Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-03-06

which, next TO his own children, he loved
with yearning aflection-the very thought
Of it appeared to him kind of death. He
refu' o to quit-he monstrated-implored
it was of no avail-the cottage interfered
with the prospect.
One evening, the old man, half bewilder-
ed, had returned from fruitless journey
to the palazzo. lie sat down in his garden
and looked with swimming eyes upon his
mrthful grandchildren (heedless pretty
ones, whose very happiness gives a deeper
melancholy 10 a house of sorrow shocked
and wounded by the tyranny of his land
lord, he glanced at Hugo's pear tree-(for
SO he always called it, The old man leap
ed from his seat; his resolution was taken,
he would go Rome-he would, as last
hope, strive to tiBd some part of his boyish
playmate, Hugo, in the wrlnkled, polite
churchman. All things were soon ordered
for his journey, and he quilted the cottage,
bearing with him small basket filled with
the finest pears plucked from Hugo's tree.
Luigi arrived in Rome and now with a
sinking heart, now with confidence based
on honest pride, he sought tho presence of
the holy father. Appearing before the SER
wants of his holiness, Luigi asked for an
audience with Messer Hugo Bon Compagno.
When reminded of this unbecoming IA
miliarity, Luigi replied, that he knew not
Pope Gregory Kill, but was dear friend
Of Hugos and therefore demanded to see
his companion, not caring, he said, TO troub-
lie the pope.
To this Luigi obstinltely adhered, con-
tinually urging, with great earnestnoss,
that he SHOULD he admitted to th1 presence
OF his early comrade. There was a sim
plicity in the old mans manner that for
once won upon the minions of the great !;
and the strange demand of Luigi being re-
ported 10 his holiness, he was with great
ceremony ushered before the sovereign
pontilf-before the man who was courted
by emperors, flattered by kings. All re-
tired, and the rustic and Gods vicar upon
earth were confronted.
How changed, since the friends bad last
met Then, they were, at least in fortunes,
almost equal. Now, one was bent beneath
the load OF empire-worshipped as ono only
"a little ln,se- ti,Au the augels'-the triple
crown upon his head-St Peter's keys within
his hand. What has the poor gardener to
show against all these7 a basket of pears |
"Now, my son." said Pope Gregory
'you sought Hugo Bon Compagno-you
find him in Gregory the Thirteenth. What
ask you at his hands"
Justice, most holy father-justicc, aad
no favor"
Speak"
II made with another in my time OF
youth, a mutual compact OF kindness and
proiection-we vowed that whichever
should prosper in his fortune should serve
and assist the other
at was a Christian promise. Well (!
Stand you in need of succor?"
"Most ieyously-oppression has come
upon me in my old age"
"And your friend forsakes you in your
ueed? Have you witnesses TO the COM
pact of which you speakH"
"Yes-this basket of pears"
"Pearsv' cried the pontiff, and light
dartcd from his eyes as he fixed them earn
estly on Luigi.
1--WE planted the tree on which they grew.
were the words of my companion. Heard
the tree have lourished for forty years
that tree has never failed; for, every year,
II hath brought forth a crop of luscisus
/ fsait-and have sat beneath that tree and
wondered now II could be so bountifuI TO
me, when he who helped to plant II, he
who was bending beneath nIs aon9rs aud
his wealth had forgotten tO send mo nvhu
single pear"
"Luigi-Luigi," exclaimed the ponliT;
and with face crimsoned with bushes, he
threw his arms about the rustici Their
grey heads lag on each Others shoulder.
Thus they continued for some moments,
and then Luigi, STOPPING TO the. basket, pre-
sented pear TO Gregory; he took it, and,
looking at it, burst into tears.
Luigi kept his cottage Douglas Je,Told