The Penn's Grove record., 1883-12-08
THE ANGEL OF THE CHAPEL,

1 will tell the story as 1t was told tc
me by one who had often been a vel
come guest beneath the roof of Jean
(Plessis) Lamont.
During the early part of the reign OF
Louis Philippe, Jean Plessis was tried
at ChatIllon, in the Department of the
Cote Dor, for highway robbery, con-
yicted, and sentenced to death. AT the
time of his trial the prison was under
going repairs, and what cells were fit fol
use were so entirely filed taat the pre-
feet was obliged to consign Plessis to an
old chapel of the Marmont Castle. On
the evening previous to the day appoint
| ed for the execution, our malefactol
was visited by the Able st. Augustine
Almond, who had come to pray and
exhort. The able was a good man; a
genial great-hearted, ~self-sacrificing
man, who was at all times ready to dc
and to suffer for his fellows. And this
the prisoner knew.
"Stopl'' said Jean Plessis, when the
able had begun an exhortation. II must
ask you to listen for a little time to me.
viii you do sou
The prisoner was earnest, and appar'
entity sincere. lie was a yonng, good
looking man; with a bright. keen eye,
and an intelligent face. The able bow
ed assent, and Jean Plessis resumed:
"AbDe, / have done many evil things
and there are many evil things which
have never done; l have never taken
money from the poor. l have never
brought shame where the flush of con
scious virtue might have been but fol-
me-neverl Do you remember the pool
member of roads whose wife you visited
n her last sickness? Did she not tel
you of the friend who had given them
food when they were an h~ungered; ano
who paid their miserable rent wher
they were in danger of being turned oul
of doors? 1t was Jean Plessis who did
that. But / ask no favor on that score,
Abte. l only mention it that you may
know l am not all evil-not all bad.
"Abbe st. Almond, l wish to reform,
l have seen enough of suifering-enough
of the evils of SHINING. l could not ask
to live, if | intended to go on in my evil
course. But, could l be saved now, ]
would reform, and devote the rest OF
my life to deeds of usefulness and good.
/ would, at least, work evil no more,
L think, Able, l never was a liar.
When / was at my worst, Iabominated
a liar. So, what l tell you you car
depend upon as true.
Now, Able Saint Almond, will you
go to your pillow tomorrow night. feel
ing that you have given poor JeaI
Plessis up to his death? Will you live
all the rest of your life knowing that il
had it had been once in your power te
save a poor fellow creature to a life Of
reformation and peace, and that you re.
fused HIM your aid? Answer me-"
The able knew not what to say. He
was lost in astonishment; and he finally
told the man that he must be more ex
plicit.
"Abbe, it is in your power to ave my
life. l feel that the angels are calling
upon you to do SO. Or, will not you bt
the angel to set me free?n
The able shook his head. He die
NOT nndarotapd vat TboD tho pyicona,
pointed to a small window, away up il
the gable; and said he:
''Abbe, you are a Strong man. II
you were to stand up against that wall
and suffer me to stand upon your shout
ders, [ could reach the crossbeam easily
Once upon that, l could gain the ledge
above, and pass out through that win
dow. There is a large tree ON the out
side, the branches of which brush
against the glass when the wind blows
Do you understand me now?"
The good father understood; but hi
was not convinced that 1t would be vel
to do as the other wished him to do.
81 can say no more," the prisoner
murmured, with a mournful shake OF
the head. ''If you will not be the an,
gel to help me-to saw me--to give
back to virtue and honor an erring sor
of sorrow,-if you will not be that
angel, l have sued in yain?''
1t was enough. The heart of the
good man was touched, and he yielded.
He closed his eyes, and stood up against
the wat; and when he next opened then
he was alone. He and the candle were
the only things in the old chapel that
had life.
BY and by the tailor came in. and
found the able sitting like one in a
trance. He went forward end shook
man by the shoulder.
"Abbel Able! where is the prisorer?'
The able looked up, and rubbed his
eyes.
Where is the prisoner"
"Tell me rather" replied the able,
solemnly, "where is the angelo
heard the prisoner speak as with ar
angel. He called him an angel. Ny
eyes were closed. When [ was permit.
ted to open them l saw the man going
ont through that window. All else
was as you see 1t now, ave my conster
action"
This same story the able told to the
project and to the officers of the court
- - lTsN
the Department of the Cote Dor thai
a miracle had been wrought in behalf
of Jean Plessis. The Able st. ArmonC
had gone in to pray with him, and while