The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-06-19

put HoW cOuiu VIC Ue nhppy ~ anotuer
expense? | tell you what we will do (:
let us go at once TO our good rector. He
has always treated me with the greatest
kindness; it was he that got me this sit
uaiion, and ] ought to do nothing with
out consulting him; we will make him
our confident in everything" ''20 2.
The rector was Mt home. Perrin plac-
ed the bag of gold which he had found
in his hands, aud acknowledged that he
had at first regarded it as q present from
heaven. He did not conceal from him
his attachment TO Lucette, and the obsta-
Gle which his poverty was to their union.
The good pastor listened 10 him with the
kindest attention; he looked first at one,
and then at the other. Their story quite
affected him; he perceived all the ardor
of their affection, and admired that up
rightness and integrity which were still
superior to it. He applauded their con
duct ~"
Perrin" said he, "preserve always
the same sentiments. Heaven'will bless
you; we shall find the master of this
gold, and he will reward your honesty;
| will join it TO some of my little savings,
and you shall gain the hand of Lucettc.
| take upon myself to obtain her fathers
consent; you are deserving of each other.
If this money be never claimed, il is the
property of tho poor; you are poor, and,
in that case, ! shall believe myself justi-
fed in returning it to you, since Divine
Providence seems already to have dispos-
ed Of it in your favor"
The young people withdrew, satisfied
with having done their duty, and cheered
up with the pleasing hopes that had been
given them. The rector caused the bag
Of money to be cried throughout bis par
ish, and he afterwards had it posted up
at Vitre, and in all the surrounding vii
lagos. Many persons, prompted by ava
rice, pretended to claim the lost treasure; !;
but none of them could describe either
the sum Of money, the species Of coin, or
the bag which contained them. During
this time, the good rector did not forget
that he had promised Perrin to interest
himself for his happiness. He helped
him TO take little farm, stocked it with
cattle, supplied it with implements of
husbandry, and two months afterwards
married him to Lucettc.
The happy couple returned thanks to
the Almighty and to their pastor, who
had been, under Him, instrumental to
their felicity. Perrin was industrious; !;
Lucette employed herself in household af-
fairs; they were exact in paving their
rent, lived moderately on the surplus, and
felt contented and happy.
1t was now two years and the lost gold
had not been claimed, and the rector,
therefore, did not judge it necessary 70
wait any longer, but carried it to the vir-
tuous couple whom he had united. "My
children" said he to them, "enjoy the
blessing which Providence has sent you !;
these twelve thousand livres are actually
without claimant; if, by chance, you
should ever discover the owner, you
ought to restore them to him; you can
employ them in such manner as will
only change the nature Of the property,
without diminishing its value" Perrin
followed his advice; he thought he could
not do better than to make purchase of
the farm which he rented, rs it was to be
disposed of. The rector approved of this
proposition, the bargain was struck, and
the farmer, now turned landlord, endeav-
ored by his exertions to render the prop
erty still more valuable. Heaven blessed
him with success, and he attained to those
easy circumstances which it had always
been his ambition TO procure for Lucette.
Two children blessed their happy union,
and they took pleasure in seeing them
selves, as it were, live again in these ten
der pledges of their love.
When Perrin was returning home from
the fields, Lucette would bring the chill
dren out to meet him; he would catch
them in his arms and kiss them; one
would begin to wipe the prespiration Oft
his face, the other would try to help him
to carry his pick-axe, and, whilst he smil-
ed at his feeble efforts, he could not re-
frain from returning thanks to God, who
had blessed him with such an affectionate
spouse, and children who so much resem-
bled her.
Some years after, the good old rector
died. Perrin and Lucette bewailed their
loss, and remembered with the most ten
der gratitude that their worthy pastor had
been both spiritual and temporal father
to them, but at the same time, this event
led them to reflect on their own mortal
ity. We also shall die" said they one
to the other, I" and this farm will come
into the hands of our children; neverthe-
less, it does not belong TO us, and, should
the rightful owner ever come to claim it.
he would, in that case, be deprived of il
forever, and we should descend into the
grave with the goods of our neighbor OF
our consciences." They could not beal
this thought.-they even had declaration
written out in due form, which they go
signed by the principal inhabitants of thc
village, by which they gave up the prop
| orfv cbOnl1 tho met clo o;p,opt o,,o. N ,,,,oor