The weekly standard. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-31
sg The following is translated from
the French, by a lady friend, for the
Standard:
The Madonna at the Rsliras.
FROM THE FRENCH.

ter duO lSSOil PNA4~N -
men. slowly left the town Of Arras 1t
contained five prisoners. The gloomy
train started from the city hall, and
directed its course towards Cambria,
where a revolutionary tribunal sat.
The prisoners were tied with thick
cords. One was tenant of the Prince
dc Vaudemant, who was accused of ha-
wing assisted at the escape of an aris-
tocrat; for it was then considered a
crime to save an innocent prey from the
executioner. another was a venerable
old man, with long silvery hair, who
had long been the vicar of one of the
villages around Arras; the revolution
found him teaching virtue and peace
to his flock; he was accused and arres-
ted, asif teaching rebellion. The three
other captiyes were Sisters Of Charity
from Arras, who were charged with
aristocracy; even they, who had made
VOWS of humility. The aged priest re-
peated in half loud voice the 5lst
psalm, and the sisters responded.
Day began to dawn; light clouds,
floating in the air, changed into a beau
tiful purple hue from the first glow OF
the sun; while in the west, stir night,
the stars seemed to rekindle their fire,
to struggle with the rising light; but
gradually they grew pale and disap-
peared in the azure of the sky. The
birds left their nests, and warbled their
morning hymns, to proclaim the AVA
kening of nature.
/ At this magnificent sight, the last,
perhaps, they were to see, the prison
ers became silent; they admired the
greatness of the Lord, and tears esca-
ped their eyes.
"God, the creator of these wonders,
casts pitying eye upon us" said the
aged priest, "let us lift our hearts to
him" and with a grave and solemn
voice he began to pray.
At this moment one of the policemen
called to the driver to hasten the horses.
The animals, admonished by the whip,
hurried on, and four hours afterwards
they arrived at Cambria, and turned
towards the town prison. Since morn
ing the prosecuting attorney was ar
ranging in the prison, the list OF those
who were that day to be called to the
revolutionary tribunal. At that instant
the cart entered; two turnkeys com
menced to make the aged priest, named
James Beranger, descend; and they
put him down in the prison yard
They were already untying one OF the
! sisters, when the jailor came UP and
cried ont:
"But, citizen Cambriere, I have nc
!. more room to lodge these aristocrats.
"Well, do not trouble yourself abou
: it, shall send them in straight hnt
to the revolutionary tribunal; they vii
: find me there
And, at a sign, the turnkeys left tht
: cart, and it proceeded to the place
! where CambrieIe and Lebon held theil
court; the priest was forgotten in th'
o yard
q "And this one?" asked one of thc
: iailors; " Citizen Cambriere will no
4 have his number!"
"Oh," replied another, "he will nm
4 doubtedly be for tomorrow; he ha
+ enough for to-day"
. James Beranger was shut up IN |
; dungeon with twenty other prisoners
while the tenant and his travelling com
: panions were led to the tribunal, ant
q an hour afterwards the same cart con
. Quoted them to the guillotine, that wa
! erected on the military square.
q The next day Cambriere and Lebol
i did not sit at the revolutionary tribu
! nal. The day following they were abou
,r resuming their terrible Office, when tn
s news of the events Of the 9th Therm.
If dor* was received, which overthre'
# Robespierre, annihilated the power
Il his adherents, and threatened thel
= with that scaffold on which they ha
8 slain SO many victims. The streets
7 Cambria resounded with shouts of 10.
os a mass Of the people thronged to I'll
II military square, and overturned tt
7 guillotine, stained with the blood
many, whilst others ran to the prisol
= broke open the doors, freed the prisol
a. ers and carried them out IN trump
ID What Joy to these unfortunate one
Dv who thought themselves fated to deaf
to and now saw the doors Of freedom bur
Z open before them! Every one IN Il
a crowd found parent, friend, VII
! brother. Oh the tender scenes
.l:.,o~. 4ba on, I1.o oac the smiles. Il