the
natural kindliness of her disposition The
holy father. indeed, could get very little in
formation from her concerning the artist and
his family He learned enough, however, to
interest his feelings and provoke a desire to
inquire into the circumstances of the destitute
family. on their own premises, and from their
own lips Accordingly he assembled the stairs,
and knocked at the door which stood ajar, as
Angelique had left it when she entered. A
voice within bade him :. come in" and the
priest approached and stood by the couch of
the stricken painter
The artist, lifting up his eyes, and perceiy-
ing Catholic priest standing by his side,
frowned angrily and demanded somewhat inn
periously:
Why are you here, sir? I am Protes-
6
from the lips of a Catholic priest. Begone,
sir!'
Nay, nay, my dear sir You are man
and brother, and surely you viii not refuse
assistance from uny source now in your hour
of peril and need What matters it whether
relief comes from the hands of Catholic or a
Protestant. provided you are relieved {?
learn that your physician has not visited you
those several days. am somewhat skilled in
and perhaps may be able to restore
you to heath and strength" said the priest,
in a very bland and graceful manner.
. Pardon me, sir. l was impulsive and
rude in my manners and speech. Forgive me,
sir knew not that your mission here was SO
full of mercy and love-" rejoiaed the artist,
rendering his hand TO the priest.
Enough, SAID the father, 8. we now under
kand each other, and will be friends hereaf-
ter
He felt the artists pulse, examined his
tongue, and made some special pathological
Il think you are no longer dangerously i'll.
You viii soon recover your usual health and
strength"
The priest did not seem to be aware that he
was in an abode of extreme poverty, and that
it was stripped of every piece offurnlture save
a stool or two and the miserable truckle-bed
upon which the sick man reclined but pro-
ceeded TO prescribe regimen and course
of medicine, as if he was administering to a
patient inhabiting palace.
Antoine could not refrain from smiling at
the remarks of the holy man, and was about
to murmur something about the impossibility
of obtaining the articles proposed. or pursuing
the treatment advised. The priest, however
checked what was passing in the artists mind,
by adding
when you recover. we shall want you to
execute painting for our convent. Ipresume
you viii not object to render the service re-
quired? You shall have Eve hundred louis as
your price, and here are now two hundred
gold livres on account. In day or two /
will bring the remainder of the money. Be
of good cheer. my son. You will get we'll /;
and may Heaven bless and guard you here
after" He turned to the artists, wife and con-
tinued-.' The illness of your husband. per
ceive, has served to exhaust your physical
powers, and to depress sadly your spirits.
You require some one to assist you You
must have repose.-, 1 can recommend to you
a capable person g engage about the house
and in the careof your child. will send her
hithef as 60 on my way to st. Sulspice.
must leave you. A1ieuD
The priest - 6J3nc The stricken fami-