"
Once, and once only, did Gabriel hear anything of Father Paul.
The good priest showed, by writing to the farmhouse, that he had
not forgotten the family so largely indebted to him for their
happiness. The letter was dated "Rome." Father Paul said that
such services as he had been permitted to render to the Church in
Brittany had obtained for him a new and a far more glorious trust
than any he had yet held. He had been recalled from his curacy,
and appointed to be at the head of a mission which was shortly to
be dispatched to convert the inhabitants of a savage and far
distant land to the Christian faith. He now wrote, as his
brethren with him were writing, to take leave of all friends
forever in this world, before setting out--for it was well known
to the chosen persons intrusted with the new mission that they
could only hope to advance its object by cheerfully risking their
own lives for the sake of their religion. He gave his blessing to
Francois Sarzeau, to Gabriel, and to his family; and bade them
affectionately farewell for the last time.
There was a postscript to the letter, which was addressed to
Perrine, and which she often read afterward with tearful eyes.
The writer begged that, if she should have any children, she
would show her friendly and Christian remembrance of him by
teaching them to pray (as he hoped she herself would pray) that a
blessing might attend Father Paul's labors in the distant land.
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