and see the brave thing she did ! With her went the old grandmother whom she loved next the good God . They went slowly , she was so old , and one of the officers who guarded them had pity on the pretty girl , and said to her as they were a little apart from the rest , `` Come , you are young , and can run . I will save you ; it is a pity so fine a little girl should be shot . '' ` Then she was glad and thanked him much , saying , `` And the grandmother also ? You will save her with me ? '' `` It is impossible , '' says the officer . `` She is too old to run . I can save but one , and her life is nearly over ; let her go , and do you fly into the next wood . I will not betray you , and when we come up with the gang it will be too late to find you . '' ` Then the great temptation of Satan came to this girl . She had no wish to suffer , but she could not leave the good old grandmere to die alone . She wept , she prayed , and the saints gave her courage . ' `` No , I will not go , '' she said ; and in the morning at St. Malo she was shot with the old mother in her arms . ' ` Could you do that for your grandmere ? ' I once asked , as she stopped for breath , because this tale always excited her . She crossed herself devoutly , and answered with fire in her eyes , and a resolute gesture of her little brown hands , -- ' I should try , mademoiselle . ' I think she would , and succeed , too , for she was a brave and tender-hearted child , as she soon after proved . A long drought parched the whole country that summer , and the gardens suffered much , especially the little plats in Lehon , for most of them were on the steep hillside behind the huts ; and unless it rained , water had to be carried up from the stream below . The cabbages and onions on which these poor people depend , when fresh salads are gone , were dying in the baked earth , and a hard winter was before them if this little store failed .
The priests XXXXX for rain in the churches , and long processions streamed out of the gates to visit the old stone cross called the ` Croix de Saint Esprit , ' and , kneeling there in crowds , the people implored the blessing of rain to save their harvest .
asked came carried come go loved prayed run succeed thanked