The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-05-01


great day is come. Let hs leave them
then, where they lie, silent an cold, until
that trumpet sounds an not presume to
10y an. unholy tool upon the house Of the
dead"
"Be SILENT" said Francis, with tone
which had something in it of peculiar and
gloomy sternness. "Come not between
the shade of Esther Widening and me.
Whatever was her thought of me when
living, she now must know my heart, and
/ am sure that her spirit will not grieve to
see me h visitor in her midnight sepulchre.
YOU tell me that her face was changed by
sorrow and by sickness, l wish but to be-
hold il.
David dared not reply, but taking his
hat, went with his master into THE open air.
He brought with him pick axe, USED by
relative who worked at the lead mines
oA the neighboring hills, and followed his
master in silence.
Before they had walked many hundred
yards, the Valley ofthc Seven Churches
opened upon their view in manner as
lonely and beautiful as it was impressive.
The moon unclouded by single wander
ing mist, shed its pale blue light upon the
wild and solemn scene. Before them, on
a gently undulating plain, stood the ruins
of the Chucrhes, with the lofty round tow
er which flung its shadow, gnomon like,
along the grassy slope. A few trees wav-
ed slowly to and fro in the night wind.
The shadows of the broken hills fell dark
upon the streaked and silvcry surface Of
the lakes, hiding halfthe watery expansc
in gloom, while the remainder, broken up
into diminutive wavelets Of silver, rolled
on, and died upon the shore with gentle
murmurs. One side Of the extensive
chdsm In which the lakes reposed was
veiled in shade. On the other the mooii-
light shone over tumbling masses of gran
ite end lelspar, and glimnercd bright on
countless points that sparkied with mica
and hornblende. A moahihg Hihd came
dowhward, by the ruins, and seemed like
the voice Of the dead, heard thGt at night
in their own silent region.
Far on their left, overhangiDg the
gleamy water, appeared that precipitous
cliff, beneath the brow of which the young
Saint keyin hewed out his dizzy resting
place. The neighboring legands say,
that, in his carly days, the saint resided at
the beautiful lake of Luggela, described
in former chapter, where he was first
seen and loved by the fair Catheen, the
daughter ofh chieitain in that codntry s
Nearer and also on the loft, stood the
Cathedral which was more especially the
object of young Riordan's search at this
moment ~ f.%
"Pass OH, he said to his attendant,
sand see ifthere be any body lettering a.
mong the ruins" Lenigah obeyed, and
Francis remained gazing on the gentle
acclivity on which the ivicd Walls of the
old church were standing. The burial
ground, with its lofty granite crosses, aid
its white head stotics glistgtiing In the
moonshine, lay within short distance.
go earth" he said, within his cwn
mind, as he looked musingly Upon tlose
slight memorials of the departed, y I
earth, our mother and our nurse, you are
kinder to lis than our living friends. You
give us life at first, and yod supply us
with all that can oiake life sweet while we
retain it: You furnish food for ouf sup I
port, raihicht, fot our defence, gay scenes
to please our sight; and sodnds OF melody
to sooth our hearing. And when; after
all your cares, we droop, and pine, and
die, you open your bosom to receive and
hide us from the contempt and loathing of
the world, at time when the dearest and I
truest among our living friends would turn |
from our mouldering frames with abhof-
renee and 1isfnay." II
AS signal, light given BY David Leni-
gan, here interrupted tho meditation ofthc
young man, and he proceeded to the
church with rapid, but firm step. Hell
found David standing before the. fnonh- !
mcnt ofthe Damcrs with the pickhxe in
his hand. Lenigan," said he, "there
is ons thing that have forgot Return
to the deserted cottage, Of which we were
speaking, light up fire, and make d PAL
let of some kind, for will not go back to !
your house to-l1ight." David gazcd on {
MS master for some moments, IN deep per-
pexity and awe. /" For the sake of glory,
Francis" he snid in d beseeching
one, "what is it you name to do this |
nghti Pm in dhread, you're thinkin' o. {
ioin' something on this holy ground that
sn't rights ASK no qdestions," re-
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