Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-11-13
Aliseeltamu.
A Miracle of the Middle Ages.

when the place now known as Per
pigpan was but a rustic village, that
small parish was presided over by cure,
who had managed to fall into disfavor
with the bishop. The latter often had
occasion to chide him for his inattention
to the cure of souls under his charge,
always closing bis reproofs with the
apostolic doctrine that "faith without
works is dead" This last remark final
ly had its effect upon the priest, who
earnestly set to work to redeem his char
acter and regain the confidence of his
superior. He betook himself to fasting
and prayer, meditating in the night
watches, and watering his couch with
tears. AT last, bis resolution was taken,
and he only waited an opportunity to
carry into effect his ambitious project,
which was nothing less than the work
ing of miracle. and the converting of
his parish into the scene of many mighty
pilgrimage
Near by the village, in sequestered
place, was a snail field, occupied as
pasture for a COW, which was watched
over by simple boy of lazy intellect
one of those rare beings whom Longfel-
low somewhere describes as. troubled
with chronic suspension of the menta
faculties.
His droasY mind found a sympathetic
friend in his own well-fed body, and when
satisfied that his gentle charge was doing
we'll, he was wont to roll upon the turf,
and go to sleep.
This season of the boys repose was
the priests opportunity. Taking with
him handful of salt, he approached the
docile COW, and, by scattering here and
there few grains, allured her to a GER
tain spot where the sod had been recent
ly removed, and there deposited the re-
mainder upon the ground. The next
day, and for several succeeding days, he
repeated this operation, taking pains
each time to remove some of the earth
before placing the salt in the excavated
place, until at last the cavity became so
deep that the animal was obliged to
drop down upon her knees in order to
reach the coveted salt with her tongue.
When he had brought her to this stage
of her education, he contrived in some
way to rouse the sleeper, without himself
being seen. The lad, on awaking,
caught sight of the beast on her knees,
apparently in the act of devotion and
kissing the earth with pious efusion.
Overcome by excitement, he bounded
off toward home, and with shouts and
wild gesticulations reused the whole viii
Iage-men, women and children-who
came running with him TO the scene of
operations. The shout (" a miracle - "a
miracle" was instantly raised and pas.
sed from mouth to mouth till the whole
country round about resounded with it.
The cure was soon upon the ground, and
as may be supposed, was quite equal to
the gravity of the occasion. He ordered
the earth to be excavated, and what was
their astonishment to find, few inches
below the surface, leaden statuette of
the Virgin Mary, CT about a cubit's
length This was carefully exhumed,
and a procession having been formed, it
was borne in great pomp to the humble
village church, where it was placed upon
the altar.
The following morning, at the first
sound of the Angelus-tbe morning bell
for prayer-the whole village came has
tening to pay their respects to the new
found Virgin, button entering thechurch,
it was discovered that the image had
mysteriously disappeared. Their first
thought was of the pasture, and hasten
ing hither, strange to say, there they
found the COW, which had just been turn
ed out for the day, again PROSTATE upon
her knees, over the same place. On re-
opening the earth, the statuette was
there seen reposing in the same position
as before. The people we're about to dis
inter it again, when the cure interposed
and arrested their work, telling his SIM
pie flock that he looked upon the mirac-
ulous return of the image to its former
resting place as happy omen, and that
it might be interpreted SIS the expressed
wish of the Holy Mother that chapel
should be built in her honor, upon that
very spot, to which pilgrims from all
quarters might resort TO do her rever.
ence.
The bishops sanction was sought and
obtained; funds poured in from rich and
poor; the chapel was built; and the
leaden Virgin was placed upon the altar
whence, for many year, she dispensed
! her favors and miraculous cures to the
devoted pilgrims who came to her shrine
! Thus the enterprising cure managed tC
redeem his character and the amiable
bishop, seeing such proofs of faith united