THE ECONOMIES OF A COUNTRY PRIEST IN FRANCE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 13, 18 July 1884, Page 11

THE ECONOMIES OF A COUNTRY PRIEST IN FRANCE.

Les Amiales Catlwlicpm lately published a " lost raauuscript," contain ing the accounts of a country priest for one month. As an example of the straits to which some of the poor French priests in country parishes are reduced by the parsimony of the Republic, we give it to the readers of the JYeie YorJt Freeman :— Feb. 1. — I have to-day (writes the good cure), received my allowance as a priest of the lowest rank, 62 francs, 50 centimes. My old servant, Gertrudp, has not been paid her wages since Easter, and she wants a silvpv cross, to make herself t; look pretty " at Mass. What a pious old coquette ! I gave her ten francs. There remains 52 fr. 50c. Feb. 2.— -This is the first day of the Ca'echism class for Confirmation. My poor little catecnists have need of being spnrred on. I have sent to Paris for some holy pictures. No long credit for poor priests in Paris. Sis francs paid for different kinds :my scholars are happy. If I were richer, I wonld have had colored pictures. Feb. 3. — Wood from the forest, vegetables from the parden, water from the spring— that is my bill of fare. It takes very little to live. Feb. 4.— Received from the chateau a fat pullet ; my servant took the broth to old Mattbieu, who is sick. We ate the pullet dry. Feb. 5. — Continuation of the fowl ; fifty contimes for soap to old Gertrude, that she might do the waahin?. There remains 46 francs. Feb. 6.— End of the fowl. Everything passes away— even the carcasses of fowls. Feb. 7.— Gave three francs to pay for the blessed bread. Have 43 francs. Feb. 8. — 1 franc 75, to the shoemaker, leaving 41 francs 25. Feb. 9.— Sermon on the Disadvantages of Luxury. Feb. 17. — Complete cleaning of the house for" the coming of Monseigneur the Archbishop, who will give Confirmation. Feb. 11. — Arrival of Monseigneur ; his dinner 19 francs 75. We must honor our superiors. On hand 21 francs 60. Feb. 12.— Monseigneur said to me, before going away :— " Monsieur l'abbe, your soutane is very threadbare." " Black cloth wears out very quickly," I answered. He smiled. " There is a patch in it, near the collar. We shall see if we can't hide it." What did be mean by that ? Feb. 13.— Received from the deputy of the department four bottles of good wine. It was needed for the altar. Feb. 14.— The young Gendras, being drunk, broke a pane of glass at the Lion #or\ I went over there ; they all laughed at me at first. I paid for the g)as<», and that noisy fellow wept. It sobered him, however, and he promised to come to Church on Sunday, A pane of glass 2 francs, leaving me 19 francs 50. Feb. 15.— Frost. The garden vegetables have given out. We have still potatoes and nuts. Feb. 16.— My old Gertude is sick; a vegetable diet does not agree with her ; bought a little meat for the pot-a-feu. I had all the trouble in the world to make her accept it. These good women are so obstinate. Saint Ambrose says : " Mortify yourself unceasingly." *eb. 17.— Let'er from the Archbishop, asking if the hole in mv soutane has grown. He pokes fun at me. His spirit is as gentle as that of the apostles, of whom he is the worthy successor. Feb. IS.— Answered Monseigneur that 1 had put in a larger piece ; expressed devotion and filial obedience. 20 centimes for stamp 3 for the letter. I have 17 francs 30 centime?. Feb. 23.— The picture of Mary on the altar of the Blessed Virgin begins to show wear ; a picture-framer in the town wants 3 francs to varnish it— that is an expense which gives me joy to meet. It is a least for the soul to honor these who intercede for us. There remains 8 f rancs 30 centimes. ?k cb Q .2. 24 -~- Noth ing in the garden. Expenses for bread for the mOn w v o- DCS : whea tlie ba »ker is paid there remains 30 centimes. Feb. 2o.— Went out botanizing, to leave what remains of the bread for the old servant. Feb. 26.— 30 centimes for bread ; I ate dried nuts and bread crumbs. Gertrude dined with her niece. Little Nicholas is convalescent. The communal doctor has ordered chicken for him, as his stomach is weak. Cbicken ! There is nothing to pay for bread ! Feb. 27.— Invited to dine at the chateau ; a splendid repast : venison, pastry, truffles. I hid my piece of fowl in a clean handkerchief, for Nicholas. Feb. 28.— Still another wretched day to pass. A packet from the liisnon I— They will not pay the allowance until to-morrow. My old house-keeper brings me a forty-sous piece she has been saving since Oonnrmation. I open the packet. There are two things in the envelope. One, the cloak of an honorary canon of the Cathedral ; the other—* Dear Abbe : 'i ou have a patch on your soutane. Here is an ornament which will hide it from view. "—I, honorary canon of the Cathedral, distinguished among the pastors of souls ? I, so useless / un, my God. bow good Thou art to Thy unworthy creature ? j-*« i*. poor Col »>t;ry cuvh are not given this way out of their dithcultieg on t he Hay that starvation facea them. In the meantime, • jibilantnropic ' statesmen wrangle over their pitiful allowance.

Every scrap of news received from Zululand from day to day folly confirms the accounts recently given by us of the most distressful condition ot that un happy country. Anarchy and bloodshed rei»n supreme there. Lvery man's hand is uplifted against his fellow man, and the whole ranon d etre of the Zulus at the present moment seems to be to kill one another. That there is a danger of this wrotohed state of affairs spreading into the Reserve, and even past the Reserve into Natal, wo have heard from many persona qualified to -judge Indeed, it has already reread to the Reserve where, if there has not been actual fighting yet there has been a great deal of excitement. flgbtillg haTe be8 ° eoiDg on to a conßider -