s
assist each other; but touch them on their religion, and they are
almost idiots. They never go to mass nor confession--in fact, they are
not christians, though the most worthy people in the world; and so
droll: imagine those poor people, after working all the week, instead
of enjoying the Sunday, and going to a fete or a ball to amuse
themselves, meeting in each other's houses, and sometimes in the
mountains, to read some book, and pray, and sing hymns. They are very
clever work-people, but they pass their Sundays and holidays stupidly
enough."

This testimony, so honourable to his new acquaintance, was confirmed
to M. ---- from several quarters; and he learned from others, what
he had not been told by themselves, that, besides their honesty and
charity, so great is their zeal, that they flock from the different
hamlets, and meet in the mountains, in cold and bad weather, at eight
or nine o'clock at night, to avoid the interruption of their enemies,
and to sing and pray.

These accounts were not calculated to lessen the interest excited in
the breast of M. ----, and immediately on his arrival at Lyons, he
dispatched six copies of the New Testament, and some copies of the
Tract entitled, "_Les Deux Vieillards_," (The Two Old Men.) Some
time after his return to Paris, M. ---- received, through one of his
correspondents at Lyons, a letter from the excellent widow with whom
he had conversed. Of this letter a literal translation is subjoined,
the modesty, dignity, and piety of which not only evince the influence
of true religion, but will satisfy the reader, that in this narration
no exaggerated statement has been made of the character of these
mountaineers.

"Sir,--I have the honour to write you, to assure you of my very humble
respects, and at the same time to acknowledge the reception of the
six copies of the New Testament which you had the goodness and the
generosity to send us. My family, myself, and my neighbours know not
how, adequately, to express our sincere gratitude; for we have nothing
in the world so precious as that sacred volume, which is the best food
of our souls, and our certain guide to the heavenly Jerusalem.

"As we believe and are assured that the Spirit of our Lord Jesus
Christ could alone have inspired you with the desire to distribute
the sacred Scriptures to those who are disposed to make a holy use of
them, we hope and believe that the Divine Saviour will be himself your
recompense; and t