ThepairstartedatthebeginningofMay，andbegantheirusualrecitationsandaddresses，suchashadbeengivenduringthefirstjourneyinPerigord。Theywerereceivedwiththeusualenthusiasm。Prefects，bishops，andmunicipalbodies，viedwitheachotherinreceivingandentertainingthem。AtAngouleme，thequeenofsoutherncities，Jasminwaspresentedwithacrownofimmortellesandasnuff-box，onwhichwasengraved：”Esteem——Love——Admiration！ToJasmin，themostsublimeofpoets！
　　FromtheyouthofAngouleme，whohavehadthehappinessofseeingandhearinghim！”
　　Thepoetandpriesttravelledbynightaswellasbydayinordertoeconomisetime。Aftertheirtourinthenortherntownsandcities，theyreturnedtoVergtforrest。Theyenteredthetownunderatriumphalarch，andwereescortedbyanumerouscavalcade。Beforetheyretiredtothepriest’shouse，theleadingmenofthecommune，inthenameofthecitizens，complimentedJasminforhiscordialhelptowardstherebuildingofthechurch。
　　AftertwodaysofneedfulrestJasminsetoutforBordeaux，thecitywhoseinhabitantshadfirstencouragedhimbytheirapplause，andforwhichhecontinuedtoentertainacordialfeelingtothelastdaysofhislife。Hismissiononthisoccasionwastoassistintheinaugurationofacreche，foundedandsupportedbythecharitablecontributionsofthefriendsofpoorchildren。Itisnotnecessarytomentiontheenthusiasmwithwhichhewasreceived。
　　Thefurtherprogressofthepoetandthepriest，insearchofcontributionsforrebuildingthechurch，wasrudelyinterruptedbytheRevolutionwhichbrokeoutatParisin1848。HisMajestyLouisPhilippeabdicatedthethroneofFranceonthe24thofFebruary，ratherthancomeintoarmedcollisionwithhissubjects；and，twodaysafter，theRepublicwasofficiallyproclaimedattheHoteldeVille。LouisPhilippeandhisfamilytookrefugeinEngland——theusualretreatofpersecutedFrenchmen；andninemonthslater，LouisNapoleonBuonaparte，whohadalsobeenarefugeeinEngland，returnedtoFrance，andonthe20thofDecemberwasproclaimedPresidentoftheFrenchRepublic。
　　JasminandMassonaccordinglysuspendedtheirtour。Noonewouldlistentopoeticalrecitationsinthemidstofpoliticalrevolutions。Freedomandtranquillitywerenecessaryforthecontemplationofideasverydifferentfromlocalandnationalsquabbles。Thepoetandpriestaccordinglybadeadieutoeachother；anditwasnotuntiltwoyearslaterthattheywereabletorecommencetheirunitedjourneysthroughtheSouthofFrance。
　　TheproclamationoftheRepublic，andtheforthcomingelections，broughtmanynewmentothefront。Evenpoetsmadetheirappearance。Lamartine，whohadbeenadeputy，wasaleaderintheRevolution，andforatimewasministerforforeignaffairs。
　　VictorHugo，astillgreaterpoet，tookaspecialinterestinthepoliticsofthetime，thoughhewasfinedandimprisonedforcondemningcapitalpunishment。EvenReboul，thepoet-bakerofNimes，desertedhismuseandhiskneadingtroughtosolicitthesuffragesofhisfellow-citizens。Jasminwaswiser。
　　HewasmorepopularinhisneighbourhoodthanReboul，thoughhecaredlittleaboutpolitics。Hewouldneitherbeadeputy，noramunicipalcouncillor，noranagentforelections。
　　Hepreferredtoinfluencehiscountrybyspreadingtheseedsofdomesticandsocialvirtues；andhewassatisfiedwithhispositioninAgenaspoetandhair-dresser。
　　NeverthelessadeputationofhistownsmenwaiteduponJasmintorequesthimtoallowhisnametoappearasacandidatefortheirsuffrages。Thedelegatesdidnotfindhimathisshop。
　　Hewasathisvineyard；andtherethedeputationfoundhimtranquillyseatedunderacherry-treeshellingpeas！Helistenedtothemwithhisusualcourtesy，andwhenoneofthecommitteepressedhimforananswer，andwishedtoknowifhewasnotagoodRepublican，hesaid，”Really，IcarenothingfortheRepublic。Iamoneofthosewhowouldhavesavedtheconstitutionalmonarchybyenablingittocarryoutfurtherreforms……But，”hecontinued，”looktothepast；wasitnotalosstodestroytheconstitutionalmonarchy?Butnowwemustmarchforward，thatwemayallbeunitedagainunderthesameflag。ThewelfareofFranceshouldreigninallourthoughtsandevokeourmostardentsympathy。Chooseamongourcitizensastrongandwiseman……IftheRepublicistoliveinFrance，itmustbegreat，strong，andgoodforallclassesofthepeople。
　　Maintainingthepredominanceofthelawwillbeitssecurity；andinpreservinglawitwillstrengthenourliberties。’”
　　Inconclusion，Jasmincordiallythankedhisfellow-citizensforthehonourtheyproposedtoconferuponhim，althoughhecouldnotacceptit。TheaffairsoftheState，hesaid，wereinaveryconfusedcondition，andhecouldnotpretendtounravelthem。
　　Hethentookleaveofthedeputation，andquietlyproceededtocompletehistask——theshellingofhispeas！
　　FootnotesforChapterXVI。
　　[1]ThewholeoftheinterviewbetweentheArchbishopofRheimsandJasminisgivenbySainte-Beuvein’CauseriesduLundi，’iv。
　　250。
　　CHAPTERXVII。
　　THECHURCHOFVERGTAGAIN——FRENCHACADEMY——EMPERORANDEMPRESS。
　　WhenthepoliticalturmoilsinFrancehadforatimesubsided，JasminandtheAbbeMassonrecommencedtheirjourneysintheSouthforthecollectionoffundsforthechurchatVergt。
　　Theyhadalreadymadetwopilgrimages——thefirstthroughPerigord，thesecondtoAngouleme，Limoges，Tulle，andBrives。
　　Thethirdwasbegunearlyin1850，andincludedthedepartmentoftheLandes，thehigherandlowerPyrenees，andotherdistrictsintheSouthofFrance。
　　AtBagneresdeBigorreandatBagneresdeLuchonthereceiptsweredividedbetweenthechurchatVergtandthatatLuchon。
　　Thepublichospitalsandthebenevolentsocietiesfrequentlysharedinthereceipts。Thereseemedtobenolimitstothepoet’szealinlabouringforthosewhowereinwantoffunds。
　　IndependentofhisrecitationsforthebenefitofthechurchatVergt，heoftenturnedasidetooneplaceoranotherwherethepoorwereinthegreatestneedofassistance。
　　OnoneoccasionhewenttoArcachon。HestartedearlyinthemorningbythesteamerfromAgentoBordeaux，intendingtoproceedbyrailwayafivehours’journeyfromBordeauxtoArcachon。ButthesteamersontheGaronnewerethenveryirregular，andJasmindidnotreachBordeauxuntilsixhourslaterthantheappointedtime。InthemeanwhilealargeassemblyhadmetinthelargestroominArcachon。Theywaitedandwaited；
　　butnoJasmin！TheAbbeMassonbecameembarrassed；butatlengthhegavehisaddress，andthereceiptswere800francs。Themeetingdispersedverymuchdisappointed，becausenoJasminhadappeared，andtheymissedhisrecitations。AtmidnightthecurereturnedtoBordeauxandtherehefoundJasmin，justarrivedfromAgenbytheboat，whichhadbeensixhourslate。Hewasingreatdismay；butheafterwardsmadeupforthedisappointmentbyrecitingtothepeopleofArcachon。
　　ThesamethinghappenedatBiarritz。Alargeassemblyhadmet，andeverythingwasreadyforJasmin。ButtherewasnoJasmin！
　　TheomnibusfromBayonnedidnotbringhim。Itturnedout，thatatthemomentofsettingouthewasseizedwithasuddenlossofvoice。AsinthecaseofArcachon，thecurehadtodowithouthim。Theresultofhisaddresswasacollectionof700
　　francs。
　　TheAbbeMassonwasaliberal-mindedman。WhenJasminurgedhimtohelpothersmoreneedythanhimself，hewasalwaysreadytocomplywithhisrequest。WhenatNarbonne，inthedepartmentofAude，apoortroupeofcomediansfoundthemselvesindifficulties。Itwaswinter-time，andtheweatherwasverycold。
　　Thepubliccouldnotbeartheircanvas-coveredshed，anddesertedtheentertainment。Meanwhiletheartisteswerefamished。
　　KnowingthegenerosityofJasmin，theyaskedhimtoreciteatoneoftheirrepresentations。Hecompliedwiththeirrequest；theplacewascrowded；andJasmin’srecitationswerereceivedwiththeusualenthusiasm。IthadbeenarrangedthathalftheproceedsshouldgotothechurchatVergt，andtheotherhalftothecomedians。ButwhentheentiretroupepresentedthemselvestotheAbbeandofferedhimthefullhalf，hesaid：”No！no！keepitall。YouwantitmorethanIdo。Besides，Icanalwaysfallbackuponmydearpoet！”
　　AfourthpilgrimageofthepriestandpoetwasafterwardsmadetothetownsofRodez，Villefranche-d’aveyron，Cahors，Figeac，Gourdon，andSarlat；andtheproceedsoftheseexcursions，addedtoasubventionof5，000francsfromtheGovernment，enabledthechurchofVergttobecompleted。In1852thesteeplewasbuilt，andappropriatelynamed”Jasmin’sBell-tower”ClocherJasmin。
　　Butitwasstillwithoutbells，forwhichasubsequentpilgrimagewasmadebyJasminandMasson。
　　ToreturntothehonourspaidtoJasminforhisworksofbenevolenceandcharity。Whatwasworthmoretohimthanthenumerousgoldenlaurelswhichhadbeenbestoweduponhim，washisrecognitionbythehighestandnoblestofinstitutions，theAcademyofFrance。AlthoughoneoftheobjectsofitsmemberswastopreservetheFrenchlanguageinitshighestpuritytheywerefoundreadytocrownapoetwhowrotehispoemsinthepatoisoftheSouth。
　　Therewere，however，severaladversecriticismsontheproposeddecisionoftheAcademy；thoughpoetrymaybewrittenineverytongue，andisquiteindependentofthelanguageorpatoisinwhichitisconveyed。Indeed；severalmembersoftheAcademy——
　　suchasMM。Thiers，DeRemusat，Viennet，andFlourens——camefromthemeridionaldistrictsofFrance，andthoroughlyunderstoodthelanguageofJasmin。Theysawinhimtwomen——
　　thepoet，andthebenefactorofhumanity。
　　Thisconsiderationcompletelyoverruledthecriticismsoftheminority。JasminhadoncebeforeappearedatM。Thierry’sbeforethebestmenoftheAcademy；andnowthewholeoftheAcademy，notwithstandinghispatois，approachedandhonouredthemanofgooddeeds。
　　JasminowedtoM。Villemainoneofthemostbrilliantpanegyricswhichhehadeverreceived。TheAcademydesiredtoawardaspecialprizeinaccordancewiththetestamentarybequestofM。deMontyon[1]——hislastdebttoartandmorality；atalentthatemploysitselfindoinggoodunderaformthemostbrilliantandpopular。Thistalent，hecontinued，isthatofthetruepoet；andJasmin，duringhispureandmodestlife，hasemployedhisartforthebenefitofmoralitywithanoble，helpfulinfluence，whilenothingdetractedfromthedignityofhisname。
　　LiketheScottishpoetBurns，Jasminhadbyhisdialectandhispoeticaltalentsenrichedtheliteratureofhiscountry。Jasmin，thehair-dresserofAgen，thepoetoftheSouth，whodrewcrowdstohearthesoundofhisvoice——whoevenembellishedthefestivalsoftherich，butwhostillmoreassistedinthepleasuresofthepoor——whospenthistimeinendowingcharitableestablishments——whohelpedtobuildchurches，schools，andorphanages——Jasmin，thegloryofhisCommuneaswellasoftheSouthofFrance，deservedtobeadoptedbyallFranceandpubliclyacknowledgedbytheAcademy。
　　Tacitushassaidthatrenownisnotalwaysdeserved，itchoosesitsduetime——Nonsempererratfama，aliquandoeligit”Fameisnotalwaysmistaken；shesometimeschoosestheright”。
　　Wehaveproofofitto-day。TheenthusiasticapprobationofthegreatprovincesofFranceforapopularpoetcannotbeasurprise。Theysingleoutthelast，andImayadd，thegreatestpoetoftheTroubadours！
　　M。VillemainproceededtocommentuponthepoeticalworksofJasmin——especiallyhisBlindGirlofCastel-Cuille；，hisFranconnette，andthenobleworkshehaddoneforthepoorandthesuffering；hisself-sacrificinglaboursforthebuildingofschools，orphanages，andchurches。”Everywhere，”hesaid，”hiselevatedandgeneroussoulhaslabouredforthebenefitoftheworldabouthim；andnowhewould，bytheaidoftheAcademy，embellishhiscoronetwithaprivilegeddonationtothepoetandphilanthropist。”Heconcludedbysayingthattheespecialprizeforliterarymoralityandvirtuousactionswouldbeawardedtohim，andthatagoldmedalwouldbestruckinhishonourwiththeinscription：”AuJasmin，Poetemoraletpopulaire！”