Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-07-04
TIE son OF A WIDOW.


One evening OF the last winter the Able
Faber. the worthy cure OF tine old church
of Saint Medard. Paris struggled against
the furious blasts under a spread um
breila and painfully fought his way along
the Rue Moutfetard on his road to the
holy sanctuary Very sure in his own
mind that he was uselessly disturbing
himself on this stormy night he was
deeply regrctting the heapof blazing logs
he had quilted in his little lodging in the
Rue i.honon,le. also that fsollandist folio
lying open upon the table by the side
OF his horn trimmed spectacles.
hut IL was Saturday evening, the day
OF all days when the old widows and
work women Of his parish, who gained
their living by cleaning in the neighbor-
hood or collecting their little pensions,
came 10 seek al,solution from kim in
order 10 commune on the morrow. He
could not, therefore. this honest priest,
dispense with the necessity that required
him to install himself in his oaken box
and 10 open. like prompt cashier. the
wicket 10 his faithful flock The confes.
sionai. as every one knows. Is o kind OF
paradisaical savings bank for the weekly
depositing OF venial sins
The Able Faber was all the more
averse to going out on this special Satur-
day evening because IL was the weekly
pay day of all the world, and generally.
al such times. the Rue Mouffetard was
an ant hill Of people. and Of people but
i'll disptned TO the priestly soutane. Il
was good TO ba a man Of God. "a holy
man, as his parishioners called him. but
the Ahbe Faber did not find il the less
displeasing To lower his eyes before pain
fal sights or 10 have in his ears the oaths
and foul language caught In passing.
There WAS. moreover, certain liquor
shop which the good ahbe particularly
detested. a shop nil red and afiame with
gas jets. sending out hot and alcoholic
odgs through its open door. and with
row upon row of casks and barrels orna-
mented with placards labeled Alb
sinthe.e 'Eitters. Madeira" Yer
mouth Eau de Vie" whilst upright
before the counter u band of drinkers in
cap and blouse saluted him as ha filed
along the pavements with "Hefai
Herel Your Holinessi' distinctly of
fensive
Thiseyening. however, the bad weather
had made the streets deserted, and the
ahbe arrived nj the threshold of the
church without disturbance. dipped his
finger in the waiting benitier, made the
sign OF the cross. and with q brief rev.
erence To the main altar turned his face
In the direction of tho confessional
No. IL was not for nothing that he had
come out in the wind and rain-a peni.
tent Was there before him
male penitenti most rare and In.
frequent visitor 10 the confessional of
Saint Medardl Bul this time Ii was no
Illusion OF the senses with the worthy
abbe. he saw him plainly under the red
light Of the lamp swinging from the
nave Of the chapel and still more clearly
the short white blouse and the nail stud
ded sandals Of this kneeling man.
Some workman. doubtless, who had
kept his simple peasants faith and the
proper habits of practical religion.
Nevertheless. and of this the Able Faber
was very sure, the confession he was go.
ing TO hear would he like all the others.
as commonplace ~ that Of the cook OF
the Rue lie In Monge. who accused her.
seif of padding the bottom of her has
kets, but did not dream of restitution.
The priest even smiled little as he
recalled the usual formula of the young
faubourgienne who came to demand q
billet of confession preparatory to mar.
riage on the morrow;
Il have not killed. | have not stolen
~ for the rest. my father, question mer
Naturally the Abbe Faber passed into
his box with peaceful tranquility. and
with no other emotion drew aside ths
little curtain OF green serge thai screened
the wicket -
m. 10 Cure" began . deep Voice that
sought in vain to soften the hafshness oi
tone. m ie Cure
Il am no longer cure. my friend.
murmured the abbe in return. "begir
with your confiteor and call me m,
father"
The kneeling figure. whose face. bathee
In shadow. the ahbe was unable 10 see
obeyed instructions. stumbled through
the prayer. which he seemed 70 find diff
Guilty In recalling. and then. after mo
ment's silence. and as Il struggling witt
some strange emotion. commenced hi
confession.
Pardon me. NJ. 10 Cure" said he" !" m,
father. should say. II do not speak. N
should. but II 10 twenty years since las
knelt In the confessional You know
how IL In with man in Paris and VIII,
il moi had like the othera told mysel
that God knows all. need not GO nu
to-day. tonight, III. le Cure. have tina
upon my conscience too heavy TO bea
alone have como. then, 10 you-yol
must share Il with me. this burden, 10
have killed mani
Killed mani The abhe started upol
his stool mundererl this man befon
himl Then there would be no more dis
fractions OF mind for him during the com
ing aelf unbnrdeningl No more listening