The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-12-09

snatch glance at the invisible,
! Meantisle the widow CranGcld went busting
about The house, full of JOY that she again had
somebody to love, aud be careful of, and for whom
she might vcx and tease herself with the petty
troubles of daily life. 1t was nearly noon, when
she looked forth from The door, and deserted three
personages Of note coming along the street, through
the hot sunshine and the masses of elm tree shade.
AT length they reached her gate and undid the
| latch.
"Sec, Raph!" exclaimed she with maternal
pride, "hcrc is Squire Hardwood and the two
other selec'men, coming on purpose to see you!
Now do tell them good long story about what
you have seen in foreign parts"
| The foremost of the three visitors, Squire Hawk
wood was very pompous, butcxceIlent old gen.
tleman, the head and prime mover in all the at
fairs of the village, and universally acknowledged
to he one OF the sagesl men on earth. He wore,
according to Il fashion even then becoming anti
quated, Il three cornercd hat and carried silver.
headed cane, the use Of which seemed 10 be ratll-
progress OF his legs. His two companions we've
elderly aud respectable ycomen, who, retaining IN
Untc.revolutionary reverence for rank aud hcrcdl-
AIRY wealth, kept little in the SQure's rear. As
they approached along the pathway, Ralph Gran
field sat in an oaken elbow chair, half unconscious.
y gazng at the three visitors, and cnyc'oping their
homcly figures IN the misty romance tia, pesvadcd
his mental world,
",lCrc." thought he, smiling at the conccit,
"hcrc comes three elderly perSonUgcs, and the
first oilhe three is venerable sage with staff
What if this embassy should bring nc the message
Of my ldc!"
While Squire Hardwood and his colleagues en-.
tered, Ralph rose from his seat, and advanced a
few steps 10 receive them; and his stately figure
and dark connenancc, as he bent courcOusy tow
ards his guests, had a natural dignity contrasting
well with the busting Importance Of the Squire
The old gentleman, according to invarahIc Gus
tom, gave an elaborate preliminary flourish with
his cane in The ali, then removed his tire, corner
ed hat in order to wipe his brow, and finally pro-
ceeded 10 make known his Grand
"Sly colleagues and myself began the Squire,
are bur'hencd with momen,ous duties, being joint,
y sclecimcn of this village, Oar minds, for the
space of three days past, have laboIiou>ly been on
the selection of a suitable pc'son 10 Gil mos, i'm
por'an, office, and take upon himself charge and
rule, which, wisely considered, may be ranked no
lower than those Of kings ard polenialcs. And
wheicas You, our native lownsmOn, ave Of GOOD
natural intellect and well cultivated hy foreign
travel, and that certain vagarics and fnEiSs of
your youth are doubtless long ago corrected; Ia.
king all these matters, say into due considcra.
ton, we arc opinion that Providence hath sent
You h''her at this ,nncure, for our very purposc"
During this hnrmnguc, CranlicId glzcI flcdly
at the speaker, as If he bcheld something nyseri
oos and unenrhIy in his pompous little figure and
as !! the Squnc had worn the flowing robes Of an
ancient sage, instead Of square skrlcd coat ,nap.
ped waislcoa,, velvet brccchcs and silk stockings.
Non was his wonder without sufficient cause; for
The flourish of The Squrc's staff, marvellous to re-
late, had described precisely the signal in the air
which was to mIIy the message of the prophets
Sage, whom CranGeId had sought around the
world.
"And wmt,' inquired Ralph Cranfcld, with
'remor in his voice. "wlut may this Office be-
which is to equal me with kings and poicuacs,"
"No less than instructor of our village school, ="
answered Squire Ilawkwood; ",hc Office being
now vacant by the death Of the venerable Master
Whitaker, after fifty years incumbency."
81 will consider of Your PROPOSAL replied
Ralph CranGc'd hu'redly, sand vii make known
my decision within three days"
After few more words, the village digniary
and bis companions took their leave. But 10 Gram
fields fancy their images were still present, aud
became more invested with the dim nwfulncss Of
! figures which h,d n, first appeared to him in
dream and alicrward Ind sh 'wn themselves in his
waking moments assuming honcy aspects among
familiar lhings His mind dwell, upon the features
1.-THE Squire, ill they grew conlasrd with those
of the visionary Sage, and one appeared bu, the
shadow Of the other. The same yisige, he now
thought, had looked forth upon him from the Pyr-
amid Of Cheops; the same form had becLoncd to
him among Tie coun0das Of Alhanbra; the same
figure had mi','y revealed itself through the as.
candlng steam of The Grea, Gcyscr At every er.
fort of his memory he recognised some trait of the
dreamy Messenger of Destiny in his pomppus.
bus'llng, so'l'mportnnt little great man Of the ,il.
lase. Amid such musings Ralph Cranfeld sat MI
day in the cottage, scarcely hearing and vaguely
answering his mothers thousand qaestons about
his travels and adventures At sunset, he reused
himself to take stroll. and, passing the aged elm
tree his eye was again caught by the scmblance
of hand, pointing downward at the half Ubli!em.
ted Inscription.
As Cranfield walked down the stree, Of the vii