golden calf, and his adoration of the image was manifest in everything around him.  He wore a cassock of cloth which had in former times been of a black colour, but was now of a dusky grey, the woollen material being so completely incorporated with dust as to give it that colour.  His table was furnished with such fare as his farm produced, with the addition, on particular occasions, of a bottle of black strap.  A charming nymph, of some fifty years of age or so, had the management of the household, and discharged all her duties with strict decorum and care.  I have the beauties of her person in my mind’s eye to this day.  She was hump-backed, short-necked, and one-eyed, and squinted bewitchingly with the remaining one:  she had a short leg and a long one, a high shoulder and a low.  In short, the dear creature seemed to be formed, or rather deformed, by the hand of nature on purpose to fill the situation of housekeeper for a priest,—­so that whatever might be his age, no scandal could possibly attach itself to him from such a housekeeper.  The man-servant was directly the counterpart of the charming Marguerite; he also was far advanced in the vale of years, and was of a most irascible temper.  To stir up Joseph to the grinning point was a very easy matter; and his frantic gesticulations, when thus goaded to wrath by our teasing pleasantries, (there were two other young gentlemen beside myself,) were of the most extraordinary description, and afforded infinite amusement.  We never failed to amuse ourselves at Joseph’s expense, when the Padre’s absence permitted our doing so with impunity,—­especially as a small present of tobacco, which was always kept at hand for such occasions, soon made us friends again.  But it sometimes happened that such jokes were carried too far, so as to render the offering of incense quite unacceptable, when the touch of metal could alone produce the desired effect.

I remained with Father Gibert until spring, and shall take leave of him by relating an anecdote or two illustrative of his loyalty and benevolence.  Some time during Madison’s unprovoked war with Great Britain, an alarm came from the upper part of the parish of which Father Gibert was cure, that a party of Americans had been seen marching down the country.  The Capitaine of militia, who was the cure’s next door neighbour, was immediately sent for, and by their joint influence and authority a considerable number of habitans were soon assembled under arms, such as they were.  The Father then shouldering his musket, and placing himself at the head of his parishioners, led them into his garden, which was enclosed by a picket fence, and bordered on the highway.  Here the loyal band took their stand under cover of the fence, waiting to give Jonathan a warm reception the moment he came within reach.  The supposed Americans proved to be a small detachment of British troops, and thus the affair ended.