The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-10-11
LITERARY
THE BECCAR OF ST. ROCHE.

\ young priest attached 10 the Church ol
81. Roche at Paris. in the year Is, had
been III the habit Of giving occasional aims
to u beggar whom he passed eve'y day as
be went into the church. This man used to
sit on the steps of the front entrance, anu to
solicit the charity of the faithful as they
passed to and fro. He was old aud his
countenance stern and sad. If any one ad-
dressed him. he answered briefly and
abruptedly; nor had his features ever been
seen 10 relax inton smile, He was known
/ as .,Old Jacques of the steps OF ST. Roche;
and none had troubled themselves to i'll
quire into his history or ascertain his orig
in. The good priest, whe had frequently
relieved him, remarked that he was never
seen within the church, and endeavor-
cd at diffrl ent times to find out from him
whether he indeed neglected his religious
duties or performed them ut such times as
had escaped his observation; but he al
ways returned cvasive answers to his ques-
iti,ns aud shut himself up IN the deepest
reserve Once or twice the Able - had
perceived that he wore around ms meek
black string, to WHICH was attached n small
enameled cross. When his eye had fixed
itself upon it, Jacques had hastily h,d 1t
from his sight, and since that day had
taken care to keep his poor ragged coat
but,ohed over it, 1t so happened that
the priest was called away from his post
during the winter that followed his first ac-
quaintance with Jacques, and remained ao
sent for some weeks. At his return he
missed the begsar from his accustomed
place and when after a few days he stiii did
not appear. his charity prompted him to
make enquiries about the poor man. lie
found some difficulty i'll discovering his
abode but it was ut last pointed out to him,
his informant adding at the same time. that
though Jacques was very i'll. II was no use
for IA priest to visit hun. as he had abso
lutely refused TO send for one. aud seemed
determined to die in sullen, obstinate
silence. This account only confirmed tn,
Able - in his resolution to seek hin
out; and rs he bent his steps towards thu
narrow street which had been pointed GU
to him, he thought of the cross which n
had noticed on the old mans bosom, ant
wondered that one apparently so poo
should wear so rich an ornament, or one s.
irrclisious the symbol OF our Redemption
After cropping up narrow staircase IN IN
house to which he had been directed. h
succeeded in finding the garnet IN whic
Jacques was lying, His worn and emaciat
ed appearance, heightened by the progress
of disease, had greatly increased since h
had last seen him; the dark lines about hi
eyes and mouth, and the restless twttchin
Of his limbs seenedto Indicate that life wa
coming to close. There was little furn
turc in that miserable room; the bed. IT be
it could be cal ed. occupied one half Of IT.
piece of stained. discolored silk hun
against the wall in the shape of curtair
There seemed to be no particular reason 70
this contrivance, which scarcely harmonii
ed with the squalid neglected aspect of ID;
poor abode, Jacques lifted up his eyes {
the Able approached, and made sign
recognition. When the priest kindly 81
dressed him he held out his hand and mu
mered few words Of thanks; but when h
visitor, after abiding TO his illness. an
proposing certain measures for his reli
and comfort proceeded to speak of Il
preparation a Christian should make 4
death. and to express hope that he wou
avail himself of the means Of Grace which
merciful God was placing within his reac
the old mans face darkcned. the lines abo
his mouth grew harder. and he exclaim
with impotence that it was no use that
had nothing to say TO priest, and on
wished to be left alone.
! .You are satisfied. then, to die IN 20
/ 4 present state Of mind. my dear friend"