HEROISM IN A SOUTANE The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 49, 5 December 1907, Page 3

HEROISM IN A SOUTANE

The Storyteller

For twenty fyears Abbe Francois had been at the head of a modest parish in" the diocese of Mans. Ambitious only for the salvation of his flock, he dwelt among them in peace and piety, content to preach the Gospel, to remind them of their duties, and to show them the way to paradise. Then came the 'Terrible Year.' On a freezing morning in January, the Cure of St. L. had just' finished Mass ; praying God to put an end to the lamentable epoch of blood which had begun at Sedan. He had hardly taken off his . chasuble when a woman, all dishevelled, burst into the sacristy and threw herself upon her knees, while she cried aloud : ' Ah, what a misfortune, M. le Cure ! They are going to shoot him ! ', . 1 Whom, my good Justine ? ' 'My husband, my poor Clement ! Save him, M. le Cure !. He is innocent.' 'But why? Explain yourself. 1 , • Hie lifted the poor creature to her feet and placed her on 'a, chair. 'You know, M.-le Cure,' she continued, ' that three Uhlans were killed by some one last night in the village. The Francs Tireurs , did it, no doubt ; and this morning the Prussians have been arresting people all over the country.* Three of them are going to be shot at once, my Clement among them. Save him — save him —M. le Cure ! ' ' Ah, how I should like to ! But can I? ' ' Yes, yes, you can. Save the father of my poor little children ! ' -she cried, falling on her knees once more with . a fresh- burst of tears. The Abbe Francois, greatly moved by her profound sorrow, bent his head in reflection. Every grief which touched-his people touched him also;- tout what could he do against enemies so powerful, so persistent, and so implacable as the Prussians ? It seemed to him that some little words of comfort were all he had" to offer. This Clement Dufour he knew well. He was a carpenter, a rrauvais sujet, who had finished his apprenticeship in the city, there imbibing Socialistic theories. _ In vain had the Abbe Francois repeatedly endeavored to boring back the wandering sheep" to the fold. Dufour clung obstinately to the standard of anticlericalism, as much through egotism as ignorance. But all this was forgotten in the present emergency ; the Cure saw that it was necessary to act immediately. ' Come, Justine,' he said, 'come to the Blessed Virgin.' ,-.,.! He led - her in.to the church and bade her kneel before the altar. Then, without waiting to break his fast, he hastened to the mayor's office, where a captain of Uhlans was installed, giving orders at that moment to a couple of subalterns. ' I am the Cure of St. L., began the priest, with •some timidity. ' What do you wish ? ' inquired the captain, disdainfully. ' I have come to ask your forbearance for. some of my parishioners,' said the priest. ' They jfte innocent, poor children.' ' Labor lost, M. le Cure. Your people hiave given shelter to the Francs Tireurs ; they must be punished. It will be a lesson to those who are too ready- to offer hospitality to these tramp-soldiers, incapable of fighting in a regular campaign, and who day after day kill some of our men, "not like warriors, but cow- • ardly. Besides, I have my orders and I must execute them.' - ' The Abbe Francois implored,- argued, insisted. The captain was inflexible. ' Give me Dufour's pardon at least,' he said at last. . ' He is, the father of five children.' ' I would like to do it, M. le Cure,' replied the captain, in a softened tone, ' but I cannot. I have orders, as I have already told you, from Prince Frederic Charles himself. They have killed three Uhlans ; three Frenchmen must be shot. _ Man for man:' it is the order.' Tfle priest 'looked at the soldier a moment in silence ; then he answered slowly, as one who has takenr a grave resolution : . : ' Man for maai, you slay., captlain ? Very well. Take me, then, in the place of . Dufour. , What does it matter to you who pays the penalty ?'" ' - . The officer looked at him in evident astonishment. 1 That is a very fine offer, M. le Cure. I admire your snirit of self-sacrifice, but I prefer to execute the" man who has been already chosen." Return to your presbytery.' , t ,

' The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep,' said the priest, with a gentle smile. " Captain, I entreat you.' % ,_- The officer seated himself, wrote a few lines in German, and, handing the paper to the priest, said in a grave- voice : ' " ", 'Here is an order restoring to liberty the man Dufour, whio.se place you are to take. And now permit me to shake your hand.. It is that of a hero.' A few moments later the Abbe Francois found himself at the schoolhouse where the prisoners were con- t fined, presented the order to the sergeant in charge and asked him to call Dufour. - The poor fellow soon appeared, his eyes swollen and red with weeping. He seized the hands of thQ. priest as he cried : . - • Pardon me^ M. le Cure— pardon me for the evil . I have done toward you. I have always been wicked and ungrateful to you, who were so good to me. I am caught- in my sins, which look very black to me at this hour, when I am about to meet my death..' IDo not say anything about that now,' replied the priest. 'I am here to tell • you -that you are free.'. Taking the astonished man by the arm he left the imiproraiptu gaol and soon .was at the door of the car- ' penter's dwelling. The family were all on their knees crying and praying. ' Do not, weep any more, Justine,' said the Cure, as he opened the door. "' God has heard your prayers and those of your little children. Clement will not be shot. He is here.' Husband, wife, and children "did not know how to express their joy and gratitude. When their first emotions had subsided Justine turned to the priest. 1 How shall we even thank- you, M. le Cure ? What can we do for you to show you how grateful we are, and shall) always be ? Alas ! we can do nothing.' ' Nothing !( ' echoed the husband. ' And yet to you,M, le Cure, I owe my life and liberty.' Profoundly affected — for^ at that moment there were many thoughts crowding one after the other in his mind — the priest quietly answered : ' Your great happiness is my recompense,' good friends. Always love each other as you do now. Be good and faithful Christians. Ever remember that God never abandons those who trust in Him, iand pray sometimes for your pastor.' Warmly shaking a hand of- each, and blessing the children, the priest left the reunited family and hastened back -to the school'house. There he found - old Vasseur, an ex-gendarme, and young Dacheux, a farmer's boy, both shedding copious tears. ' Tu-t, tut! bear up- cheerfully,' said the Abbe Francois. 'No complaint, no more tears ! Let us show them that we are true Frenchmen and not afraid.' ' What ! ' cried Vasseur. 'Is it possible that they are going to make , you stand with your back against the wall, as well as we ? ' "Yes, in Dufour's place,-' rejoined the priest calmly. 1 You see, he has a wife and five children ; I have no one but my flock, and they can soon find another shepherd.' Carried away by admiration of the -heroic deed the Cure was about to perform, Vasseur threw his arms about him and pressed him" to his bosom. ' That is splendid !' he cried. ' That reconciles me forever to the priests. Until now I had no use for them. I did not believe in them.. But after this there 'must be something in religion. .For you— what a glorious thing ! Ah, you will be a martyr ! Then suddenly recollecting, the ignominy which was awaiting himself, Vasseur exclaimed • ' But for me, what an end! To have escaped the Arabs and the Austrians long ago, only to " fall at. last beneath the bullet of a miserable hireling, without being able to defend myself! If I were in battle now ' The Cure gently interrupted him, leading the conversation- by easy stages to the things most important in that solemn hour. • And for that what must one do ? ' inquired the old soldier, simply. • Have you forgotten so much ? ' asked the Cure, sadly. 'Don't you know, Vasseur ? ' - ' I must make my confession ? ' *„ ', Yes » surel y. iwith contrition for all the sins of your fife. *" * Without further ado, Vasseur then and -there knelt down and made his confession. Dacheux followed -his" example. Then, having obtained permission— for none of the officials appeared to have the slightest doubt - of his honor— the Abbe Francois returned . to his home, where he had leave to remain until five o'clock in the afternoon, the tinre set -for, the -execution. Haying hastily taken some nourishment, he set about writing- a few letters and putting his worldly affairs in order. Then, wishing to escape the ques-

tionings of Gertrude, his old housekeeper, he retired to' the church, to pray. It was now two o'clock. The man of God prostrated himself - before the tabernacle. lln three hours I shall be dead,' he reflected. 'O Jesus, Thou who hast suffered the agony in the Garden _of Olives, grant me strength to die well, courageously ; and accept my sacrifice for the remission of my sins and the salvation, of France ! ' * -It was a feast-day and Vespers began, at "three. The village knew that something mysterious was- impending ; everyone was filled with anxiety, though no one • could explain its cause. The dreadful news had not yet been communicated, but it was known that tbree men -were to die, and that fact alone caused the villagers to turn their sorrowful steps toward the church. After the ' Magnificat,' the Abbe Francois pres-sed-through" the immense crowd and ascended the pulpit. - '.My very dear brethren,' he said, in - a deep -voice filled with emotion, ' I am happy to see you here in such great numbers. It is a solemn hour and you have _ realised it. Let us be united, heart and soul, "praying fervetftly for those who are about to expiate a crime of which I believe .them to be innocent. I have been able to obtain pardon for only one of them. The others, already reconciled to God, will, I feel confident, -die like good Christians and true Frenchmen.' When he had finisihed the Cure prayed aloud for all prisoners and for those about to die. Then, amid the sobs of the multitude, he gave them his blessing, laying it upon them as a sacred injunction that they should go directly to their homes and remain within doors until the execution was over. This he did that they might not learn what was in store for their pastor, thus avoiding all excitement, perhaps a serious outbreak. When the crowd had slowly and silently dispersed, the Abbe Francois said one last fervent prayer at the foot of the altar, then left the holy place, traversing the deserted streets of the village until he once more rejoined his unfortunate comipanions.' But. at five o'clock word came that the execution had been postponed until the following morning. This postponement was the salvation of the doomed men, About midnight a company of Francs Tireurs, guided by an intrepid countryman, made their way into the village, overpowered the Prussians, and released' the . prisoners. It was not until morning that the villagers learned the truth ; that their pastor had offered himself as a substitute for Clement Dufour, and that the sacrifice had been accepted. Dufour had been as ignorant as the rest of the price which had been paid "for his liberty ; and now, as soon as he became aware of it,with tears streaming- down his rugged cheeks, he put himself atf the head of his- neighbors and led them to the presbytery. It was <a large and enthusiastic crowd that presented themselves before the house, greatly to the astonishment of old Gertrude, who told them the Abbe was in the church. At this moment the A'bW Fx-anaois, hearing tjhe, commotion, appeared at the door of the church. Seeing." the crowd assembled in front of it, he divined that his secret had been discovered, and extending his hands above them, he said : ' God bless you, my people ! God- Mess you-! But be calm — be calm ! Do not cheer and shout so wildly so close to God's altar. It is to" Him only that we must give thanks, but in a manner reverent and fitting* It is He alone Who is Master of life and death, Who has preserved me to your grateful affection. Let us praise Him and bless Him for all His gifts.'. Then, intoning the ' Te Deum,'. followed' by the people singing| at the top of .their lungs, the Abbe~ Framcois re-entered the church so dear to him, to which- yesterday he thought he had forever bidden adieu. — 'Aye Maria.'