The termination of this extraordinary meeting was most affecting:
tears of pleasure, gratitude, and regret streamed from the eyes of the
mountaineers; and the traveller, though more deeply moved by having
seen the grace of God than by all the scenes through which he had
passed, went on his way rejoicing, and following the directions of
the good widow, he arrived at the town of S----. In this town he had
correspondents among the principal inhabitants and authorities, and
under the impression of all he had witnessed, he inquired, as if with
the curiosity of a traveller, the name of the hamlet he had passed on
the mountains, and the nature of the employments, and the character of
its inhabitants.

"The men," said the mayor, "work in the mines, drive the teams, and
labour in the fields; and the women and children weave. They are a very
curious people, _ou rés illuminés_, (new lights,) but the most honest
work-people in the country--probity itself. We have no occasion to
weigh our silk, either when we give it out or take it in, for we are
sure not to lose the value of a farthing; and the kindest creatures in
the world: they will take their clothes off their backs to give to any
one in distress: indeed, there is no wretchedness among them, for,
though poor, they are industrious, temperate, charitable, and always
assist each other; but touch them on their religion, and they are
almost idiots. They never go to mass nor confession--in fact, they are
not christians, though the most worthy people in the world; and so
droll: imagine those poor people, after working all the week, instead
of enjoying the Sunday, and going to a fête or a ball to amuse
themselves, meeting in each other's houses, and sometimes in the
mountains, to read some book, and pray, and sing hymns. They are very
clever work-people, but they pass their Sundays and holidays stupidly
enough."