Jean-François Millet, peasant and painter; . my frightcould not have been greater. The rest I have forgotten. Time has droppeda veil over that, as over other things. I dont know whether I was punishedor not. This I remember hearing about my great-uncle; he was brother of myfathers father. He had been a laborer all his life, and had become a priestrather late. I think he had a little church at the time of the Revolution. Iknow that he was persecuted, for I have heard that men came to search thehouse of my grandfather, to whom he had returned, and that they made theirsearch in the most brutal ma
Jean-François Millet, peasant and painter; . my frightcould not have been greater. The rest I have forgotten. Time has droppeda veil over that, as over other things. I dont know whether I was punishedor not. This I remember hearing about my great-uncle; he was brother of myfathers father. He had been a laborer all his life, and had become a priestrather late. I think he had a little church at the time of the Revolution. Iknow that he was persecuted, for I have heard that men came to search thehouse of my grandfather, to whom he had returned, and that they made theirsearch in the most brutal manner. He was very inventive, and had contriveda hiding-place which communicated with his bed, and into which he threwhimself when any one came. One day they entered so suddenly that the bedhad not had time to cool, and although they were told that he was not there,they cried: Yes, yes, he is here,—the bed is still warm,—but he has found someway of getting off. He heard them. They turned the house upside down in their fury,and went ?01i A Spinner. PEASANT AND PAINTER. 31 He said mass, whenever he could, in the house, and I have still theleaden chalice which he used. After the Revolution, he remained with hisbrother and performed the duties of vicar of the parish. He went everymorning to the church to say mass. After breakfast, he went to work in thefields. He almost always took me with him. Arrived at the field, he tookoff his soutane and worked in shirt-sleeves and breeches. He had the strengthof a Hercules. There still exist, and they will last a long time, some greatwalls which he built to hold up a piece of sliding ground. These walls arevery high, and built of immense stones. They have a cyclopean look. Ihave heard my grandmother and my father say that he allowed no one tohelp him even to place the heaviest stones^ and some of them would requirethe combined strength of five or six men, and then using levers. He had a most excellent heart. He taught, for the love
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