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


Philippe had been forced to fee from
his capital and from his kingdom; La
MARITIME had been President of the
Grand Republic, and had passed from
power; and Louis Napoleon had been
elected President, and was already
thinking Of beng emperor, when, on a
cold, clustering winters evening, the
Abbe Augustine st. Almond, now a
white-haired old man, found himself on
a strange road, upon the southern
boarder of the great Dournay Forest.
He had set out from Dion on journey
that should have occupied week-had
set out alone, on good horse, not anti
cipating so severe a storm.
Atlength, fairly benumbed with cold,
and fearful of. the worst, he discovered,
through the thickly whirling snow, a
light directly ahead. He gave thanks
to God, and pushed on, and very soon
he came into the court of large farm
house. the barns and numerous other
out-buildings of which he could plainly
distinguish. He had strength enough
to slip from his saddle and kick with
his foot upon the door. His abrupt
summons was answered by man, who
came with lantern in his hand. The
able had started to tell his situation,
when the man laid strong hand upon
his arm and pulled him into the hall.
'Tell your story, man, where there is
more of comfort than is to be found out
in the storm. Have you horse2"
Upon receiving an Affirmative answer,
the man gave the lantern to stout
boy, and bade him go out and see that
the horse had comfortable quarters and
plenty of food.
Then the abbe was led to large sit
ting room, where bright faced, pretty
girl, of fifteen, or thereabouts, was set
ting out the supper-table. The mother
was in the kitchen, engaged in cooking
for the meal; while three children,
younger than the girl first mentioned,
were sitting near the fire, two OF them
engaged in peeling chestnuts. The
guest saw all this before he had remov-
ed his overcoat. He knew not why ii
should be so, but he had a strange
sense of home-llke feeling. 1t seemed
to him as though he had a particular
right to be here. Had the house been
his own, he could have not felt more
inclined than he felt when he had COM
pleted his swift survey of the comferta-
BILE and cheerful apartment.
And during this brief space the host
had been as busily watchful as the
guest had been. The sacerdotal gart
had first attracted the farmers notice,
and then he looked at the aged face.
He looked, and great light shone in
his eyes, and glow of happiness over.
spread his kindly face. He helped the
guest to remove his great-coat; then
caused him to sit in a chair, when he
went down upon his knees, and began
to pull off the wet boots, and chill,
damp stockings. Then he brought dry
stockings, and warm, soft slippers; and
very soon the able was as comfortable
as could be-
'There, good father" the host said,
when he had done all that he could
think of "what more can / do towards
your comfort before our poor supper is
ready?n
"Indeed, my son." the guest return
ed, deeply moved, ''you have already
thought Of more than l could have
asked for. You have made my body
comfortable; and you have warmed my
heart. which is better than all else."
The host bowed, but Offered no fur
ther response; and after little time
the guest went on:
"Your attention to my comfort, my
son, has more than gratified me it has
surprised me. l am AN old man, as my
frosty biow must show; yet you are the
first person who ever knelt at my feet
to do me SERVICE"
"Ahl'' said the host, with more feel
ing than the occasion would seem to
call for on his part, 1--WE may some time
entertain an angel unawares. have,
ere this, seen an angel in an abbe's
garb."
The abbe started. He looked ear
nestly into the mans face, and the
truth burst upon him. 1t was the male
actor, whom, more than quarter of a
century before, he had helped to escape
from the little old chapel of the Mar.
mont Castle. He was about to speak,
when the other placed his finger upon
his lips. Then he said. in whisper:
'My wife, to whom l will shortly
introduce you, knows everything; but
not so my children.
The able understood, and was silent.
Shortly afterwards the wife-Madam
Lamont entered. 81 am Jean la
mont" )" he whispered and then:
'Jean, whom do you think the storm
has sent to us?"
She SAW the great tears starting from
his eyes and coursing down his cheeks;
and she knew before he had spoken
another word. Yet he went on:
sit is"
"Ihe Able Saint Armondl" she cried,
as he broke down.
"Yes,n said the guest, 81 am the
poor abbe."
She caught his hand, and pressed her
lips upon it. Then, to her children,
who were looking on wonderingly, she
said:
"My children-once "a great many
years ago-when your father was in
mortal perll-when he would have been
q dead man before another sun had set.