The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-12-08
THE ANGEL OF THE CHAPEL,

" iCsbloJ lIdllOllI.
During the early part Of the reign of
Louis Philippe, Jean Plessis was tried
at Chatlllon, in the Department of the
Cote Dor, for highway robbery, con-
victed, and sentenced to death. At the
time of his trial the prison was under
going repairs, and what cells were fit for
use were so entirely filled that 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 malefactor
was visited by the Able st. Augustine
Almond, who had come to pray and
exhort. The abbe was a good man; a
genial great-hearted, self-sacrifcing
man, who was at all times ready to do
and to suffer for his fellows. And this
the prisoner knew.
"Stopl'' said Jean Plessis, when the
abbe had begun an exhortation. al must
ask you to listen for little time to me.
Win you do so?"
The prisoner was earnest, and appar-
entity sincere. lie was yonng, good.
looking man; with bright, keen eye,
and an intelligent face. The abbe bow.
ed assent, and Jean Plessis resumed:
'AbDe, l have done many evil things,
and there are many evil things which
have never done; l have never taken
money from the poor. l nave never
brought shame where the flush of con-
scious virtue might have been but for
me-neverl Do you remember the poor
mender of roads whose wife you visited
II her last sickness? Did she not tell
you Of the friend who had given them
food when they we're an hungered; and
who paid their miserable rent when
they were in danger of being turned out
of do0rs2 1t was Jean Plessis who did
that. But l 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, wish to reform.
L have seen enough Of utfering-enough
Of the evils OF SHINING. could not ask
to live, if l intended to go on in my evil
course. But, could l be saved now, l
would reform, and devote the rest OF
my life to deeds of usefulness and good.
l would, at least, work evil no more.
L think, Able, l never was liar.
When l was at my worst, Iabominated
a liar. So, what tell you now you can
depend upon as true.
''Now, Able Saint Almond, will you
go to your pillow tomorrow night, feel
ing that you have given poor Jean
Plessis up to his death2 Will you live
all the rest of your life knowing that it
had it had been once in your power to
save poor fellow creature to life OF
reformation and peace, and that you re-
fused Inn your aidp Answer me-"
The abbe 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 save my
life. l feel that the angels are calling
upon you TO do so. Or, will not you be
the angel to set me free2"
The abbe shook his head. He did
not understand yet. Then the prisoner
pointed 10 small window, away up in
the gable; and said he:
"Abbe, you are strong man. If
you were to stand up against that wall,
and suffer me 10 stand upon your shoul-
ders, l could reach the crossbeam easily.
Once upon that, could gain the ledge
above, and pass out through that win.
dow. There is 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 he
was not convinced that 1t would be well
to do as the other wished him to do.
81 can say no more" the prisoner
murmured, with mournful shake of
the head. ''If you will not be the an
gel to help me-to save me-to give
back to virtue and honor an erring son
of sorrow,-if you will not be that
angel, have sued in vainP"
1t was enough. The heart of the
good man was touched, and he yielded.
He closed his eyes, and stood up against
the wau; and when he next opened them
lie 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 abbe sitting like one in a
trance. He went forward end shook
man by the shoulder.
"Abbel Abbel where is the prisorer?''
The sbbe looked up, and rubbed his
eyes.
Where is the1risoner2"
''Tell me rather" replied the abbe,
solemnly, "where is the angel? /
beard the prisoner speak as with an
angel. He called him an angel. My
eyes were closed. When [ was permit
ted to open them saw the man going
ont through that window. Ali else
was as you see 1t now, save my conster-
aation."
This same story the abbe told to the
prefect and to the officers of the court,
and it come to be belief throughout
the Department of the Cote Dor that
a miracle had been wrought in behalf
of Jean Plessis. The Abbe st. Almond
had gone in to pray with him, and while
the holy man was engaged in prayer an