Abouttheyear17——，havingbeenappointedtothelivingofC——h，I
rentedasmallhouseinthetown，whichbearsthesamename：onemorninginthemonthofNovember，Iwasawakenedbeforemyusualtimebymyservant，whobustledintomybedroomforthepurposeofannouncingasickcall。AstheCatholicChurchholdsherlastritestobetotallyindispensabletothesafetyofthedepartingsinner，noconscientiousclergymancanaffordamoment’sunnecessarydelay，andinlittlemorethanfiveminutesIstoodreadycloakedandbootedfortheroad，inthesmallfrontparlour，inwhichthemessenger，whowastoactasmyguide，awaitedmycoming。Ifoundapoorlittlegirlcryingpiteouslynearthedoor，andaftersomeslightdifficultyIascertainedthatherfatherwaseitherdeadorjustdying。
’Andwhatmaybeyourfather’sname，mypoorchild？’saidI。Shehelddownherhead，asifashamed。Irepeatedthequestion，andthewretchedlittlecreatureburstintofloodsoftearsstillmorebitterthanshehadshedbefore。Atlength，almostprovokedbyconductwhichappearedtomesounreasonable，Ibegantolosepatience，spiteofthepitywhichI
couldnothelpfeelingtowardsher，andI
saidratherharshly：