, 1874-10-26
a n1srncsc of tho Ntiutaio Arcs.

a HAtrQEAG OF tho NA1uN10 AWCns
AT certain epoch, in tho good old ncdinyal
timos..-so runs the logoud, WHOM tho plnco now
known aa porpignau waa but ruallo village,
that small parish wna presided over by a cure,
who had managed to fall into diafayor with hsH
bishop. Tito lattot often had occasion 10 cbido
his charge, always closInE his roproofH with tho
Apostolic doctrine TINT s'faith without worAB 10
lc0d." ThiH last renahrk finally had itB efrcot
upon tho priest, WHO onrnostiy pet to work to 70.
tcon1 his character and regain tho confidence Of
his superior. lilo betoolt hiEnHelf to fasting mud
praypr, moditating in tho night-watciea, and
Watering lis oouch with toars. At l1et. his roso-
luton waa tRkon, mud ho only awaited all oppor-
tuuty to cnrry into cdoct niB ambitious proJuct,
which was nothing leDn than tho working Of q
miraclo and the converting Of his parish into the
Reeno Of many mighty Pilg1inages.
Noar by tho village, IN seaueatorea place,
wa8 Htnnl field, occupied as pasture Tor COW,
which was watched ovcr by . simple boy Of lazy
intciccs-one Of thoso raro boings whom Long
fellow somewhere describes M troubled with q
chronic suspension Of the mental faculties.
Ills drowsy MUD found d Rympathetio friend
in Lis own woll-fod body. aud when aatialod that
| lis gcntlo charge was doing well, lie was won't to
roll upon tho tlrf. md go to sloep.
Tlsis Roason Of tho boya reposo was tho prieet'e
opportunity. Taking With hun handful Of sait,
| ho approached tho doce COW. AMI, BY scattering
hero and thoro lew grains, nllured her to corr
| tain spot vhero the aod had been recently 70.
moved, and there deposited tho remainder upon
| the ground. TITO ncxt day, md for several sue
cooding daya, lo repeated this operation, taking
pains oacl, tiMo TO rotnovo gomo of tho earth be-
fore placing tho salt IN tho cxcavated place, uu-
til ut lnat tho cavity became 1eop TINT the AMI
| NAL waa Obliged to drop down upon her knoea in
order to reach tho coveted Ralt With her tongue.
| When l,o Ind brought her to this stage Of lcr
| education, ln contriyel il Bome way to rouse
tho uicepcr, without himself being seen. The
lad. on nwaking. caught sight Of tho beaat OIL
laor knons, apparently In tho net Of devotion and
xs,&.s IL $tzt snfP xHi-
| Overcome by oxcitonlont, ho bounded of to-.
| ward home, ariu with shouts and wild gesticula-
tlous sounou tho whole yillago.-mcn. woinon.
md children. who ca1no running with him to
was inBtantIy raiacj. aud paascd from mouth to
mouth till tho whole country round about re-
sounded with 1t. Tho euro Tas coon upon the
ground, and. as 1nay to supposed, was quite equal
to tho gravity Of tho OCCASION. 1Io ordered the
earth 10 DO oxcavntod, and what ~as their aaton'
ishnont to find q foW inches below the surface,
leaden statuetto OF tho Virgin Mary, Of about 4
cubit's length! This waa cnrofnIly oxh,ln'atl;
md, Il procession having beon formed, 1t was
borne in great pump to tue tumble vitlage church
whoro it was placed upon the altar.
Tho following morning, at tho first sound OF
tho hnEHlND,--,ho morning bell FOR prayar,-the
wholo village casuo hasten,ng to pny their re-
spccts to tic new-faunll Virgin, but, on ontoring
rnysteriouaty disappeared. TAae first thought
was OF tho pasture, aud haHtcning thither
strange to say. thoso thoy found tue COW. which
had ust been turned out for tho day, again pros
trnte upon llcr Knees over tic snuao p!ace. Or
rcopcn.Dg tho EARTH tho statuctto was tlero seo1
rc,,using III the Same ponition as befovo. Tic
puoplo woso about to tllAntor it agnin, whom thu
euro intorposod aud arrested their, work. to.hnl
llls simple flock that ho looked upon tho niracn
lous return OF tho image to it's former rcating
placo az bappY omen, and that it might bo iu
tcypretoA as tho expressed wish Of the Holy
aIottor that u Chapel should be built in he'
honor, upon that very spot, to which pilgrims
from all quarlers might rcaort to do her roVor
ence. .
Tlle Blahop's sanction was sought and obtained
funds poured in from Yich and poor; tue ehape
WIS bsliit, autl tho osdon Virgin was placed upn'
| the altar, wlieuco Tor many ycar. sho aispcns
cd bor favoru and miraculous cures to TIC dovot
cd pilgrims who canle to her Shrine. Ihus tlt
cntoypriang euro managed to rcdeem his char
actor; and thu amiable Disl,op. seeing, sucl
proofis Of faith united to workH could 10 longe
il.l il in his lioart to ullido the priest who had
successfully vrought the 1niraclo Of tho cow.-
Charles Fairbanks, IN Scri1ner's for NoreMIcr