American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-05-27

81 was sitting in the deep twilight ,
that fatal day on Image Plain, jul
where you sit now, listening, rs Is won
to the insects, and birds, and rustlin
teaVes of the cotton-woods, when thel
entered without knocking tall, fa
man, leading a little child 1 aros,
somewhat startled, but he bade m
keep my seat; and, after securing til
door. he approached me, and, seatin
The child upon his knee, told me he
he had killed the English Governor in
moment of excitement when appeal
ances indicated seaeeraI fight. II
said he woul! &c hunted now like a will
beast, and that to save his life his fligh
from the country must be immediate
rapid, and alone. But, unfortunatel
for the accomplishment of that oRjsci
he had daughter, but Six years of age
| and bereft of :. mothers care, whom
was impossible to take with him. So
confiding in the proverbial charity O
our order, he had brought her to me
desiring to leave her until he Shout,
reach some place of safety, when sh
could be forwarded to him. He plead
ed with me to keep the child SO earn
estly that promised to do so if m,
Bishop would permit, for you know
can do nothing without his consent. 81
placed the stranger and the child in
the room there, and rode the twelve
miles to see my Bishop at once; for tn,
man was ia haste to be off.
"When l reached the river, on the
opposite bank of which stands the pal
ace of Monseigneur, found the boat
gone, and, being unable to arouse any
one, could not cross till morning. But
nay Bishop willingly consented to the
child's remaining, and, further, gave
me permission to aid the fugitive in
escaping according to my own judg-
ment. What else would you have, my
sonp The man was of our own faith,
while all his pursuers were here-par-
don me! l forge. you are not of us.
He advised also that, as the pursuit had
already begun, it would be best to Sc
crete him until the search became less
vigilant. So kept him here with me
for five months. the little Ahgelique be-
ing sent to the Sisters across the way
He shaved his heavy beard away and
his hair close; SO that when he
donned the soutane l gave him, no one
would have known him. We called
him Father Antoine, and grew to love
him like brother. He had money, and
gave me the means of building the spire
and cross to the chapel, besides COM
pleting the cottage. When the spring
came at last, he went off in the garb of
a priest, with the Pere Geron, leaving
the child behind him, and a void in my
heart like great gulf.
81 told you, I think, how the Pere
Geron and a companion persisted of
hunger in crossing the Grand Traverse,
and how desolate 1 was at their loss.
Well, that companion was the father of
and by his death the little
one became my child, for never heard
Of other relatives. 1 took her to my
heart after that, and the good Sister
Felice, who cared for her, never sought
10 divide her affections with me. We
we're as father and child, and our great
owe for each other was SO apparent
hat I remember my Bishop threatened
% separate us, and reminded me often
If my vows. But that was years ago,
before the fire came to refine our affec-
ion and purge it of Its worldliness.
"You know, mon ans, what a quiet
life we lead here, and how little amuse-
nent there is even now for a child. But
t was worse then, for Sister Therese
lad not yet started the school which
low gathers the parish children at our
ioor, and little Angelique had only
myself and the two Sisters for play
mates. There was one of them, how
'ver, who was a wonderful musician,
md she taught the child the mys-
cry of her art. All, mon enfant, you
hould have heard the two singing the
Kyrie Eleison!' l have sat by the win
low here in the long twilight, and list
ned until thought the heavenly choirs
we're abroad, SO exquisite were the
trains. The poor organ of the chapel
'reathed divine harmonies under her
ouch. At eleven years of age she was
mistress of the instrument, and the Sis
er confessed her inability to teach her
nore. People came from the other
'arishes to hear her sing in the vespers,
nd pronounced her performance mar
elous. Then, too, 1 Taught her all the
lementary branches of study, and she
made steady progress. You see, there |
Tas but little to distract her attention
rom study, and, living constantly with
er elders, she grew mature very rapid
ears, and was twelve years of age, the
ishop took her away and placed her
n the choir of the cathedral; but the
DOR child yearned for us, and grew so
ale and spiritual that the physician or
cred her return; and, although Mon
eigneur was 10th to part with her, yet
e sent her back, with the new organ
ow in the chapel as a present.
"You have heard the people talk, no
oubt, of the prairie fires that ravaged
ne country SO terribly eight summers
go. All, my friend, it was awful-the
ing lines of flame sweeping in all di-
ectiolis, and destroying and desolating
Il before them! The cultivated fields,
lie houses, the cattle-all, every thing
asted under it. The fierce flame swept
n by the force of the wind it had Gre