i; y:uiWiiLL III
1KEE A3 TiI3 AVD AMSIUC.VN TO THE CORE.
BY II. BUCHEE . S WOOPE.
CLEARFIELD, WEMESMY, SEPT. 26, 1855:
VOL. 2.-M). 9.-T0TAL, 61.
D
EVENING. ;
. ; Br ATAILOK.
Dr. 0. AV. Holmes has thus cleverly conjectured
n hat a tailor, poetically given, might say of the
beauties that cluster about the closing day.
-Day hath put on his jacket, and around
His burning bosom button'd it with star. '
Here will 1 lay me on the velvet grass.
That is like pudding to earth's uieagr ribd,
And bold communion with the things about inc.
Ah luc! how lovely is (he golden braid
'that binds the skirt of night's descending robe! '
The thin leaves" (juivaring ou their silken threads
Do make a music like to rustling sntin,
As the light breezes smooth their downy nap.
-Ha! what is this thHt rises to my touch,
J-hi I'ie a cushion Can it be a cabbage .'
It is! it i"5 that deeply injured flower
wvs do flout us with; but yet J love thee,
VVLicti - ""rapped in grcon urtout.
Thou giant rose, .. . '" blu!i a bright
loubtlcria in Eden thou uiv4.. """ hriUu
As these, thy punr brethren; and iu;
r-wcetcn'd the fragranee if her spicy air;
Jhtt now, thou eeeuie.-t like a bankrupt beau
.Stripped of hbigaudy hues and essences,
And growing portly in his sober garincut.
-Is that a swan that rides upon the-water?
i)h no! it is that other gentle bird,
AYhich is the patron of our noble calling.
I well remember, in my early years,
When ihet-e young hands first closed upon a goo.c:
I have a scar upon my thimble finger.
Whih chronicles the bourof young anibLtion.
My father wa.s a tailor, and his father
Acd my 5ir's grardsire rail of them were tailors;
They had an ancient goose it was au heirloom
J-'rom tome rcuioTer tailorof our race.
It happened I did see it on a time
W'hc-n none were near, and I did deal with it,
nd it did burn me Oh most fearfully!
'It i a joy to strengthen out one's limbs,
.A i:d leap cWtie from tho level counter.
Leaving the petty grievances of earth.
The breaking thread, thedia of clashing shears,
And all the needles that do wound the spirit,
For such an hour of soothing silence.
Kind nature, sh-ifling in her loose undress,
jvs bare her shady Iwfcm ; I can feci
AVith all around me; lean hail the flowprs
That sprig earth's mantle; and you quiet bird.
That rides the stream, is to me a brother.
The vulgar know not all the hidden pockets,
AVhere Nature stows away her loveliness.
Hut this unnatural posture of the legs
Cramps my extended calves, and I must go
AVhere I can coil them in their wonted fashion."'
A SOUVENIR OF 'THE FEANCE.
1JT LKVEE.
There is suflicicut concentration in the ad
miration of the loved object to give the mind
a decided and firm ' purpose, and enough of
charge in the various devices to win her
praise, to impart the charm of novehy. Xow
for all lifts, my reader, fair or false as she or
he may be, must not suspect that any thing
bordering n love was concerned in the pre
sent case. To begin the countess was mar
ried, and I was bro't up at an excellent school
at Bangor, where the catechism, Welsh and
.English, was flogged into me until every
commandment had a separate welt of its own
on my back. No ; I had taken the royal road
t happiness ; I was delighted withont stop
ping to know' why, and enjoyed myself with
out ever thinking to inquire wherefore. New
sources of information and knowledge were
opened to me by those who possessed vast
sources of acquirement, and 1 learned how
the conversation of gifted and accomplished
petsons may be made ft great agent in train
ing and forming the mind, if not to the higher
walks ol knowledge, at least to those paths in
which the greater part of life is spent, and
where it imports each to make the road agree
able to his fellows. I often said to you I was
not in love how could I, under the circum
stances ? but still I own that the regular verbs
of the Polish grammar had been but dry work,
if it hadnot been for certain irregular glances
at my pretty mistress ; nor could I ever have
seen my way througt lhe difficulties of the de
clensions if the light of her eyes had not lit
up the page, and her taper finger pointed out
the place.
And thus two months flew past, during which
she never even alluded most distantly to our
conversation in the garden at Boitsfort, nor
did I learn one particular more of my friends
than on the first day of our meeting. Moan
while all idea of travelling had completely left
me ;" and although I had now abundant resour
ces in my banker's hands lor all the purposes
of the road, I never once dreamed of leaving
a place where I felt so thoroughly happy.
Such then was our life, when I began to re
mark a slight change in the count's manner
and appearance of gloom and preoccupation
which seemed to increase each day, and
against which he strove bnt in vain to combat.
It was clear something had gone wrong with
him, but I did not dare to allude to, much
less ask him on the subject. At last, one even
ing just as I was preparing for bed, he enter
ed my dressing-room, and closing the door
cautiously behind him, sat down. I saw that
he was dressed as if for the road, and laokinw
paler and ru-u " --fciiiea
than usual.
'0'L.earr" ail he, in a tremulous voice,
! am come to place in your hands the high
est trust a man can repose in another am I
certain of your friendship ?" I shook his hand
in silence and he went on. I mus leave
Brussels to-night, secretly. A political affair
in which the peace of Europe is involved has
just come to my knowledge ; the government
here will do their best to detain me; orders
are already given to detain me at the irontier
perhaps send ins back to the capital ; in
consequence I must cross the boundary o n
horseback, ami i-,rh
morrow evening. ' Of course the couutess
cannot accompany me." He paused for a so
cond. rou must be her protector. .A him
dred rumors will be' afloat lhe moment they
find I have escaped, and as many reasons for
mJ departure announced in the pspers. How,
ever, I'm content if they amuse tw public
and occupy the police, and meanwhile I shall
obtain time to passthrougu Prussia unmolest
ed. Before I reach St. Petersburg the coun
tess will receive letters from me, and know
where to proceed to ; and I count on 3our
friendship to' remain here until the time a
fortnight, three weeks at farthest. If money
is any object to you "
"Not in the least ; I have far more than I
want."
"Well, then, may I conclude that you con
sent ?'
"Of course you may," said I, overpowered
br a rush of sensations I must leave my rea
der to feel, if it has ever been hi h't to have
been placed iu such circumstauces, or to im
agine for me, if he has not.
"The cvL'ut:s is ol course anare-r-"
"Of every thing1 interrupted he "and
bears it all admirably. Much, however, is at
tributable to the arrangement with you which
I promised her was completed, even before I
asked your consent such wns my confidence
in your friendship.
" You have not deceived yourself,," was my
reply, while I puzzled my brain to think how
I could repay such proof of his trust. "Is
there, then, anything more ?" said I "can
you think of nothing in which I may be of
service ?"
"Nothing, dear friend, nothing," said he.
"Probably we shall meet at St. Peters
burg." "Yes, J'es," that is my firm intention."
"That's all I could wish for," rejoined he.
"The grand duke- will be delighted to ack
nowledge the assistance -your friendship has
rendered us, and Potcski's house will be your
own." So saying he embraced ir.e most af
fectionately and departed, while I sat down to
muse over the singularity of my position, and
wonder if any other man was similarly situa
ted. AVhen 1 proceeded to pay my respects to the
countess the next morning, I prepared myself
to witness a case of great sorrow and depres
sion. How pleasantly was I disappointed at
finding her gay perhaps gayer than ever
and evidently enjoyiny the success of the
count's scheme.
"Gustav is in St. Trun by this," sid the,
looking at the map ; he"Il reach Liege two
hours before the post ; fresh horses will then
bring him rapidly to Battiste. Oh, here are
the papers. Let us see the way his departure
is announced. She turned over one journal
alter another without finding the wished for
paragraph, until at last, in the corner of the
Ilandelsbad, she came upon the following:-
, Yesterday morning an express reached the
minister of the home alf.iirs, that the celebra
ted eseror, the Chevalier Dttguct whose famous
forgery on the Neapolitan bank may be in the
minds of our readers, was actually practicing
his art uoder a feigned name at Brussels,
where, having obtained his entree into
a number of families of the lower town, ho
has succeeded in accumulating a large sum of
money under varioua pretences; his skill at
play is, they say, the least of his many ac
complishments." She throw down the paper in a Dt of laugh
ter at these words, and called out "Is it not
too absurd. That's Gustav's doing any thing
for a quiz no matter what. He once got him
self and Prince Carl of Prussia brought up be
fore the police for hooting the king."
"But Duguet," said I, "what has he to do
with Duguet?"
"Don't you see that's, a feigned name," re
plied she "assumed by him as if he had half
a dozen such. Read on, and you'll learn it
all."
I took, the paper and continued where she
ceased reading :
"This Duguet is then, itwould appear, iden
tical with a well known Polish Count Czaro
viski, who with his lady, have been passing
some weeks at the Hotel de France. The po
lice have, however, received his 'signalemeaf,'
and are on his track."
"But why in heaven's name should he spread
such an odious calumny on himself," said I
"Dear me, how simple you are. I thought
lie Lad told you all. As a mere escroc, mo
ney will always bribe the authorities to let him
pass ; as a political offender, and as such the
importance of his mission would proclaim him
nothing would induce the officials to further
his escape their heads would pay for it. Once
over the frontier, the yHse be discovered,
the editors obliged to tle;r words and be
laughed at, and Gustav receive the black ea
gle for his services. But see, here's auoth-
"Among theviclims at play of the well
known thvalier Duguet, or as he is bttvr
1 known here, Czaroviski, is an Englishman res
idem -at the Hotel de France, and from whom
It seems he has won every louis a or ne pos
sessed in the world. This miserable dupe,
whose name is O'Learie, or O'Leary "
At these words she leaned back on the sofa
and laughed immoderately.
"Have you then suffered so deeply ?
said
Has Gustav really won
oil vonr loll i-l 'ors ?"
..r. ...j c AA-,arl " said I. "and
-'ihisistoo o "" " - . '
I rcdlv f.nnrr
could lUc00U(t
ter in this , ' ' r toasjerso h, tDnS I
vii-raA
As I said this my eyes fell ou the latter
part of the paragraph, which ran thus :
"This poor boy for we understand that he is
no more has been lured to his ruin by the
beauty and attraction of Madame Czaroviski."
I crushed the odious paper witiiout ventu
ring to sec more, and tore it in a thousand
pieces, and, not waiting an instanthurried to
my room and seized a pen ; burning with rage
and indignation, I wrote a short note to the
editor, in which I not only contradicted the
assertions of his correspondent, but ofiered a
hundred louis fo7 the name of the person ttho
had invented the infamous calumny.
It was some time before I recovered my
composure sufficiently to leturn to the coun
tess, l:om !10W .rimd greatly excited and
alarmed at my snda'en Carture. She insist
ed with such eagerness on knowing what I
had done, that I was obliged to confess every
thing, atid show her a copy of tho letter I had
dispatched to the editor. She grew pale as
death as she read it, flushed deeply, and then
became pale again, while she sank pale and
sick into at chair.
"This is very noble conduct of yours," said
she in a luw hollow voice, "but I see where it
will lead to Czaroviski has great and power
ful enemies ; they will become yours also.'
"Be it so," said I, interrupting her. "They
have little power to injure me let them do
their worst." -
"You forget apparently," said sue with a
most bewitching smile, "that you are no lon
ger free to dispose of your own liberty that
as my protector yon cannot brave dangers and
difficulties which may terminate'in a prison."
"AVhat then would 3-011 have me do?"
"Hasten to the editor at ouce ; erase so much
of your letter as refers to the proposed re
ward; the information could be of no service
to you if attained some 'miserable,' perhaps
some sp- of the police, the slanderer. AThat
could yon gain b' his punishment save publi
city? A mere denial of the facts alleged is
sufficient; even that (continued she smiling,)
how superfluous is it after all; a week ten
days at farthest, and the whole mysteiy is un
veiled. Not that I would dissuade 3ou from
a course I sec 3'our heart Is bent upon, and
which after all is a pureby personal considera
tion." "Yes," said I, after a'pause. "I'll take your
advice : the letter shall go without the conclu
ding paragraph."
The calumnious reports on the count pre
vented madame from dining that day at table
d'hote, and I remarked as I took my place at
table, a certain air of restraint and reserve
among the guests, as though my presence had
interdicted the discussion of a topic which oc
cupied all Brussels. Dinner over, I walked
into the park to meditate on the course I
would pursue under present circumstances,
and deliberate calmly how far the habits of
my former intimacy might or might not be
continued during her husband's absence. The
question was decided sooner than I anticipa
ted ; for a waiter overtook me with a letter di
rected to me, written in pencil ; it ran thus :
"They play the Zauberflottc to-night at the
opera; I shall goat eight, perhaps 3-ou would
accept a seat in the carriage. "Dcischka."
AYhatevcr doubts I might have conceived
about mj- conduct, the manner of the countess
at once dispelled them. A tone of perfect
ease and almost sisterly coufidence marked
her whole bearing; and while I felt delighted
and fascinated l3 the freedom of our inter
course, I could not help thinking how such a
line of acting would have been in 1113 owa more
rigid conntry, and to what cruel calumnies
and aspersions it would have subjected her.
Tru'3', thought I, if they manage these things,
as Sterne says they do, "better in France,"
they also far excel in them in Poland ; and so
my Polish grammar, and the canzonettes, and
the drive to Boitsfott all went on as usual, and
my dream of happiness, interrupted for a mo
ment, flowed on again in its former channel
with increased force
A fortnight had now elapsed, without any
letter from the count, save a few hurried lines
written from Magdeburg ; and I remarked
that the countess betrayed at times a degree
of anxiety and agitation I had not observed in
her before. At last the secret cause came out.
AVe were sitting together in the park, eating
ice after dinner, when she suddenly rose and
prepared to leave the place.
L ... 1 Alii 111111 IttfJdlW L J .1111 '-'J J V
siH I huir.iMjiy. "Why are you going ?"
"I can bear it no longer," cried she, as she
drew her veil down, and hastened forward,
and without speaking another word, cont;nei
".r wav toward the hotel. On reachvog her
apartments, she burst into a iorruV ui tears,
I and sobbed most violently."
"AVhat is it?" saiU 1, maaueneu. uj
sight of such sorrow. "For heaven's sake tell
me. Has any one dared"
"No, no," replied she, wiping the tears
away with her handkerchief; "nothing of the
kind. It is the state of doubt of trying ha
rassing uncertainty I am reduced to here, is
breaking my heart. Don't you see that, when
ever I appear in public, by the air of insuffer
able impudence of the men, and the still more
insulting looks of the women, how they dare
m. t have borne it as well as I
. - -
"The world will always dare what may be
dared in safety," interrupted ahe, laying her
hand on my arm. "They know.that you could
not quarrel on ray account, without compro
mising my honor ; aud such an occasion to
trample on a poor weak woman could not be
lost. Well, well ; Gustav may write to-morrow
or next day. A little more patience; and
it is the only cure for these evils."
There was a tone of angelic sweetness in
her voice as she spoke these words of resigna
tion, and never did she seem more lovely in
m3 e es. . ,
"Now, then, as I shall not go to the opera,
what shall we do to pass the time. You are
tired I know you arc of Polish melodies
and German ballads. AVell, well; then I am.
Do you know that we Poles are as great gam
blers as yourselves. What say j-ou to a game
"B3 all means." said I, delighted at the
prospect of anything to while away the hours
of her sorrowing.
"Then you must teach me," rejoined she
laughing, "for I don't know it. I'm wretch
edly stupid about all these things, and never
could learn an3 game but ecarie."
"Then Ccarte be it," said I,. and in a few
minutes more I hud arranged the little table,
and down we sat to our party.
"There," said she, laughing, and throwing
her purse on the table. I can only afford to
lose so much ; but 3-ou ma3' win all that, if
you're fortunate." A rouleau of louis escaped
at the instant, and fell about the table.
. "Agreed," said I, indulging the quiz. "I
am an inveterate gammer, ana piaj- always
high. AVhat shall be our stakes "
"Fifty, I suppose," said she still laughing,
"We can increase our bets afterwards."
After some little badinage, we each played
a double louis-d'or on the board and began.
For a while the game employed ourattention,
but gradually we fell into conversation, the
cards dropped listlessly from our hands, the
stakes remained unclaimed, and we could ne
ver decide whose turn it was to deal.
"This wearies you, I see," said she : "per
haps you'd like to stop?"
"Hy "no means," said, "I like tho game of
all things." This I said rather because I wxs
a considerable winner at the. time, than from
any other motive : aud so we pla3-ed on till
eleven o'clock, at which hour I usually took
my leave ; and by this time iny gains had in
creased to some seventy- louis.
"Is it not fortunate," said she, laughing,
"that eleven has struck ? You certainly have
won all tu,v gold, and now you must leave off
in the midst of your good fortune : and so bon
soir, el a revanche."
Each evening now saw our little party at
ecarie usurp the place of the drive and the op
era ; and though our successes ran occasional
ly high at either side, yet, on the whole, nei
ther was a winner, and we jested about the
impartiality, with which fortune treated us
both.
At last, ono evening, eleven struck when I
was a greater winner than ever, and I thought
I saw a little pique in her manner at the
enormous run of luck which I had experienced
throughout.
"Come," said she, laughing, "you have re.
ally wounded a national feeling in a Polish
heart you have asserted a superiority at a
game of skill. I must beat you ;" and with
that she placed five louis on the table. She
lost. Again the same stake followed, and
again the same foitune, notwithstanding I d:d
all in my power to avoid winning of course
without exciting her suspicions.
"And so," said she, as she delt the cards,
"Ireland is really so picturesque, as you 333- ?"
"Beautifully so," replied I, as warmed up
by a favorite topic, I launched forth ints a de
scription of themoutain scenery of the south
and west; the rich emerald green of the val-
levs. and the wild fantastic character of lhe
mountains, tho change! ul skies, were all
brought up to make a picture for her admira
tion; and she did indeed seem to CDjoy it with
the highest zest, only interrupting me in my
harangue by the words, "Je r,tarque le Roi," to
which circumstances sh directed my atten
tion by a sweet smile, n-i a gesture of her ta
per finger. And tb.us nour followed hour; and
already the gr;'.y dvn was breaking, while 1
was just btginni fl an eloquent description of
'The KillerK.Sj and the countess suddenly
looking atner watch, cried out
"HOw verv dreadful! only think of three
o'clock." "
True enouzh; it was that nour: ans i starcea
UDto say "Good-night," shocked at myself
for so far transgressing, and yet secretly llat- , ly aiiue umc 01 aie orusades, the fearlul dis
tered that my conversational powers had made ; order was inJ.ovted from the East, and proved
time slip by uncounted. j iQ Fran j fertile source of terror to the in-
"And the Irish are really so clever, so gif-
tedasyou say ?" said she, as she held out he
haud to wish me good night. nor peasant monarchs themselves even fell
"The most astonishing quickness Vs theirs," i victims to it. Establishments had to be open
replied I, half reluctant to denart; "nothing- ed for the reception of leprous members of the
can equal their intelligence and shrewdness." royal families ; and one existed in Dauphiny
"How charming! Bop. soir," said she, and I expressly for the use of persons of noble birth,
closed the door. - I An institution somewhat of the same kind was
AVhat droams wjre mine that night! AVhat j erected at one time in London on the ' site, it
delightful visions of lake scenery, and Polish ; is believed, or nearly so, of the modern palace
countesses and mountain gorges, and blue
eyes of deep ravines, and lovely forms !
thought re were saihoz ud Lousrh Cornh; the
-""ling and flecking tbe rip
" ""m. not
sound save the cuckoo was heard breaking the
silence; as I listened I started, for I thought,
instead of her wonted ucte, her cry was, "Je
marqnt le Roil"
Morning came at last; but I could not awake,
and endeavored to sink back into the pleasant
realm of dreams, from which daylight disturb
ed me. It was noon, when at length I suc
ceeded in awaking perfect.
"A note for monsieur," said a waiter, as he
stood beside the bed.
I took it eagerly. It was from the countess:
its contents were these :
"Mr dear Sir A hasfy summons from
Count Czaroviski has compelled me to leave
Brussels without wishing you good-bye, and
thanking 3'ou for all your polite attentions.
Pra3" accept these hurried acknowledgements,
and my regret that circumstances do not en
able me to visit Ireland, in which, from your
description, I must ever feel the deepest inter
est. .
"The count sends his most affectionate
greetings. Y"ours ever sincerely,
"Dcishka Czaroviski nee Glszlaff."
"And is she gone V said I, starting up in a
state of frenzy.
"Yes, sir, she started at four o'clock."
"By what road ?" cried I, determined to
follow her ou the instant.
"Louvain was the first stage.".
In an instant I was up, and dressed; in ten
minutes more I was rattling over the pare to
m3" banker's.
"I want three hundred Napoleons at once,"
said I to the clerk.
"Examine Mr. O'Leary's account," was the
dry repl3 of the functional.
''Over-drawn b3 fifteen hundred francs,"
said the other.
' 'Over-draw n ! impossible !" cried I, thun
derstruck. "I had a credit of six hundred
pounds."
"Which 3011 drew out b3' cheque this morn
ing," said the clerk. "Is not that 3our hand
writing V
"It is," said I, faintly, as I recognized ray
scrawl, dated the evening before.
I had lost above seven hundred, and had not
a sous left to pay post-horses. -
I sauntered back sadly to "The France,"
a sadder man than ever ia my life before: a
thousand tormenting thoughts were in my
brain ; and a feeling of contempt for myself,
somehow, occupied a ver3 prominent place.
Well, well ; it's all past and gone now, and I
must not awaken buried grief's.
I never saw the count and countess again ;
and though I have since that been in St. Pe
tersburg, the grand duke seems to have for
gotten my services, and a very pompous-look
ing porter in a bearskin did not look exactly
the kind of a person to whom 1 should wish to
communicato my impression "about Count
Potoski's house being my own."
COSCLIDED.
Tho Leper in the Middle Ages.
AYe find the following very interesting re
view of this "subject, in aa exchange without a
credit.
There are but few passages in the Lord's
ministry which present in a more striking
light, the compassionate spirit with which he
labored for the alleviation of man's bodily and
spiritual ailments, than his cure of the leper,
as recorded in the eighth chapter of St. Math
ew's gospel. AYhen he decended from the
mount, on which he had been delivering the
longest and perhaps the most important of all
the discourses addretsed to his followers, a
multitude, we are inlormed followed him. A-
midstthe gathering throng, one form of more
than usual ghastliness, is seen approaching
His face 13 covered with scales, his body is
wasted and decayed. As he advances, we
mav almost imagine that we see the crowding
i spectators retire, afraid of contagion. The
Savior, however, does not withdraw. Scarce-
ly has the unhappy suflerer cast himself on the
ground in supplication, and the words, "Lord
if thou wilt thou canst make me clean," escap
ed his lips, when the gracious reply comes
forth, "I will; be thou clean," and health
blooms ou the cheek and mantles in the veins
of the leper.
In England and indeed throughout Europe,
j the associations connected with the above and
other displays of Christ's powsr in cleausing
leprosy, are of vague and general charact' I
the disease one with which we have no f.,:oU.
! iar acquaintance. In the pages o a pnch
I periodical, however, which lie'd fg US) we
,cu,luu K"v .oiaiways me case.
Daring me miaaie 4,. ani morc particular-
&-r,itAnts. Selecting its victims from all clas-
. ses of the population, it spared neither peer
; of St. James
I S According to Mathew Paris, a chror.icler
lhe middle ages, mere exiscea in x.uroiw
- . ring the thirteenth century, ne-
a i thousand leper houses -
-5
ttov
for
reception of those who were attected with this
dreadful disorder. In France alone, accord
ing to the statement of the will of King Louis "
the Young, the number of . these recepetacles
reached at one time two thousand. On the;
dominions of a feudal lord at Aisne, there were
ten establishments of this nature supported
b3 the contributions of families each of whom
had some member immured within their walls.
These calculations give us au effecting pic
ture of the desolations which this dire malady
must have inflicted on many a household.
The superstition added, by its gloomy cere
mony, to the terror which the approach of this
dreaded disorder inspired. AYhen an individ
ual was prononnccd in a state of contagion, ha
was led to a neighboring church where the fu
neral service was performed over him. He
was then conducted to the leper house, to bo
consigned to a living tomb. Arrived at the
gates of this gluomy mansion, he was stripped
of the dress he had hitherto worn, aud arrayed .
in a funeral garb. He was warned to bid fare
well to the world and exhorted to look beyond -its
chequered scenes, to the bliss wich await
ed the faithful in heaven, where no leprosy,
no impurity, no tears, 110 paiu, no separation
could find access. The exhortation by a stafl
being placed in his hands, with which he was
to ward off any from coming in contact with
his person- The gates thwii received their in
mate, and another victim was consigned to a
liviug tomb.
Some times it hapicned that natural affec
tion gained the master over the fear of con
tagion and the sweets ol social life. Dreadful
was the prospect of perpetual immurement
within the precincts of a lazaretto, surrounded
by all that was loathsome, such a fate was oc
casional preferred bj- a fond w ife to separa
tion a from beloved husband. An instance of this
kind is recorded as having occurred at th
town of Tours. In the motth 6f Ma3, 1329, a
young man, afflicted by the leprosy, had had .
the ceremonies we have referred to performed -over
him. The priest had repeated the accus
tomed formulary prohibitinghim fiom walking
about, unless attired in the lazar's garment,
forbidding him to place his naked foot on the
ground, to mix in the assembl3 of men, to en
ter the crowded streets or churches, or to wash
himself in the waters of any fountain or river.
In an other moment tho gates of the lazar
house were about to be closed on him for life.
At that instant, his wife refused to leave her
husband: "If I quit him," said she, "who will
love him 1 who will help to console him t Do
you say I will myself be a leper,? God, if it
be his will, can preserve me. Did he not cure
Job and Naaman ? and may he not in answer
to my prayers, restore rrry husband to health ?
Be the issue what it ma3, however, I' will not
abandon him, without whom, the world would
be to me a desert." Many such scenes doubt
less occurred. They will bring perhaps, to
the reader's recollection the touching incident
of tho self denying Moravion missionaries,
who under circumstances of a somewhat anal
ogous character, entered the lazar house in
Africa, and devoted themselves, out of lovo to
the souls of its unhappj inmates, to a perpet
ual estrangement from all the comforts of so
cial existence.
The lepers in France, however did not al
ways inspire sympathj-. It is a characteristic
of the natural heart, that w hile unsoftened by
the gospel, it is apt in seasons of wide-spread
calamity to become steeled to the miseries of
others from selfish anxiety for its own safety.
The alarming spread of leprosy in ; Franee
awoke at one time the superstitious fears of
the multitude, and led to excesses of a deplo
rable character. In the reign of Philip Y-, a
rumor spread among the lower orders that the
lepers had entered into a conspiracy to infest
others with their dreaded disorder by pollu
ting the public wells and fountains. These re
ports were greedily believed ; and the credu
lous monarch countenanced them hy issuing
an ordinauce to the judges to exercise sumn a
ry vengeance ou all lepers whom t"jey suspect
ed of such practices. . Scvera'. of these unhap
py objects, altho' persons of distinction, were
put to the torture, and..jUrnej over a flro
at Parthenay. Iu 0'ther parts 0f the country
large multitu.e perished in the flames, kin
dled by tb',, groundleta alarms of an Ignorant
populace.
...I'ter tho fourteenth ceutury the number of.
1 lexers in France graduallj- diminished. The
massacres to which we h'ave adverted; greatly-
thinned their ranks. As the i&tercouree with
the East, occasioned by the Crusades, cated,
fresh sources of cont agion were- avoided-. Tho
advancing civilization of tho times, also great
er attention to fool, ar,d above all, the more
extended use of linn- n as an, article of .cloth
ing arrested, and un ier tho providence of God,
finally extirpated ' ibe disorder. The gloomy
remains of old 1? houses in some parts of
the country, st il' t however, recall to memory
the existence o once formidable disease,
and serve as t A tide-post to. mark. the advances
of social co jj'fort with which our own age has
been favor and the corresponding obliga
tions impo ed upon us of gratitude for, his dia
tinguishe j nd undeserved mercies.
Prftt WELt Labeixed. Cain was enij
ded in but over the wool peron
it a: n otfn rc 9
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ar. written. - now nature bf- ------
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