The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-04-15
THE RoMANCE OF HISTORY.

ancient end wealthy ancestry, he was re-
duced to a state of serfdom. jacques
(such was the shepherds namel, led a
neaceful and useful life in his humble
sphere. and his small cottage in the VII
lace of Domremy was frightened by the
presence of a daughter who was as
tinguished above her youthful compan-
ions for the sweet simplicity OF her man.
ners, her piety and her industry.
From her earliest years the little Joan |
was singular child, taking no interest
in the sports usual to childhood, but
preferring to wander alone in the soil
tary places around the villages, gazing
at the wooded heights of the distant
Vosges Mountains, or muslnS on Cne
banks of the river as it hurried 10 ltS
home in the North Sea. She hked 10
traverse the dim aisles of the church,
and would sit for hours on the steps OF
its entrance. The ceremonlals and mys-
teries of the religion of her country
(CathOlic) made a strong, impression
upon her imagination, and tlnged her
character with an unusual seriousness.
Her mind was constantly engaged with
the miraculous deeds of saints and the
ministrations of angels. >,
Is it any wonder, then, that she should
imagine herself one of the elect, far re-
moved from all earthly influences ana
capable of holding converse with Ihe
angels? H.. 20
One evening, when she was about IL
wears old. while standing in her father
Garden. she saw the Archangel Michael
attended by host of lesser angels.
Fearlessly she conversed with him TOR
some time, when he and his attendants
suddenly vanished. From this ume she
Frequently had these visions; sometimes
she thought she saw the Archangel
Gabriel. but oftener it was St. catherine
or st. Margaret, the two SAINTS WHOSE
IMAGES she had been accustomed to see
at church from her infancy. She came
to believe that these two holy women
returned from the spirit land to direct
her actions. 1t is very remarkable that,
to the end of her life, she believed all
these visions to have been real, ana
never varied in her account OF them,
While Joan was in her early teens talr
France was suffering the horrors of civil
war as we'll as foreign invasion. Henry
VI of England claimed the throne OF
France. and was supported by the Bur.
oundian faction who had possession OF
Paris. ..
The rival faction, the Armagnacs,
favor ed native king, in the person OF
the dauphin, the eldest son OF the late
king. The country was reduced 10
ruinous state, and when Orleans was pc
sieged the dauphin and his supporters
we've at the lowest ebb of their fortunes.
In the village of Domremy there was a
strong and ardent party in favor Oh the
French faction. Party politics ran high
nothing else was talked of. The Ter
vent nature of Joan caught the con-
tasinn, and she was heard to say. in re-
gard 70 I've only Burgundian in the vi,
lage, ~ ~ G Eases God, 1 would be GLAD
tortnnes Of the dauphin, a. firmly per-
smaded that the angels ana sa- = were
in communication with nei, IL wa T9t
tons 70 the lawful king and help him
tOlI;ng her. thatshe alone was destlne'
of Up to this time Leu.
" her visions to c 0o"n mad never sDokel
ways made them uneasy about her
Her father thought marriage would
be the best means to cure her of hel
solitary habits, and chose for her young
man in every way suitable partner fol
her, and desired that she should take
him as her husband. For the first time
in her life she disobeyed her parents, by
positively refusing the marriage they
had arranged for her. In spite of all
her strange ways, Joan was very sweet
and lovable; the young man was anxious
to marry her and persisted in his court
ship in spite of all Encouragement, until
at last Joan was SO leased and torment
ed that with the consent of her parents,
she left home on a visit to her uncle,
who lived near VancOuleurs.
Now she heard 1.-THE voice. so often
and was so impressed that she was
chosen by heaven to rescue her beloved
France from foreign and domestic foes,
that she took her uncle into her conf
dence, and for the first time told her
visions. She added that "the voice"
had directed her to apply to the Lord of
Baudrlcourt and he would give her the
means to 90 on to Chinons, a town on
the river Vienne in whose strong castl.
the dauphin resided while the English
occupied Paris.
Her uncle listened to her tale with
amazement, and, having doubts of her
sanity, exerted himself to influence her
TO return home. She urged the high
Importance of her mission, and entreat-
ed him to accompany her to the Lord of
Baudricourt.
Her uncle most positively refused to 90
with her, but so certain was she of her
high mission, that she dauntlessly set
out alone.
1t was a strange resolution! A hum
BILE peasant girl raised in a seouestered
valley, far from the busy, busting
world of cities and courts, ignorant of
the requirements of high life, and unat-
tended, asks and obtains an interview
with the governor, and boldly announces
He was not inclined to credit her story
of supernatural commission and angel
visitants. Fortunately for France, Jean
de Metz, who stood near, eagerly lis
tened to this marvellous tale, was not SO
incredulous; he offered to 90 with the
young girl, and the governor consented
to find the means.
Joan sent message to her parents.
entreating their forgiveness for forsak-
ing them, and receiving in reply kind
answer; so she began her journey with
light heart With her hair cut off and
dressed in mems clothes, she arrived
safely at FierbOis, near Chinons. and
rested there until a message could be
sent to The dauphin, announcing herself
as the person destined by heaven to
raise the siege of Orleans and have him
crowned king of France.
In February, 1929, when she was about
lS years old, she was summoned to
Chinons TO attend the dauphin of France.
In his first interview with her. he laid
aside everything which could distinguish
In NFNNN NFaUU NIas.s