The Southern Literary Messenger, Volume I., 1834-35Various
General
The Southern Literary Messenger, Volume I., 1834-35
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
afflicted; and after musing a little while, he said, "Daughter, God is
great and merciful, we must trust in his power, but we must not forget
that he mostly works by mortal agents. As you pass through Louvain in
your way home, fail not to see there a certain physician, named Le
Kain. He is celebrated through Flanders for the cures he has wrought
among the blind, and his advice is sought by all classes from far and
near. He lives hard by the Hotel de Ville, but any one will inform you
of his residence. Stay, my child, you shall take him a note from me;
he is a benevolent and kindly man, and you shall tell him exactly the
same story (and with the same voice) you have told to me."
So saying the priest made Lucille accompany him to his home, and
forcing her to refresh herself less sparingly than she had yet done
since she had left Malines, he gave her his blessing, and a letter to
Le Kain, which he rightly judged would insure her a patient hearing
from the physician. Well known among all men of science was the name
of the priest, and a word of recommendation from him went farther,
where virtue and wisdom were honored, than the longest letter from the
haughtiest Sieur in Flanders.
With a patient and hopeful spirit, the young pilgrim turned her back
on the Roman Cologne, and now about to rejoin St. Amand, she felt
neither the heat of the sun nor the weariness of the road. It was one
day at noon that she again passed through LOUVAIN, and she soon found
herself by the noble edifice of the HOTEL DE VILLE. Proud rose its
Gothic spires against the sky, and the sun shone bright on its rich
tracery and Gothic casements; the broad open street was crowded with
persons of all classes, and it was with some modest alarm that Lucille
lowered her veil and mingled with the throng. It was easy, as the
priest had said, to find the house of Le Kain; she bade the servant
take the priest's letter to his master, and she was not long kept
waiting before she was admitted to the physician's presence. He was a
spare, tall man, with a bald front, and a calm and friendly
countenance. He was not less touched than the priest had been by the
manner in which she narrated her story, described the affliction of
her betrothed, and the hope that had inspired the pilgrimage she had
just made.
"Well," said he, encouragingly, "we must see our patient. You can
bring him hither to me."
"Ah, sir, I had hoped--" Lucille stopped suddenly.
"What, my young friend?"
"That I might have had the triumph of bringing you to Malines. I know,
sir, what you are about to say; and I know, sir, your time must be
very valuable; but I am not so poor as I seem, and Eugene, that is
Monsieur St. Amand, is very rich, and--and I have at Bruxelles what I
am sure is a large sum; it was to have provided for the wedding, but
it is most heartily at your service, sir."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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