Litchfield enquirer., 1881-06-16

Rigobert had at first settled under the mission. aries protection, begging them respectfully to befriend him :; but as soon as he could shift for himself, he proceeded to set up what he was facetiously pleased to call a constitutional op. position. He left off going to church on the ground that he was free-thinker, aud amused himself by fndoctrinating the minds of his Chinese customers with republican and materialist ethics, be cause, he said, the clergy ought not to have things entirely their own way In all this Monsieur Rigobert intended to be funny rath- CT than to grieve or damage them, but he did not know the country in which he was living and one of the earliest results of his fooleries was to breed schism ID the village. All the most cunning and worthless characters, whe found Enphrasiuss spiritual yoke too heavy. became customers of M. Rigobelt t's drink shop, and imbibers of his doctrine. Then the silly fellow added a roulette table to his other at- fractions, and opened regular casino, where drunkenness and gambling ran riot, terminal ing not unfrequently in fights and murder Thereupon the native officials found an excuse for saying that "these Christians, (for they confound the good and the bad together) were fomenters of discord and trouble and by way of showing impartiality between what they termed the two ''sects," they fell into the hah- it of barnhooing two or three we'll behaved converts every time that like number of Monsieur Rigobert's friends had deserved pun ishment.
 All this was a heavy trouble to Enphrasius and Babclinus, but their approximations with their raff1sh fellow-countryman were of no avail. Babolinus had tackled the man jovi- a fn nfo N0I fellow, and urging upon him that Frenchmen ought to make common cause in foreign land so far from home; Euphrasius had re- monstrated more severely, pointing out to Rgobert that he was guilty of criminal folly which might lead to bloodshed, in which case weighty responsibility would rest upon him.
 Babolinus, perceiving how impatient Euphrasius grew at Rigoberts misdeeds, tried sometimes to offer consolation and in so doing spoke in truer spirit of Christian philosophy than his friend, though it was far from his in tention to speak in tone of reproof. "Broth, CT, our work must not be made too easy for us. J he used to say 'else we might despise it, and perhaps undertake more than we can satisfac. torily perform. So iong as this wolf is amongst us we shall not be tempted to aban- don the sheep of our little flock, and this, perhaps, will be mercy to them"
 "Everythlng was going on so well before he came" muttered Euphrasius mournfully.
 And everything will go on well though he is here. Assuredly an occasion will come for worsting him. Let US remain patient in our work, and we may he judged worthy of sharper trials than any that have befallen as yet"
 Would that some sharper trial would come!" exclaimed Euphrasius fanatically then, becoming aware of his presumption, he added humbly, ''if strength be vouchsafed us to meet it. What mean, Babolinus, IS that this man seems too mean foe to cope with. It is like wrestling with viper, and wasting ones time and strength ever it, when one has gone out to meet lions."
 Patience, brother! we shall encounter our lions ID time," replied the elder monk"
 Il wonder how soon" answered Euphrasus with faint smile.
 ''Oh soon enough for me-" said Babolinus laughing. ''I only hope may not be like the prophet who met the lion in the way, and was slain outright without any fighting on his part, from what 1 can make out"
 The lions-that is the sharp trial which Euphrasius had invoked-did come, but not in the manner, or at the time. when the young monk had expected.
 Once month an estatette used to come from the nearest European settlement, bringing let ters and parcels from Europe to Seiho One day, in fine spring weather, the courier arrived whilst Euphrasius was busy with his classes in the school, and Babolinus presently came running into the school-r room flourishing a large open document with a seal to it.
 Father |! Father ]" he cried, and, with tears of joy starting to his eyes, flung himself at his friends feet, ''let your first episcopal haceinr aD mo fOnncoiuDanrl
 "What means this?" inquired Euphrasus amazed"
 ''The Holy Father has constituted Seiho into see and appointed you it's first bishop. , answered Babolinus, still on his knees. Il may say now, like Simeon, Natnc Dinsitt6s. and rejoice that this has been in part my doing, though we. shall, alas be separat- ed"
 "Why should we be separated ?" asked Flu phrasius. Then, when he had laid his hands on his friend. and assisted him to rise-when he had also appeased the tumult that had arisen in the school room by dsmissing all his cheering, hallooing little pupils fer half holi- day (after they. too, had clustered round him for blessing)-then he sat down, in consid- erable agitation, to read the instructions that had been forwarded to him from Rome along with his letters of appointment. The document stated that, owing to reports which had come to Rome (theY could only have been sent by Baholinus) of EuphAasius's zeal, courage and piety, owing also to the success of his labors as a missionary, it had been resolved to ap point him bishop, and to send out twelve new missionaries to Seiho to undertake parish work under hls directions. Meanwhile-that is to say, as soon as these missionaries arrived the new bishop was to delegate Brother Babo- linus as his coadjutor pro'tena., and to proceed to Rome for his investiture and for further orders On his return to China he might, if he deemed it expedient, take out an addition al staff of missionaries and school-teachers win him, so that the new Christian vineyard which he had planted in what had once been a wilderness might not suffer fromwant of laborers.
 And it is to thee 1 owe all this ]" exclaimed Euphrasius, quite overcome, and embracing Babolinus in transport of gratitude. But what possessed thee to send such reports in my favor without informing me?"
 Because I knew you would not have writ ten in your own praise," answered Babolinus with an honest laugh. "For all this is your doing, brother-these schools this church, could not have risen above ground without you; and yet confess, did not think my words would so soon have borne fruit The Holy Father has paid me great compliment in believing me thus readily" .......
 ''The bishopric should have come to you, Babolinus. could well afford to wait. said Euphrasius sincerely meaning what he said.
 No, Father am an old man, having none of your genius, and should have made poor bishop" Then, with good -humored twinkle in his eye, But now, Father, yeu will be better armed against the lions than I, for you will have crozier to defend yourself W ith.''
 "What lions?" asked Euphrasius absent ly.
 ''Why, the lions who were to relieve the monotony of our existence the lions who were to come under the form of new trials to test our strength and faith"
 'Ah yes, answered Euphrasius as absent ly again. and he did not smile at the joke.
 Poor Euphrasius ! his ambition would have been cruelty curbed if he could have known that he owed his bishopric mainly, if not sole- ly, to the untiring efforts which Angele and her husband had made with the French Gov ernment and with the Vatican on his behalf The kindly offices If the Unoh Raho1inus wOuld