Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-06-13

selves into a great web Of futurity: Thus
passed the early days of the girl who was
to become the savior Of France.
/ At this time she had no conception Of
her coming duties. But soon after, while
walking in her fathers garden, she saw a
dazzling light, and heard a voice saying,
@Be a good and obedient child, and go Of
ten to Church" AT another period short
! " subsequent, she heard the voice, saying,
go to the aid Of the King Of France,
and thou shalt restore his kingdom"
( This was her revelation, and doubtless
she exclaimed, What a revelation! I,
/ a poor peasant girl, to aid a prince-to
restore a kingdom! Charles has not been
able to rescue France, the brave knights
have not been strong enough to rePel the
| English and shall l? canI Shall I
leave my home Of innocence, and 60 into
the field Of blood? Shall lay down my
flowers, and take the sword-my harp,
and seize the spear? What revelation
what mission! what a destiny" She
hesitated; she prayed; she wept; she
trembled. The goal was before her but
could she march up to it? Her mission
was understood but could she execute il?
But she was a child of faith. She be-
lieved that God had made these require
ments Of her, and her faith led her to
trust him for ability to perform them.
She prepares to 60. She now, at the early
age Of eighteen, must leave the innocence
Of her home, and plunge into the eorrup-
ton Of the camp. She is to go, not only
among strangers to be their associate, but
among rufians to be their Ieader-not the
leader Of humane, magnanimous soldiery.
but the leader and moderator Of a fierce,
iron-hearted band of enthusiasts.
1 But to appreciate her labor5 more fully,
we must briefly notice the relations of
/ England and France. The English
wished to place Henry VI upon the
throne of France; the French wished
their ewn Charles VII. This opposition,
with others, led to an open war. Orleans,
upon the Seine, was beseiged, and upon
the fate of the city seemed to hand the
fate of France.
Here, then, Is the Maids mission-to
raise the siege OF Orleans, and place
Charles upon the throne. To faith less
intense than was hers, this would have
seemed an impossibiIity; but with the
zeal Of inspiration, she went forward, be-
Heving that she was the Moses of France
who should lead her people out of bond
age. She placed herself at the head of
the armies Of France. She led them
over mountain and vale, by night and by
day, hourly exposed to thewonted insults
Of a sensuous multitude. But she was
unmolested. Her elevated purity was
the shield Of her virtue. The temple of
piety was yelled with a robe of innocence
SO pure, so dazzling, that its glory, ike
the splendors of Sinais burning bush, held
at bay the unhallowed approach of the
vile intruder. The light of her spirit was
the sun of faith to her followers, and the
/ gentieness Of her nature was the subduer
oftheir ferocity. She led the bandit from
his assassination and blood to the altar
and to prayer. Young, bright, and beau
tiful, she seemed a deep inspiration, or,
rather, divinity in the flesh. She led
her soldiers to the attack the English
were repealed.
/ Her next work was the crowning of
the King. To DO this she fastened to
Rheims. Due preparations being made,
Charles was crowned lawful King of
Il France. Atthe moment the crown touched
his head, she threw herself at bis feet.
ezclaiming, 20, gentle, King, now Is full
filed the will of God, who was pleased
that 1 should raise the siege of Orleans.
and bring you to the throne Of France ."
Her words fell ike enchantment. The
prophecy was fulfilled; her mission twas
ended; France had a king; the reality
was before them. Was it a tragedv2
Was it miracle? Was the agent IA
naticism-an inspiration-a sorcery-a
witchery? Thus conjectured France =.
thus has conjectured the world since.
Truly the Maid had said her mission
was ended. Soon after the browning of
Charles, she was captured by the Eng
lish, and unjustly tried for heresy, IN
christianity condemned, and inhumanIv
burned at the stake. Thus ended the life
Of that gentle, that sweet-tempered. that
sPiritualized being-the Maid of Orleans
& The Comet which passed the SIM
+ IN October. 1879 hoe . -,,--.1 7.