as again immediately sent for, but he was from home: it took
nearly half an hour before he could come. When he arrived the alarming
crisis was over--she was sitting in an arm-chair, with some neighbouring
women, who were applying cold water and vinegar to her forehead.

The physician was really at a loss what to say of the cause of such a
sudden illness. At last he said that it might be an attack of the "ver
solitaire" (tape-worm). He declared that it was not dangerous; that he knew
how to cure her. He ordered some new powder to be taken, and left, after
having promised to return the next day. Half an hour after she began to
complain of a most terrible pain in her chest, and fainted again; but
before doing so she said to her husband,--

"My dear, you see that the physician understands absolutely nothing of the
nature of my disease. I have not the least confidence in him, for I feel
that his powders make me worse. I do not want to see him any more. I suffer
more than you suspect, my beloved; and if there is not soon a change I may
be dead tomorrow. The only physician I want is our holy confessor; please
make haste to go and get him. I want to make a general confession, and to
receive the holy viaticum (communion) and extreme unction before I grow
worse."

Beside himself with anxiety, the distracted husband ordered the horse to be
put in the buggy, and made his servant accompany him on horseback, to ring
the bell, while his pastor carried "the good god" (_Le Bon Dieu_) to his
dear sick wife.

He found the priest piously reading his _breviarium_ (his book of daily
prayers); and admired the charity and promptitude with which his good
pastor, in that dark and chilly night, was ready to leave his warm and
comfortable parsonage at the first appeal of the sick. In less than an hour
the husband had taken the priest with "the good god" from the church to the
bedroom of his wife.

All along the way the servant-man had rung a big hand-bell to awaken the
sleeping farmers, who, at the noise, had to jump, half naked out of their
beds and worship, on their knees, with their faces prostrate in the dust,
"the good god" which was being carried to the sick.

On his arrival, the confessor, with every appearance of sincere piety,
deposited "the good god" (_Le Bon Dieu_) on a table, richly prepared for
such a solemn occasion, and, approaching the bed, leaned his head towards
his penitent, and inquired how she felt.

She answered him, "