Jacques Bonneval; Or, The Days of the Dragonnades

r, where they were no longer wanted, were spreading themselves over the country with the express commissi

awaiting my return. He rose when I appeared, and stood silently looking at me,

ast been out

bed; the dragoons were there; and my a

said my father, heartily. "I trust the

t deserve that term. They almost killed him with their clamor-ate everything in the house-called for m

mily council, in which it was decided that my uncle, in his precarious health, would probably sink under a similar attack of the dragoons, and that it would be expedient for me to return to him at dusk with a covered cart, well supplied with hay, and to place him there

remained behind awhile with my mother, to assist her in clearing out a

y sudden appearance caused a fresh flow of tears, but they were of thankfulness for my safety. A few tender words reassured her. I then gave her a short account of what had passed, taking care, as my uncle desired me, not to make things worse than they were. But still it was

was yesterday interrupted, just as the congregation were in the middle of a psalm, by several offic

to be at present," said I, "it is to be feared

I entreat you," said Madeleine; "and, as much

eine," said I. "I am a m

ceeded to my usual work, and, after supping wi

my uncle's latch and went in. He and my aunt had the house to themselves (for their only serva

es," said she

out his feeble hand, "I thank you for this visi

dragoons lurking about outside,

they will return, and my parents have sent me to fetch you away. My mo

more go to her than I c

ered cart, filled with hay, on which you will lie quit

es in the distance, and occasionally a faint scream or wail, but gradually left these painful sounds behind. To say truth, I was by no means sure of our performing this journey in safety, and had many alarms by the way; and as for my uncle, my aunt afterwards told me he was in prayer the whole of the way, to

g which they were thankful to retire to the loft; and not even the children were to know they were there, and the youngest of our two servants had been sent to her home; for my father told me that the dragoons were expected

uncle were equal to it on the morrow, I should set him and my aunt on their way t

frontier, for the great object of government seems to be to chase all our godly ministers out of th

door, as if some one were hammerin

my father, without w

turned the other; and we, k

without looking in to tell you the bad news. They are carrying things hard

changed co

re with us at this

e allowed to go with him. See, here is a passport," said he, dubiously smiling, "whi

rried homeward. Day was now breaking, and I threw myself on my b

oftly. "He refuses the passport, because it was not made out f

madness," said

trength of their own to meet it with, and do not care to seek it from above, will probably give in at the very first word-certainly do so sooner or later

making a point of cons

roper passport; for if the authorities are so anxious to get rid of our godly ministers, surely they will not

s with h

ittle purse for them. Oh, my child, what times are these! You have scarcely h

she left me, that I mi

om, the jeweler behind his counter, the baker at his kneading-trough, all th

e passport, saying, "Your uncle will not

rugged his shoulders when I did so

Take his chan

thrusting it into my pocket "H

fully as we passed them. I thought, "Oh that we were in a desert, all to ourselves, with none to impugn our faith!" But then I called to mind that without needing to be in a desert, people mig

I was driving my good uncle and aunt towards the coast. We had gone some miles, when a ma

ecognizing the voice, said, "Oh, Josep

ave escaped, though I cannot make out how you come to be so far on the road. I ha

is weary." Finding him to be one of my uncle's flock, I readi

join your brother-ministers," s

on the frontier, or find some oth

acles are being thrown in the way of our ministers on the frontier; they are either r

was musing on the moral advantage to my uncle of his having

ping hard after us. Let us

heavy ascent, and the pursuer gained u

brun here?" cried

returned I. At the sam

e I am. W

I come from the commissioner, who sends you a passport

broke over my

path would doubtless open for me? Hencefor

eed with all convenient speed to Montauban, where my aunt had friends, thence down the Garonne, and so to Bordeaux. I could but set him on his way a