Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-07-10
From Chambers Journal
Story of "A French Refugee.

a
for it may be said to have led to that
series of national disasters, which is yet
far from being concluded.
Among the sufferers from the persecu-
tons was a young man, James Fon-
tame, the descendant of family of rank,
whose father, in consideration of altered
fortunes, dropped the aristocratic De Ia,
and assumed the plain surname of Fon-
tame. For two or three generations the
Fontaines had been Protestant pastors
in the southwest of France, and James
was destined to follow the same calling,
though, what was little awkward, he
limped in his gait, from having been let
accidentally fall by his nurse when an
infant. Born in 1868, he was still a
youth, and had just begun as a preacher,
when, the persecution being at its
height, dragons were plundering and
killing without mercy, churches were
being destroyed, and vast crowds of I'M
happy people were trying to escape to
England, in which only a limited num-
Der were successful-the famous French
refugees who brought to our shores a
knowledge of divers industrial arts
which have intellectually enriched the
country.
The Rev. James Fontaine, as he des-
ignates himself in a work recently pub
lished from an original autobiography,
got away with considerable difficulty, in
company with young lady who was to
be his wife, and two or three friends.
The party, after hanging about the
French coast IN boat, near the isle of
Oleron, were humanely taken on board
an English merchant vessel which, after
beating against contrary winds for eleven
days, reached Appledore, a small town
near the mouth of the Taw, in Doven-
shire. Having paid passage-money for
the party, the youthful preacher had
only twenty gold pistoles left, besides
six silver spoons, a silver watch, and a
diamond ring worth ten or twelve pis-
toles.
At Barnstaple, to which they made
their way, the forlorn refugees were
treated with much kindness, of which
they stood greatly in need, for, owing to
a shOrtness of provisions on board ship,
they were almost famished, and raven
Ously ate the bread that was set before
them. Now begin Fontaine's adven-
lures, from which he seems to have
been of an eager, speculative character
for preaching, teaching, manufacturing
there was anything singular in these APP
titudes, for the French generally, under
pressure of misfortune have an amazing
faculty in turning their hand to what
ever falls in their way. The first thing
that surprised our hero was the cOmpar-
| tive cheapncss of biscuits. On getting
| two large ones for penny, he instantly
! conceived the notion Of buying grain,
and expOrtingit on speculation TO France,
where it was at that time very dear.
The chief difficulty lay in the want OF
| capital but, ut all events. there were
| the twenty pistoles. the six silver spoons
| and the silver watch and his intended
wife possessed a gold neck-chain. pearl
necklace, an emerald, and diamond
worth five pistoles all which wealth he
/ was prepared to risk on the enterprise.
| Having been taken into the house of a
| ''charitabe gentleman, n Mr.. Downe, at
! Barnstaple." he induced him to charter
a vessel, and risk some money. The
| speculation was entered on. 1t proved
| 50 successful rs to encourage a SECOND
! shipment but this was disappointing
| A third venture was tried in this case
| the orders being to bring a return cargo
| of salt. The captain employed, wher
quitting France, took on board 4 large
| number of wealthy refugees. These he
| pundercd of all their valuables. ran the
vessel ashore on the coast of Spain
| where it went to wreck, and the salt re
| turned to the sea whence it came. Worse
than all. the unfortunate passengers were
barbarously drowned. The captain hav
| ing espied a lady who was buoyed up by
means of a thicl-quiIted pctic0at pluug
ed her under water with boat hook. anC
! held her down until life was extinct
With their ill-gottcn wealth, the captain
and crew went 10 Cadiz, purchased ;
vessel, and took to privateering. The
result. as regards Fontaiue, can b,
imagined Watch. silver spoons, goll
chain. and 50 on. had all to be disposed
of. "and something still remained I'M
paid.
Now poorer than ever, the young
French refugee was exposed to a new
temptation. Mr. Downe had n sister
possessing certain ''charms of mind anC
disposition. but short, thin, sallow, an(
marked with the smallpox" such dis
advantages, however, being, as some
~ y
three thousand pounds. Carrying will
her this handsome fortune, she formed
the wish to become Madame FOntaine
and persuaded her brother to open thu
matrimonial negotiations. He was no
unwilling to do so, for it would afforC
him an opportunity of doing a little il
the matrimonial line on his own &C
count in a word, he had fallen in Low,
with the young French lady, FOntaine'
fancee, and to take her ont of the wa,
would tend greatly to arrange matter
agreeably. 1t was very nicely con
ceived plot, and required delicate man
agement. With the best French h
could master, Downe one day proceeds
to business. After little hesitation AM
clearing his throat, he told his CUES
that his sister wished to marry him, an,
if he would agree to it, he would renlov
the difficulty by taking the young lad
who had been brought from France
The proposition was tempting, but di
not in the least discOmpose NJ. Fontaine
He produced a written promise OF mu
tual attachment between himself and tn
Young lady, and stated that, on commur
icating with her he would abide by he
decision. The same evening he went t
the house where she lived and execute
the commission with which he wa
charged. The answer was such as nigh
have been expected. There was a mt
tual overflow of tears. A steady resolu
ton was formed to abide by each Other
Poverty and its possible consequences
with affection, was preferred to world
wealth and all its allurements. The trif
had its uses. To the distress of Down
and his sister, NJ. Fontaine married til
young lady, and with stout hearts til
two began the world on nothing.
To the lodging to which the happ
pair adjourned, numerous presents poul
ed in from friendly refugees in th
neighborhood but living on gifts of thi
kind could not last Teaching was frs
resorted to, and afterwards the keepin
of a small shop in Bridgewater was trie
with no great success. Some friend
suggested an application to the manaG
ers of a charitable fund which had bee
raised in London for the benefit {
French refugees exiled by the revocatio
of the Edict of Nantes. The account {
the effort to benefit by this fund is sons
.Io+a 80; ,1f,,I EOntaipn fo11nd that Sill