Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-05-04

1t was in one of the most wretched
quarters of Paris that priest went to
visit rag-woman who was dangerously
| i'll. She was lying on straw SO damp
that it was fit only for the dunghilll.
The visitor had reached the landing
place, and was rejecting how he might
| best minister to the poor wOman's
wants, when he heard the cry of anoth-
er female from the end of dark corri-
dor, exclaiming "Help murder %
He ran toward the spot, ana pushing
| open door saw two young children
crying. Extended on the floor lay the
unfortunate woman, while a tall man
with a sinister countenance, and clad
only in pair of pantaloons and a rag
ged shirt, stood over her, kicking her.
Her face was already black and blue
| from his violence. The priest sprang
toward the man and said wretch what
are you about Will you not desist %
| He did desist, but it was to attack the
speaker. He seized him suddenly by the
breast, thrust two fingers under his
cassock, and then, without uttering a
word, lifted him as if he had been an
| infant, and carried him to an open
window. There he angrily told him
that he would not have priests inter-
meddling with his affairs, and disturb
| ing the peacs of his household, and
that he intended to pitch BIN out of
the window forthwith. In fact, he
was preparing TO put the threat into
execution, but, as if wishing to goat
over his victim, he continued TO glare
at him with the eyes of the tiger, hold
ing him all the while as with an arm of
steel.
The priest was alarmed, but God en-
abled him not to betray it. He re-
garded his antagonist calmly, and said
almost with a smile, Gently, my
friend; You are much too hasty. Do
you really mean to throw me out of the
window? Is that the most pressing
business on hand? You who are always
talking about fraternity and charity;
do you know what was taking place
while you were beating your wife? An
other woman was dying on dung heap
in your house. / am sure you would be
Mortified at such a thing. Now let as
both see what We can do on her behalf;
for you are by no means such bad fell
low as you wish to appear. | will pay
for some clean straw if you will go and
fetch 1t. Terror, combined with the
desire of winning over his assailant,
made the priest eloquent, and he had
hardly ended his appeal before the
lion was tanned.
The mans countenance rapidly
changed, and he relaxed his hold at
once; then taking off his shabby cap,
and placing it under his arm, ne as
sumed "a respectful attitude, like that
of a soldier in the presence of a supe-
rior officer, and replied: eff you talk
in that style, sir, the case is different.
have always been humane, and viii
readily help you to assist the poor wo-
man. / will, In fact, do anything you
please; for it won't do to let fellow
creature die in that plight" There
upon the priest gave him the money,
and he went out to purchase two bum
dies of clean straw. In the mean
time the women of the neighbOr-
hood, attracted by the alteration,
had rushed to the spot, and on seeing
the priest, expostulated with him III
these terms: "What are you about P
Do you know where you are? You are
In the clutches of the worst man in the
quarter. He is so outrageous that even
cut-throats are afraid of him, and he
has often said that nothing would give
him more pleasure than to break a
mans neck, especially if that man were
priest.
These circumstances were by no
means encouraging; but those who
urged them little knew the power of
charity. the sturdy fellow soon re.
turned with the bundles on his shout
der. He was calm, and his counten-
ance had become almost honest. On
entering the room where the poor wo-
man lay, he took half bundle of straw
aud spread it on the floor. The most
touching part OF the scene followed
He lifted the sufferer in his arms with
the tenderness of a mother, placed her
on the clean straw, then made her bed
and finally laid her upon it, just as
mother would her child. A female
wished to help him, butuhe pushed her
aside, remarkiDg that he was well able
to do a humane act unassisted. The
man was IN tears, and the priest per-
ceiving that he wished to address him,
retired towards the window. But his
new acquaintance could not utter a
word; emotion choked him.
The priest gave him his hand, and
the stalwart workman squeezed it as in
a vice, in token of his affection. "Well
done, my FRIEND" said the priest,
swell done; quite understand you
/ knew full well that you were not as
bad as you wanted to make me believe.
knew you were capable of doing
good action" "You have done it all,
was the reply; flour men could not
master me, and yet you have overcome
me with as many words. You must be
a true parson.
The priest FASTENED to turn this
favorable opportunity to profit, by
pleading the cause of the wife, and re-
Joined, "But. my friend, you have |
done something which is not becoming.
You have ill-used your wife, and man |
does not marry woman to beat her. |
/ have no doubt she has her failings, |
and you also have yours. You /
should bear with one another. Come, |
promise me that you will never strike
her again." At these words his /
face assumed somewhat of the former
sullenness, and dropping the priests
hand, he said frankly. !" am sorry that
/ canuot do as you wish. / will not /
PROMISE, because / should no. keep my |
word" The priest returned to the !
charge, and among other remarks which
IL 4 he he.