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speak； all eyes were full of tears。 〃She is now a saint！〃 was said by
the peasants as they went away along the roads of the canton to which
she had given prosperity；saying the words to her creations as though
they were animate beings。
No one thought it strange that Madame Graslin was buried beside the
body of Jean…Francois Tascheron。 She had not asked it； but the old
mother； as the last act of her tender pity； had requested the sexton
to make the grave there；putting together those whom earth had so
violently parted； and whose souls were now reunited through repentance
in purgatory。
Madame Graslin's will was found to be all that was expected of it。 She
founded scholarships and hospital beds at Limoges solely for working…
men； she assigned a considerable sumthree hundred thousand francs in
six yearsfor the purchase of that part of the village called Les
Tascherons； where she directed that a hospital should be built。 This
hospital； intended for the indigent old persons of the canton； for the
sick； for lying…in women if paupers； and for foundlings； was to be
called the Tascheron Hospital。 Veronique ordered it to be placed in
charge of the Gray Sisters； and fixed the salaries of the surgeon and
the physician at four thousand francs for each。 She requested Roubaud
to be the first physician of this hospital； placing upon him the
choice of the surgeon； and requesting him to superintend the erection
of the building with reference to sanitary arrangements； conjointly
with Gerard； who was to be the architect。 She also gave to the village
of Montegnac an extent of pasture land sufficient to pay all its
taxes。 The church； she endowed with a fund to be used for a special
purpose； namely： watch was to be kept over young workmen； and cases
discovered in which some village youth might show a disposition for
art； or science； or manufactures； the interest of the fund was then to
be used in fostering it。 The intelligent benevolence of the testatrix
named the sum that should be taken for each of these encouragements。
The news of Madame Graslin's death； received throughout the department
as a calamity； was not accompanied by any rumor injurious to the
memory of this woman。 This discretion was a homage rendered to so many
virtues by the hard…working Catholic population； which renewed in this
little corner of France the miracles of the 〃Lettres Edifiantes。〃
Gerard； appointed guardian of Francis Graslin； and obliged； by terms
of the will； to reside at the chateau； moved there。 But he did not
marry Denise Tascheron until three months after Veronique's death。 In
her； Francis found a second mother。
End