Life of St John Vianney.pdf - the Catholic Kingdom!

ESCAPE AND CONCEALMENT. 27him. assuring him that he had nothing to fear, and at thesame time took up his knapsack to carry, which was veryheavy, and which, being still weak from his late illness,he could scarcely drag along. Jean Marie followed hisguide without raising any objection, perfectly ignorant asto his destination, but resigned to any thing that mightbefall him, except, as he afterwards said, falling into thehands of the gens cTarmes.They travelledthus all day long through woods andby mountain tracts, avoiding as much as possible highroads or frequented paths. Jean Marie was sinking withfatigue ;but the kind words and looks of his companionseemed to give him strength and courage. At ten o clockat night theyhalted for the first time at the door of alonely house. The stranger knocked ;a voice answeredfrom within, and a man and woman appeared at the door,having risen from their beds to ascertain who was askingtheir hospitality at that hour of the night. The strangerexchanged a few rapid words with them in a low voice ;and from that day forward M. Vianney never either sawor heard of him, nor did he ever, according to the testimony of those most intimate with him, discover who hewas.Can we help here calling to mind the angelic companion of the young Tobias ? Whether, however, thisremarkable deliverance of the servant of God was effectedby human or angelic agency, we cannot fail to recognise"in it the loving providence of Him whoguides the justby right paths, and keeps him in all his ways."The good people to whose care he had been commendedreceived him most hospitably. While he ate his supperin company with the husband, the wife put snow-whitesheets on the only bed in the house, which they compelled