CHAPTER II.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 37, 2 January 1885, Page 5

CHAPTER 11.

THE CHILDREN OF ANDES AMT> ANNETTE DUMONT. In the course of a few years, Andre and Annette were parents of

two children, a boy and a girl. The boy was the elder, and gave early indications of a talent of a superior order. Andre soon became proud of him ; and before the child had doffed his baby frock, the father resolved to close in his own person, the family line of blacksmiths. The trade had been hereditary in Dumont's family for the last four generations. Young Andre (the boy was called after his father) should be— Dumont did not know what — but something great — bourgeoiscitoyen — no more blacksmiths of the name of Dumont. Imaginings of the future fame of the young Andre disturbed the vision of the elder. Diverse plans chased each other in his mind, something like the manner the waves roll, one after the other, without leaving any apparent alteration on the surface of the deep. Dumont's son played with his fellows, and got into more than the usual number of scrapes. At the age of ten years he sent him to a school in the neighbouring town of Dieppe. Rose, their younger child, was of a gentle, docile disposition. She had daTk eyes, with long, dark eyelashes, a clear complexion, and beautifully formed bands and feet. There was something so very attractive in her appearance, that she was often called " the fair Rose of Argues." Her childhood had been carefully watched by her mother. She strove, by precept and example, to instil the fear and love of God into her young mind. Rose had few opportunities of receiving religious instruction from anyone else ; but she delighted in listening to her mother's pious discourse, and practicing such littleexercises of devotion, suitable to her years, as her mother advised. Born, as Rose was, in the early part of the present century, before France had recovered from the shock of revolution— before religion, crushed by the death and exile of so many of her ministers, had lifted up her head again— she, like many other children of : her own age, had no church near her — no pastor to break the bread of life to her ; the parish church of Argues had long been closed. After his accession to the Imperial throne, Napoleon, who was anxious to see religion reestablished in France, assisted in procuring pastors for many deserted parishes. In the course of time, Argues received a worthy cure, whose first care was to assemble the little ones of his fold, gather them round the altar rails, and prepare them to approach, worthily, to the sasraments.

Before his arrival, however, Rose had been dispatched, by her solicitous mother, to her own parents in the Pollet, that the zealous cure of her native parish, might prepare Rose for 'her First Communion.

Even in the most disistroua period of revolution, the Pollet had never bien without a priest. The Adorable Sacrifice had ever been offered within the village. In silence and secrecy the congregatiou of fishermen assembled around the altar, each man of them ready, if necessary, to defend the minister of the Lord at the price of his own life. M. de Berulle, their pious cure, was at one time so hard pressed by the sanguinary emissaries of Robespierre that, fearing concealment on land no longer possible, Louis Lepont, having disguised him as a fisherman, carried him out to sea.

Loais Lepont hud several boats. The one selected on this occasion was capacious, strongly built, and manned by Louis's two eldest eons, a nephew whom he had brought up as his own, and three trusty friends of Lepont's. The weather was unusually calm for the season. They cruised about from Suuday evening until the following Saturday, without meeting any annoyance, when the sons of Louis, having first landed early in the morning, in a small bost, to reconnoitre the state of things, the good cure was allowed to return to his former place of concealment in the Poilet. His little flock greated him, on the Sunday morning, with redoubled affection. The fear and anxiety in which they lived kindled the fervor of the most lukewarm, while the instructions and example ot their pious cuie were a constant spur in the career of virtue. When Rose arrived at her grandmother's house, peace had been restored to the Church. It was in the sixth year of the emperor's reign. The little church was in perfect order ; nothing was now wanting there but a bell. The cure had given notice that, on the following Sunday (the first of Lent), a collection would be made for this most necessary object. The church was crowded ; none would absent themselves on that day. The old and the young, the rich and poor, thronged to High Mass in the little church ; each one laid an offering upon the plate. No fisherman's wife gave less than a five franc piece. Old Madame Lepont laid down, a golden Napoleoa ; Loais and each of his sons gave a goid piece. The cure had not expected so large a collection ; he was suprised and gratified. He was enabled to purchase a finely-toned beil, whose soothing chime welcomed the returning fishermen, and pealed forth on every festival day, inviting all to repose their troubled spirits within the House of the Lord.

After all the morning devotions were ended, Rose's grandmother presented the little girl to the cure. He was much pleabed with the frank, candid manner she answered his questious. She did not deny that she was sometimes negligent at work— sometimes even idle ; but she resolved, by God's grace, to overcome nature, and bd diligent and industrious. The good cuie was quite satisfied, and Rose entered the class preparing to make their First Communion, on the coming festival of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin.

(To bo continued.)