Page:Ainsworth's Magazine - Volume 1.djvu/192
run, and at this period its long slumbers ceased, and a singularity of another kind appeared respecting it. It now never slept at all, but its whole delight was in playing on the tsabretta, and making so great a noise that no one in the adjoining cottages had any peace.
Night and day the din continued, until every one was worn out; and at length it became generally considered that the child had been bewitched, and some measures ought to be taken to remove from it such a visitation.
Cyprien, therefore, set forth one morning to the neighbouring village of Saint Sauves, in order to consult with the curé of that parish—a man both learned and pious, and who had, on more occasions than one, relieved families labouring under inflictions sent by the fairies and witches. No one doubted that La Bonne Femme had cast a spell over Ursule and her child; and it was well remembered by some of the old people, that when Ursule herself was born the same old woman had attended her mother, who had an aversion to her, and had inadvertently remarked to her husband—"Why did you bring me this old witch?" This La Bonne Femme had overheard, and had revenged herself at the time, for the mother of Ursule never afterwards rose from her bed; her vengeance was not, however, it appeared, complete, for she had wreaked it on the grandchild.
The curé of St. Sauves was much shocked at the communication of Cyprien, and taking with him his crucifix and a vial of holy water, they set out together to the cottage of La Bonne Femme. The moon had risen brightly over La Malroche, as they approached its vicinity, and just as they turned an angle of a rock, a peculiar sound made them start; they paused a moment to listen, and were soon aware of the howling of wolves. Presently, to their dismay, they saw a troop of these animals scouring along the plain below, and apparently mounting the elevated part where they stood. They crept into a fissure, and held their breath as the grisly party came nearer; and what was their horror to observe, as they approached, that each of the wolves had human faces, and the two foremost wore those of La Bonne Femme and Cyprien's little son!
The curé, though at first startled, recovered his presence of mind, and rushing forward, cast the holy water over the child thus transformed, when a loud howl burst forth from all the band, a thick cloud suddenly enveloped them, and when it cleared away they saw at their feet what seemed the lifeless form of the infant, in its natural shape.
They raised it up, bound the crucifix on its breast, and carried it with care to the curé's dwelling. There, by his desire, Cyprien left it, and returned home to his wife. He found all the family in tribulation at the loss of the child; for it appears that soon after the father left the cottage on his mission, La Bonne Femme had looked in at the window, at sight of which the infant, who was, as usual, playing on the tsabretta, cast it down, and rushed out of the door, when both fled away with fearful speed across the Dry Lake, and were seen no more.
The curé devoted himself with prayer and fasting to the preservation of the child, and it at length recovered, but was now a changed being. Precocious as before, it appeared endowed with extraordinary intelligence, and shewed such evident signs of an early vocation to the church that it was agreed to place it in the convent of St. Sauves, there to be educated and watched over, in order that the evil one might never resume his dominion over it.
Cyprien made a vow never more to make tsabrettas, as they led to ill, inasmuch as they encouraged profane pastime, and were usually the accompaniment to the dance of the country, called la goignade—looked upon as so improper by the Bishop of Aleth, that he had excommunicated those in his diocese who ventured to perform the dance.
A procession was made to La Malroche by the monks of the convent, and many ceremonies of exorcism took place. La Bonne Femme was found dead in her cottage soon after, burnt almost to a cinder, lying beside a pile of flame-stained stones, of which it was generally believed that she made her fire, for no wood was ever seen in her domicile. She was buried on the summit of La Malroche, and her restless spirit is said still to be seen at times scouring over the plateau in the form of a wolf, when it howls fearfully at the moon. Whenever this is heard the inhabitants of the villages round cross themselves devoutly, and utter a prayer to their patron saint to preserve their children from her evil influence.