The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-07-28

day in mid-Lent Father Sauteu left the
house, escorted by his dog. All the way
to LIE Faiard's field he chuckled softly
to himself.
ga miracle, indeed You must have
miracle. must you, you rogue? Ore
mus, little villain, leave those birds
alone. You have other things to do A
miracle Yes, my fine fellow, you are
going to have your miracle, and I'm go
ing to have your soulP'
1t was Friday. LIE Faiard has just
killed his pig, and would probably have
q sausage for dinner.
The priest soon reached his destina-
ton.
GOOD day, LIE Faiard, y said he, in
q fatherly tone.
"Good day, father replied the dis
ciple of Voltaire.
With that they fell into chat, inter-
rupted from time to time by the yelps of
Oremus, and punctured, so to speak, by
the handfuls of seed that the young
farmer scattered right and left as he
walked along.
Dinner hour. The two men seated
themselves ON a little hillock, and LIE
Faiard pulled sausage from his pocket,
superb sausage, red as tomato, and
with an odor to have made saints
mouth water.
"Holy Virgin, LIE Faiard, what a sinl
On Friday, in Lent too. Don't eat it,
my son. Z"
''Not eat It'll That's good. The idea
would eat it on Good Friday if had
it. Besides haven't seen with my own
eyes bishops and archbishops, too for
that matter, in India, who always ate
meat whether it was good or bad Fri
day."
"Your joking is ill timed. God is
good, but he will not always have pa
thence with you. Some day he will open
your eyes by miracle, but who can say
if then the gate of mercy may not be
closed for you. y
Father, miracles are always in sea-
son, but unfortunately the time for
them has gone by. AS for me, death of
my life, wouldn't ask better than to
see what you threaten me with. Mean
while the sausage claims my attention
and And the rascal took great
mouthful of his dinner
Oremus had not lifted his eyes from
the sausage since it's appearance on the
scene Every time LIE Faiard took bite
the poor bowwow licked his chops and
wagged his tail, which distinctly said
in dog language:
"Oh, what an elegant sausagel How
should like someP'
''Watch my dog, you mocker,'' said
the able. "See how he is devouring the
sausage with his eyes. Well, when /
say, 1t is Friday, Oremus, he will not
touch the piece that am going to offer
| him. And he is only dog :"
LIE Faiard was convulsed with laugh
ter.
'Oh, father, that's too much! All the
same, though, would like to see your
miracle-it would take me to mass
yes, and vespers too.'
Taking delicious morsel of the sau-
sage, the able called, "OremusP'
Oremus came like streak.
SIT is Friday, Oremus, - went on the
able, ''but just See what I have for
you," and he offered the tempting bit,
which he held, be it understood, in his
left hand.
Imagine, if you can, the establishment
Of LIE Faiard when he saw Oremus halt
suddenly in front of his master, head
lowered, tail between his legs and with
the air of an actor who had forgotten
his lines.
GOOD doggie, Oremus, eat itP'
Sure of his success, the priest put the
sausage under the dogs nose. Not a
movement! Oremus' eyes were good.
He saw that the sausage staid in the
left hand, and after few minutes he
turned tail and retreated to the shade
of a bush close by, where he sadly flung
himself down and tried to forget his dis
appointment in little nap
During this scene LIE Faiard had been
petrifed. With open mouth he watch
ed the priest and his dog as criminal
watches his judge. When Oremus final
~ beat a retreat, LIE Faiard reused him.
self and elected the mouthful already
half masticated.
Father" he cried, 81 have seen
enough and too much. I am the most
miserable sinner on earth, and it has
taken a dog to convince me of it"
The following Sunday LIE Faiarc
went to mass and vespers, and ever since
that memorable day it is he who lights
the candles and rings the bells in Abi
no, where the holy peace of God reigns
now as formerly. 81 Echo de la Sc
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