O patrie! ô rive natale.

Pleine d'harmonieuses voix!

Chants étranges que la rafale

Nous apporte du fond des bois!

O souvenirs de la jeunesse,

Frais comme un rayon du printemps!

O fleuve, témoin de l'ivresse

De nos jeunes coeurs de vingt ans!

O vieilles forêts ondoyantes,

Teinte du sang de nos aïeux!

O lacs! ô plaines odorantes

Dont le parfum s'éleve aux cieux!

Bords, où les tombeaux de nos pères

Nous racontent, le temps ancien,

Vous seuls possédez ces voix chères

Qui font battre un coeur canadien!

OCTAVE CRÉMAZIE.

CONTENTS

CHAP.

  1. [The Vocation of Jean Baptiste]
  2. [The Migration]
  3. [The Sorcerer]
  4. [The Loup Garou]
  5. [Castles in Spain]
  6. [The Habitant]
  7. [Her Majesty's Mail]
  8. [The City Man]
  9. [The Loan]
  10. [Blanchette]
  11. [La Folie]
  12. [Profit and Loss]
  13. [The Return of Pamphile]
  14. [The Triumph of Pamphile]
  15. [The Pastime of Love]
  16. [The Temptation of Jean Baptiste]
  17. [Vengeance]
  18. [Michel]
  19. [Mother Sainte Anne]
  20. [The Robbery]
  21. [Love and War]
  22. [The Wilderness]
  23. [The Cure]
  24. [The Relapse]
  25. [Treasure Trove]

JEAN BAPTISTE

CHAPTER I

THE VOCATION OF JEAN BAPTISTE

"You may read, Jean," said Mademoiselle Angers; whereupon a breath of renewed interest passed through the schoolroom, as Jean Baptiste Giroux rose in his place and began to read, in a clear and resonant voice, the story of that other Jean Baptiste, his patron saint.

"Saint John, dwelling alone in the wilderness beyond the Dead Sea, prepared himself by self discipline and by constant communion with God, for the wonderful office to which he had been divinely called. The very appearance of the holy Baptist was of itself a lesson to his countrymen. His dress was that of the old prophets--a garment of camel's hair attached to his body by a leathern girdle. His food was such as the desert afforded--locusts and wild honey. Because of his exalted sanctity a great multitude came to him from every quarter. Brief and startling was his final exhortation to them: 'Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.'"

It was a simple and oft-repeated story, but there was something in the voice and manner of Jean that compelled attention. All the children listened; also the teacher; and the visitor, M. Paradis, curé of the parish, was visibly impressed. He brought his horn-rimmed spectacles down from the top of his head, set them firmly on the bridge of his nose, and regarded Jean for some moments without saying a word.