The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-08-26

was ghastly, as if dying.
Here" said he, presenting to the old
priest some pieces Of gold MY children
in the ravine-in tine wood--near the
little brook"
He fell Just as half dozen soldiers
rushed 10, arms in hand, They met with
no resistance from the wounded man,
whom they closely bound, and after some
time, allowed the priest to dress his
wound but in spite Of all his remarks on
the danger of moving man SO severely
wounded, they placed him on a cart.
"Basta," they said, "he can but die.
He is the great robber, Don Jose della
Ribera." Jose thanked the good priest
by motion of his head, then asked for
a glass of water, and as the priest stopped
to put it to his lips, he family said, You
remember? ?
The curate replied with nod, and
when the troop had departed, in spite Of
the rcmonstranccs of Margarita, who rep.
resented to him the danger of going out
in the night. and the inutiity of such a
step, he quickly crossed the woods to-
wards the ravine, and there found the
dead body of woman-killed, no doubt,
by some stray shot from the soldiers. A
baby lay at her breast. and by her side a
little boy of about four years old, who
was endeavoring to wake her. pulling her
by the sleeve, thinking she had fallen
asleep, and calling her mamma. One
may judge of Margarita's surprised when
the curate returned with two children on
his urms.
Santa Madre what can this mean
What will you do in the night? We
have not even sufficient food for ourselves
and yet you bring two children. must
go and beg from door to door for them
and ourselves Aud who are these child.
ren7 The sons Of bandit--a gipsey /;
and worse perhaps, Have they ever been
baptized? p
At This moment, the infant uttered a
plaintive cry. What will you do to feed
the baby? We cannot afford n nurse !;
we must use bottle, and you have no
idea of the wretched nights we shall have
with him.
You will sleep, in spite of all. replied
the good curate.
%! Santa Maria, he cannot be more
than six months old Happily | have a
little milk here must warm it, and for.
getting her anger, Margarita took the in.
tant from the priest. kissed it, and sooth.
ed it to rest. She knelt before the fire,
stirred the embers to heat the milk quick.
or, and when the littls one had enough,
she put him to sleep, and the other had
his turn. Whilst Margarita gave him
some supper, undressed him, and made
him bed for the night of the priests
cloak, the good old nina related to he:
how he had found the children, and in
what manner they had been bequeathed to
him.
oh that is fine and good said Mar.
garita but how can they and we be
fed p
The curate took the Bible, and read
aloud-'Whoever shall give even cup
Of cold water. to the one of the least be.
ing my disciple; verify say unto you,he
. shall not lose his reward
Amen = responded the housekeeper.
The next day, the good father ordered
the burial Of the poor woman, and he
himself read the service over her grave.
Twelve years afterward, the curate OF
San Pedro, then seventy years Of age, was
warming himself in the sun in front of his
, house. 1t was winter and there had been
no sunshine for two days previously.
, Beside him stood boy, ten or twelve
years old, reading aloud the daily prayers
and from time to time casting look o.
envy on youth of about sixteen, tall
e handsome, and muscular, who labored il
y the garden adjoining that Of the priest
t Margarita, being now bling, was listening
y attentively, when the youngest boy ex
+, claimed-'O what beautiful coach
0 as splendid equipage drove up near th'
s door.
t A domestic, richly dressed ,dismounted
aud asked the old man to give him glas
Il Of water for his master.
y 'Carolos,' said the priest to the young
i. er boy, give this nobleman glass o
!, water, and add to it glass of wine,
}, he will accept it. BE quick I!
a The gentleman alighted from the coach
/. He seemed about fifty.
e Are the children your nephews? in
It quired he.
!. Much better, said the priest they ar
d mine-by adoption be it understood
o How so? .
N Il shall tell you,as can refuse nothin
IN to such gentlemen, for poor and ine1
& perienced in the world as | am, nee
lr good advice how best to provide for thes
d two boys
ID Make ensigns Of them in the king
W guards and 10 order to keep up suit
of bic appearance, he must allow ihem
pension of six thousand ducats.'
;" Il ask your advice, my lord, not noel
It, cry.
~ Then you must have your church T,
IN built, and by the side oft pretty pa
We sonage hou e, with handsome iron ralin,
or to enclose the whole. When this work
ou complete, it shall be called the church
tn the Vasa d'ague, (Glass of Water,) He
all is the plan of it; will it suit you?'
es What do you mean ?
OF These teatures-this voice means tn
am Don Jose della Ribera Twel
ng years ago was the brigand Jose. c
TO- capped from prison, and the times ha
a changed. From chief of robbers,
aD. have become the chief of party. Y
ur beiriended me. You have been faith
ng to my children. Let them como 20 Ell
m brace me-let them come y and he open
to- his arms to receive them, They fell
lth his bosom.
Ill. When he had long pressed them, II
kisst d them, by turns,wth tears, aud b
'ry uttered expressions OF gratitude, he h,
rn- out his hand to the old priest
for .IN.ll IN. GatIn. Mill .an,, ..oI n.n.