The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-10-29
GFrom the Catholic World for November.1
An Incident of the Reign of Terror.


most amiabe mood. The consciousness
of all they had achieved, by sustaining
their Declaration of Independence in the
face of overwhelming difficulties, produced
a glow of national sell. .complaceucy that
has thrown its glamour over the first page
OF our public annals, which-as history
counts her pages by centuries-we are
only now preparing to turn. Not until we
were drawing near its close was the light
OF that agreeable Illusion obScured BY the
shadow OF question whether the ''glOri-
Gus Fourth was not like to prove, after
all, most iDgiorious failure.
Self -complacency is never an elevatinp
sentiment, and seldom sustained by the
merits upon the assumed possession of
which it is based. But our people had
many substantial virtues, sufficient to
atone abundantly for their indulgence in a
pleasant foible. Among these was the
principle of gratitude, to which none but
truly noble natures are subject. That
! they possessed it was proved by their
promptness in fastening to relieve and
comfort the French refugees whom the
Reign Of Terror had driven to our shores
when it was devastating that fair realm
aCrnss the Atlantic which had been the
first to extend assistance and sy mpathy TO
Us III the hour of need.
We have vivid rccollectiors of SITTING
fur hours-Patchwork in hand-at the feet
q of deer relative in the pleasant home of
our childhood, listening to thrilling tales of
those times, many of them connected with
the French enligrantS-uf the cordial bos>
pitalty with which all the homes of her
native city Of Hartford, Conn, were thown
open to receive these interesting exiles of
the shifts the inhabitants devised and the
dlScomfortS they endured in order to pro-
v.du comfortable shelter and sustenauce
Tor 50 many from means already impover-
lshcd by the drain of the conflict through
which we ourselves had but just passed.
Now, this dear relative was the possessor
of a small gold locIet of ANTIQUE fashion
and exquisite won Ikmanship. which was an
object of nuceasing admiration to our
childish fancy. In form il was an ollon,-
octa9on. The border was a graceful tiuy
pattern il mosaic gold inIaid with anne
thyst and pearl. In the centre were two
miniatures painted on glass with marvel
lous distinctncss and accuracy : the one n
+ likeness of that most unfortunate queen.
Marie Antoinctte, the other of her beloved
/ siSter-in-lEw, the aimable Princess Eliza
/ beth. heavy pebble crystal perfectly
transparent, covered the pictures without
in the least observing their delicate t;nts.
q In the back of the lOcket was an omen
space, "'thin which, our relative said was
once laid, upon the ground of dark satin
that still remained, a knot formed bv two
small locks OF glossy. silken hair one n
. light rJse-tinGc0 auburn, the other Haxen
with golden sheen. \ glass covered
. these also.
After much persuasion our relative reIa
ted 10 us the following
STORY OF THE LOCKET.
My father WAS an officer in The Cont;
mental army, an6, soon after the war of
our Revelation closed, returned to his for
mer home il the city Of Hartford Conn.
where he pied AN office of high munich
pal hnSt. lie was moved by the generous
impulses Of his nature to life OF active
beuevClence aud when in 1922. the
Revolution in France drove thousands of
her citizous to take refuge in our republic
4 none were more Jealous and uutiring than
he III seeking out and providing for the un-
fortunate strangers. Every apartment in
our spacious house was soon filled Rooms
were prepared III the carriage house and
barns for my brothers and She domestics Of
the household, willie my sisters and nv
self took possession of a small room in the
attic which had been a repository for the
spare bedding, now called into use.
Among our guests was one lady who was
distinguished by having n spaciouS room
/ set apart for her sole use, and who seldom
left it or mingled with her companions in
misfoItuneean exile. Upon the rare oc-
/ casions when she did appear briefly in their
circle, twas striking to observe the ceremo-
/ nious Difference, amounting almost to ven
) Grafton, With which SHE was received
/ Whers or how my father found ner never
I knew but his manner towards her was so
! profoundly respectful as to impress MS all
! with feelings akin 10 fear in her presence
/ Yet these impressions were produced by
the demeaDor of others only /; for on her
own part there was not the slightest self~
assertion or assumption of stateiness.
Simple and unobtrusive as child in her
manners, she indscribabiy aflable to
all; but her countenanee wore an express
j ion which, when once seen, could never be
! forgotten. More forcbly and clearly than
! words did it convey the story that some
overwhelming deluge of calamity had
swept from her life every vestige of earthly
hope and Joy. BY no outward token did
she parade her griefs. Her dress, plain,
I even severe, in its perfect neatness and
simplicity, displayed no mourning badge,
but her very smile was an intimate reyela-
, tion of sorrow. ... s
She was known by the title of ''Madane."
though some of our guests woud now and
then add, when speaking of her in an
I dertone-not lost upon small listener like
! myself-''la Comtesse." Her waiting
maid, Celeste, was entirely devoted to her,
and always served her slight and simple
meals to her in her own room. ~
j Soon after her arrival was sent on some
errand to madames apartment, and her
agitation upon seeing me was thing to be
remembered for u lifetime. She drew me
4 to her bosom, caressing me with many
! tears, suppressed sobs, and rapid exclama-
/ tions in her own language. Learned after
wards from Celeste that / was of the same
age and bore striking resemblance in form,
and face to her daughter, who had been
torn from her in the storm and turmoil of
their, escape. They had been rescued by
I faithful servant, and hurried of. more
dead than alive, in the fright, confusion,
\ and uproar of terrible outbreak in Paris,
and had discovered, when too late, that her
daughter had been separated from them
aud was missing. Their deliverer prom-
ised to make every possible effort to find
I, the child, but Celeste had little hopc for
she had heard from the servant of another
lady who escaped later-bnt had never told