〃What is this that ye do； my children？ what madness has seized you？
Forty years of my life have I labored among you； and taught you；
Not in word alone； but in deed； to love one another！
Is this the fruit of my toils； of my vigils and prayers and privations？
Have you so soon forgotten all lessons of love and forgiveness？
This is the house of the Prince of Peace； and would you profane it
Thus with violent deeds and hearts overflowing with hatred？
Lo！ where the crucified Christ from his cross is gazing upon you！
See！ in those sorrowful eyes what meekness and holy compassion！
Hark！ how those lips still repeat the prayer； ‘O Father； forgive them！'
Let us repeat that prayer in the hour when the wicked assail us；
Let us repeat it now； and say； ‘O Father； forgive them！' 〃
Few were his words of rebuke； but deep in the hearts of his people
Sank they； and sobs of contrition succeeded the passionate outbreak；
And they repeated his prayer； and said； 〃O Father； forgive them！〃
Then came the evening service。 The tapers gleamed from the altar。
Fervent and deep was the voice of the priest； and the people responded；
Not with their lips alone； but their hearts； and the Ave Maria
Sang they； and fell on their knees； and their souls； with devotion translated；
Rose on the ardor of prayer； like Elijah ascending to heaven。
Meanwhile had spread in the village the tidings of ill； and on all sides
Wandered； wailing； from house to house the women and children。
Long at her father's door Evangeline stood； with her right hand
Shielding her eyes from the level rays of the sun； that； descending；
Lighted the village street with mysterious splendor； and roofed each
Peasant's cottage with golden thatch； and emblazoned its windows。
Long within had been spread the snow…white cloth on the table；
There stood the wheaten loaf； and the honey fragrant with wild…flowers；
There stood the tankard of ale； and the cheese fresh brought from the dairy；
And； at the head of the board； the great arm…chair of the farmer。
Thus did Evangeline wait at her father's door； as the sunset
Threw the long shadows of trees o'er the broad ambrosial meadows。
Ah！ on her spirit within a deeper shadow had fallen；
And from the fields of her soul a fragrance celestial ascended；
Charity； meekness； love； and hope； and forgiveness； and patience！
Then； all…forgetful of self； she wandered into the village；
Cheering with looks and words the disconsolate hearts of the women；
As o'er the darkening fields with lingering steps they departed；
Urged by their household cares； and the weary feet of their children。
Down sank the great red sun； and in golden； glimmering vapors
Veiled the light of his face； like the Prophet descending from Sinai。
Sweetly over the village the bell of the Angelus sounded。
Meanwhile； amid the gloom； by the church Evangeline lingered。
All was silent within； and in vain at the door and the windows
Stood she； and listened and looked； till； overcome by emotion；
〃Gabriel！〃 cried she aloud with tremulous voice； but no answer
Came from the graves of the dead； nor the gloomier grave of the living。
Slowly at length she returned to the tenantless house of her father。
Smouldered the fire on the hearth； on the board stood the supper untasted；
Empty and drear was each room； and haunted with phantoms of terror。
Sadly echoed her step on the stair and the floor of her chamber。
In the dead of the night she heard the whispering rain fall
Loud on the withered leaves of the sycamore…tree by the window。
Keenly the lightning flashed； and the voice of the echoing thunder
Told her that God was in heaven； and governed the world he created！
Then she remembered the tale she had heard of the justice of Heaven；
Soothed was her troubled soul； and she peacefully slumbered till morning。
V。
FOUR times the sun had risen and set； and now on the fifth day
Cheerily called the cock to the sleeping maids of the farm…house。
Soon o'er the yellow fields； in silent and mournful procession；
Came from the neighboring hamlets and farms the Acadian women；
Driving in ponderous wains their household goods to the sea…shore；
Pausing and looking back to gaze once more on their dwellings；
Ere they were shut from sight by the winding road and the woodland。
Close at their sides their children ran； and urged on the oxen；
While in their little hands they clasped some fragments of playthings。
Thus to the Gaspereau's mouth they hurried； and there on the sea…beach
Piled in confusion lay the household goods of the peasants。
All day long between theshore and the ships did the boats ply；
All day long the wains came laboring down from the village。
Late in the afternoon； when the sun was near to his setting；
Echoed far o'er the fields came the roll of drums from the churchyard。
Thither the women and children thronged。 On a sudden the church…doors
Opened； and forth came the guard； and marching in gloomy procession
Followed the long…imprisoned； but patient； Acadian farmers。
Even as pilgrims； who journey afar from their homes and their country；
Sing as they go； and in singing forget they are weary and wayworn；
So with songs on their lips the Acadian peasants descended
Down from the church to the shore； amid their wives and their daughters。
Foremost the young men came； and； raising together their voices；
Sang they with tremulous lips a chant of the Catholic Missions：
〃Sacred heart of the Saviour！ O inexhaustible fountain！
Fill our hearts this day with strength and submission and patience！〃
Then the old men； as they marched； and the women that stood by the wayside
Joined in the sacred psalm； and the birds in the sunshine above them
Mingled their notes therewith； like voices of spirits departed。
Half…way down to the shore Evangeline waited in silence；
Not overcome with grief； but strong in the hour of affliction；
Calmly and sadly she waited； until the procession approached her；
And she beheld the face of Gabriel pale with emotion。
Tears then filled her eyes； and； eagerly running to meet him；
Clasped she his hands； and laid her head on his shoulder and whispered；
〃Gabriel！ be of good cheer！ for if we love one another；
Nothing； in truth； can harm us； whatever mischances may happen！〃
Smiling she spake these words； then suddenly paused； for her father
Saw she slowly advancing。 Alas！ how changed was his aspect！
Gone was the glow from his cheek； and the fire from his eye； and his footstep
Heavier seemed with the weight of the heavy heart in his bosom。
But with a smile and a sigh； she clasped his neck and embraced him；
Speaking words of endearment where words of comfort availed not。
Thus to the Gaspereau's mouth moved on that mournful procession。
There disorder prevailed； and the tumult and stir of embarking。
Busily plied the freighted boats； and in the confusion
Wives were torn from their husbands； and mothers； too late； saw their children
Left on the land； extending their arms； with wildest entreaties。
So unto separate ships were Basil and Gabriel carried；
While in despair on the shore Evangeline stood with her father。
Half the task was not done when the sun went down； and the twilight
Deepened and darkened around； and in haste the refluent ocean
Fled away from the shore； and left the line of the sand…beach
Covered with waifs of the tide； with kelp and the slippery sea…weed。
Farther back in the midst of the household goods and the wagons；
Like to a gypsy camp； or a leaguer after a battle；
All escape cut off by the sea； and the sentinels near them；
Lay encamped for the night the houseless Acadian farmers。
Back to its nethermost caves retreated the bellowing ocean；
Dragging adown the beach the rattling pebbles； and leaving
Inland and far up the shore the stranded boats of the sailors。
Then； as the night descended； the herds returned from their pastures；
Sweet was the moist still air with the odor of milk from their udders；
Lowing they waited； and long； at the well…known bars of the farm…yard；
Waited and looked in vain for the voice and the hand of the milkmaid。
Silence reigned in the streets； from the church no Angelus sounded；
Rose no smoke from the roofs； and gleamed no lights from the windows。
But on the shores meanwhile the evening fires had been kindled；
Built of the drift…wood thrown on the sands from wrecks in the tempest。
Round them shapes of gloom and sorrowful faces were gathered；
Voices of women were heard； and of men； and the crying of children。
Onward from fire to fire； as from hearth to hearth in his parish；
Wandered the faithful priest； consoling and blessing and cheering；
Like unto shipwrecked Paul on Melita's desolate sea…shore。
Thus he approached the place where Evangeline sat with her father；
And in the flickering light beheld the face of the old man；
Haggard and hollow and wan； and without either thought or emotion；
E'en as the face of a clock from which the hands have been taken。
Vainly Evangeline strove with words and caresses to cheer him；
Vainly offered him food； yet he moved not； he looked not； he spake not；
But； with a vacant stare； ever gazed at the flickering fire…light。
〃Benedicite！〃 murmured the priest； in tones of compassion。
More he fain would have said； but his heart was full； and his accents
Faltered and paused on his lips； as the feet of a child on a threshold；
Hushed by the scene he beholds； and the awful presence of sorrow。
Silently； therefore； he laid his hand on the head of the maiden；
Raising his eyes full of tears to the silent stars that above them
Moved on their way； unperturbed by the wrongs and sorrows of mortals。
Then sat he down at her side； and they wept together in silence。
Suddenly rose from the south a light； as in autumn the blood…red
Moon climbs the crystal walls of heaven； and o'er the horizon
Titan…like stretches its hundred hands upon mountain and meadow；
Seizing the rocks and the rivers； and piling huge shadows together。
Broader and ever broader it gleamed on the roofs of the village；
Gleamed on the sky and the sea； and the ships that lay in the roadstead。
Columns of shining smoke uprose； and flashes of flame were
Thrust through their folds and withdrawn； like the quivering hands of a martyr。
Then as the wind seized the gl