LOOK out of the window, Elsie. I am sure that boy who is coming along the road does not look like an English boy. And he is near enough now for me to see that what I thought at first was only a box, is really an organ, and he is leading a very small monkey by a string.
“Now, see, he has stopped just opposite our window, and he is playing a tune and the monkey, is dancing.”
Elsie, obeying her brother's summons, looked through the window for a few moments, then said: "I think our early visitors are a Savoyard boy and his marmot, or marmotte, as I believe those small monkeys are often called. Both look cold and hungry. Shall I tell the boy to come in, and give him and his marmot some breakfast?”
Archie clapped his hands with delight. "Yes, Elsie, I should like it so much, and you are a dear, kind sister for thinking of it. Do go and bring them in, then I can give the boy something out of my money-box.”
Elsie opened the door and called the boy, who did not need any pressing to enter, and very glad and grateful he looked when Elsie gave him a large cup of hot coffee and a plate of bread and butter, and told him to begin eating. He tried to thank her in broken English, while the monkey seated itself on the shoulder of its young master, quite ready to enjoy its share of good things Elsie took a plate of nuts from the sideboard and told Archie to offer one to the monkey. The little creature no sooner saw what was going on, than, to Archie's great amusement, it skipped down from its perch and made itself quite at home on his couch, where it remained for some time, cracking nuts and chattering away to its newly-found friend.
When the Savoyard boy had quite finished his meal, Elsie spoke to him in French; but soon found he could not speak or understand that language well. Still, by having a little patience, she was able to learn that his name was Pierre; and the little chalet, or cottage, he called home in far-off Savoy, was not far from the shores of a beautiful lake, almost enclosed by high mountains, on the tops of some of which, even in summer, the snow did not melt.
“Why did you leave your home?" Elsie asked.
“Lady, it was because my mother is very poor, my father is an old man, and is not able to do much work; so I came to England with my organ and Jacko, that I might earn some money and so be able to help my parents.”
“Would you like to return to your own country, or to remain in England?”
Tears were in the dark eyes of the Italian boy as he answered: "You do not know, lady, how I love my home, or you would not ask me. I think there is no place on earth so beautiful as my country. If my father and mother, my brothers, and even my dear little sister Marie, were all dead, I would still go back to Savoy, for the lake and the mountains would still be there.”
Elsie opened her French Testament at John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16), and pointed out the words to Pierre; but the poor boy shook his head sadly, and said he could not read. But seeing Elsie's grieved look, added, "I pray, lady, I pray to God and to Jesus Christ who is upon the cross. I have seen Him many times in our church.”
Archie seemed quite shocked at Pierre's ignorance; but Elsie, who knew he only repeated what he had been taught, tried to explain as well as his imperfect knowledge of French would allow her, that the Lord Jesus, who once on the cross was the Bearer of sin, is now a living, risen Savior; no longer on the cross, but at the right hand of God, who will one day come into the clouds and take His dear people with Him to His Father's house. (John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3).)
Pierre listened attentively, and said it was very good. And though Elsie could not be quite sure how far he understood her words, she felt encouraged to pray that the teaching of the Holy Spirit might make the poor boy wise unto salvation.
A new shilling, one of Archie's birthday presents, was, at his request, taken out of his money-box, and placed in Pierre's hand, while Elsie added a parcel of food to her brother's gift.
The Savoyard boy parted from his new friends with many thanks for the kindness he had received. They watched his departure from the window, till a turn in the road hid him from sight. Then Archie asked his sister if she would mind getting his atlas, he said he should like to find the stranger's home on the map.
The atlas was quickly brought, and, with a little help from Elsie, the province of Savoy was found between France and Italy, at the north-west corner of the map of Italy, and only separated from France by the river Rhone.
“I wonder Pierre did not understand French better, as Savoy is so near France," Archie said, with a questioning look at his sister.
Elsie smiled as she answered, "I was not at all surprised, Archie, as the French spoken by the people of Savoy is not pure French, but mixed with so many German and Italian words, that it is often called patois, or country French, though the language is spoken correctly by doctors and schoolmasters, and all who have received a good education. Pierre comes from one of the villages, or hamlets, that lie far away among the mountains.”
“Oh, tell me about Pierre's home, please do, Elsie. I think he said he lived at the foot of a mountain so high that even in summer the snow is still there. I think it must be very cold in the winter.”
“Yes, Archie, winter in northern Italy is very cold; and when I tell you that snow begins to fall in October, and often remains on the ground in such quantities that the roads over the mountains are impassable till May or June, you will understand how short the summer season is. There are many lakes among the mountains. Sometimes a lake or mountain stream becomes frozen so hard that it is changed to a solid mass of ice. These ice rivers are called glaciers, and the sight is said to be so wonderful, that, year after year, during the summer months, numbers of visitors, many of whom are from England and America, spend a short time among the grand and beautiful scenery of the Swiss Alps.
“During the time the visitors remain, many of the men and boys earn a little money by acting as guides to persons who wish to cross or climb the mountains. The paths in some places are so narrow, that there is only room for one person at a time. Snow, too, often falls even in summer, and the path would soon be covered up and lost altogether, were it not for the constant care and watchfulness of the guides.”
“Was it not among those mountains and valleys that the Vaudois Christians, whose story you told me not long ago, used to live? I mean the poor people who were willing to suffer so much rather than give up their Bibles.”
“The Vaudois were near neighbors to the Savoyards, but, as the people of Savoy were almost all Roman Catholics, we must cross the mountains to Piedmont. Our interest in the Alpine valleys, where for so many years, amid much darkness, the Lord gave strength and courage to many of His lowly ones to confess His name and keep His word, will not soon pass away.”
“Are many of the Vaudois living there now, Elsie?”
“I believe that while most of the dwellers in these valleys are free from the errors of popery, there is much need for loving, faithful gospel work among them. One of the Lord's servants, who visited Piedmont only a short time ago, was speaking to an old man, whom he found at work in a vineyard, about his personal need of salvation. To all his appeals the aged vinedresser answered, ‘Oh, sir, do not be anxious about me; more than one of my relations was among the martyrs. Why do you fear I shall not be right at last? '
“Some verses from the French Bible his visitor carried were read and simply explained to him, and his face wore a grave, thoughtful look as he listened, for perhaps the first time in his life, to the glad tidings that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).)