robbers in Italy and Spain, who, after they rob and murder the rich, are
very _liberal_ to the poor, although, like your railroad-contract robber
the poor Italian brigand has not the chance of having his name published
in the newspapers, or read out from the pulpit, as a good, charitable,
and humane gentleman. Of the two charities, I think that of the obscure
brigand is the most worthy and laudable.

One Sunday evening, as Father Ugo was returning from service in the
country, where he officiated every two weeks, he came up with a large
and enraged crowd of people on both sides of the road on which he
travelled. On one side of the way about one hundred carts were placed in
a line, so as to form a rampart and protect some two hundred men, who,
with loaded muskets, crouched behind the carts as if watching for an
object to fire at. An occasional shot was fired from this rampart, and
the volley was returned slowly but deliberately from an old house in
front, on which this large body of men were making an assault. While the
priest stood at a distance, looking on at this horrid contest, he was
perceived by the people in the house, who at once despatched a messenger
to inform his reverence of the danger they were in, assailed by so many
men resolved on their extermination. At no small risk, leaving the
messenger in charge of his horse, he entered between the ranks of the
combatants, and, with crucifix in hand uplifted, he implored the
assailants, in the name of Christ, to desist from their cruel warfare,
and take some other means and time than the Lord's day for getting
possession of that old house about which the contention arose. By a
great deal of difficulty, and after a speech of an hour, he succeeded in
quelling this cruel and disgraceful riot, and before he left the ground
he had all the arms secured in one pile, and conveyed to an adjacent
farmer's house for security.