Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1865-02-11
TYPENNA FEBRUARY

ties led him 10 take a journey on horse
back some miles into the interior OF the
parish Of which he had charge. Part Of
the road travelled by him wound through
a swampy forest region, and, after ride
of several miles, he come TO sluggish
stream that had formerly been spanned by
bridge, of which nothing but the abut-
ments now remained, however. The priest
turned his horses head, and rode along
the bank Of the river, hoping to find ano.
ther bridge, or at least a ford by which
he could cross to the other side nor had
he gone far when be discovered, by hoof-
marks, place where cattle seemed to be
in the habit of wading through, or coming
to drink. The water appeared to be shall
low, so be urged his unwilling horse into
it, and had got about half way across,
when the animal began to plunge and
struggle violently, sinking at the same
time as if drawn down by some invisible
power, Aware. now that he had fallen
into one of these qucksa nds which are
not uncommon in that part of France the
good father knew that to throw himself
} from his horse would be certa 10 death, as
the water was not deep enough to swim
in, and the hungry sand at the bottom
was gaping for him. He held upon his
horse therefore. and shouted for help
The water was gsging upon him, as the
terrified horse sank deeper and deeper in
the treacherous stream. Up, up it came,
until it reached his saddle, and then his
knee, and he had given bimselfup for lost,
when distant shouts came in response to
his, which were growing feebler with each
repetition. And now man bursts hi.
way through the brushwood on the river
bank, and laying his axe upon tall ,slen.
der young tree, cuts it down With four or
five rapid strokes, leaning it 80 that it fal
out upon the water, its topmost bough:
just brushing the sinking horseman iu it:
fall. Graspiug the boughs with all hi'
remaining strength, the priest was drawn
to the bank by the woodsman, fantng
and senseless, however, and with hardy
a visible spark of life.
When Father Allard recovered con
sciousness, he found himselfn small bu
comfortable room. Seeing him open hi
eyes, buxom young woman, who wa
bathing his temples uttered an exclama
ton of joy, calling him by name; ant
now, as his dizzy senses frightened, wha
was his surprise to Secoguize in his atten
dant the lost Spiride. Explanation en-
sued, and all was made as clear as day
without recourse to marvel or miracle.
Presently Laroche, who had beOh en-
gagged in extricating the priests horse
came in, aud the meeting was an affect
ing one between the two, each of whor
d had been thus wonderfully appointed b.
It Providence to preserve the other.
J. "My conscience is clear now," SAT-
Father Yllard "Heaven has surely PAL
o doned the little fiction framed by me ell,
e why
"But hold, revered Father erie
;, Laroche intcruptng him there was n
fiction in the case. You said I was cal
- risd away upon an angels wings, and S
= ! was, and tins is the angel that save
=. me - aud he laughiDgy threw his arm
around his pretty wife, and hugged hi
. pretty wife, asd hugged her 10 his side.
. Poetical justice might now have bee
well satisfied, but I have a few word
further to add upon the subject.
Laroche, who was now employed g
forester upon an estate, was enabled, b
II the assistance of Father Allard, to rctur
o to his native village, where, not long a
;, ter, obtained an appointment TO the yer
u keepership formerly held by the assassi
- Landry. The mystery attending h
u miraculous escape aud temperance CAV
him an extraordinary influence among tn
peasautry. Stories loose nothing by cir
culation. He eventually became a sanct
fed parsonage in the community and
'' rudely carved efigy of him is still TO b
seen in the old chapel of the parish wit
g pair of angels wings lowering over hin
aud a cross at his head and feet
r S6y- Artemus Ward says eff / al
d drafted / will resign, Deeply grateful fc
/, the unexpected honor thus conferred upo