Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/429

Rh The families Pelligrini, Mallan, and Peijrot, Mrs. Fierze, (Cobden's amiable sister,) have given beauty to my visit. M. Meille, and Mlle. Appia have made it rich and instructive. How many lovely evenings have I not spent with this gifted young woman, and her little select troop of young girls! I have also to thank her for the acquaintance of two remarkable men, two elders of the valleys, Barbe David and Barbe Odin Barthelemi. We visited these Barbes in their homes. Both of them belong to the so-called Pietists of the valley, because they have had religious meetings among themselves, ever since two French evangelical pastors Neff and Blanc, preached here a recueil. But they have not separated themselves from the church of the Waldenses. Barbe David's wife was confined to her bed from a long, consuming sickness, and Louise Appia allowed three of her young girls, who were with us, to sing spiritual hymns to her. The sick woman joined in with a peaceful but beaming expression. The house was orderly and remarkably clean, but all the window panes were of paper, which whilst it admitted sufficient light excluded all view. Glass windows are a luxury rare in the valleys. The table was spread, and we were entertained with chestnuts and cider.

Several poor boys were brought up in the house of Barbe David, of whom his daughter was the teacher, and these children were maintained there by means provided by young M. Appia.

Both Barbes accompanied me back to my house at La Torre. Barbe David could not sufficiently admire and praise the ways of God, who caused that two