Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-03-22


lie was pretty certain, as he slipped
out quietly into the street, that he
should find il shut and locked, for he
knew the door well, and had SO rarely
seen it open, that he could't reckon
above three times in all. TWAS low
archcd portal, outside the church. in a
dark nook behind column; and had
such great iron hinges and such a mon
strous lock, that there was moro hinge
and lock than door.
But what was his astonishmcnt when,
coming barc-headed TO the church; and
putting his hand into the nook, with
certain misgiving that it might be un.
cxpectcdly seized, and a shivcring pro-
pcnsity to draw it back again: he found
that the door, which opened outwards,
actually stood alar!
He thought, on the surprise, Of 60
ing back: or of getting a light or a
companion; but his courage aided him
Immediately; and he determined 10 as
cend alone.
What have ] to fcarp said Trotty.
Il. is a church! Bcsid.s, the ringers
may be there, and have forgotten TO
shut the door,
So he went in feeling his way as he
went, like blind man; for it was very
dark. And very quiet, for tho CLINE
were silent.
The dust from the street had blown
into the recess; and lying there, heap
cd up, made it so soft and yclvct-like
to the feet, that there was something
startling even in that. The narrow
stair was so close to the door, too, that
he stumbled at the very first; and shut
ting the door upon himself, by striking
il with his foot. and causing il to re-
bound back heavily, he couldn't open
it again.
This was another reason, however,
for going on. Trotty grouped his,way,
and went on. Up, up, up, and round
and round, and up, up; higher, higher,
higher up.
1t was disagrccablc staircase for the
grouping work; so long and narrow.
that his grouping hand was always
touching something; and it often felt so
like man or ghos,ly figure standing
up erect and making room for him to
pass without discovery, that he would
rub the smooth wall upward searching
for its face, and downward searching
for its feet, while chill tingling crept
all over him. Twice or thrice door
or niche broke the monotonous surface;
and then it seemed gap as wide sas
the whole church; and he felt on the
brink Of an abyss, and going to tumble
hcadlong down; until he found the
wall again.
Still up, up, up; and round and
round, and up, up, up, higher, higher,
higher up!
At length, the dull and sitting at.
mospherc began TO lrcshcn; presently 1t
blew so strong that he could hardly
keep his legs. But he got TO an arch
cd window in the tower, brcast-high,
and holding tight, looked down upon
the housctops, upon the smohing chin
neys, on the blurr and blotch Of lights
towards the place where Meg was
wondering where he was and perhaps
calling TO him perhaps all hacadcd up
together in a leayen of the mist and
darkness,
This was tho belfry where the ring
er, came. He had caught hold Of one
ofthc fraycd ropes which hung down
through an aperture in the open roof
At first he startled; thinking it was
hair; then tremblcd ut the very thought
Of waking the deep Bell. The Bells
themselves were higher. IIigher.Trot-
ty, in his fascination, or in the work
ing out the spell upon him, grouped
his way. BY ladders now, and toll
somcly, for it was steep, and not too
certain holding for the feet.
Up, up, up; and climb and climber:
up, up, up; higher, higher, higher up!
Until, ascending through the floor,
and pausing with his head, just raised
above the beams, he came among the
Bills. It was barely possible to make
out their great shapes in the gloom; but
there they we're, Shadowy, and DARK,
and dumb.
A heavy sense Of dread and lonef-
ness fell upon him instantly, as he
climbed into this airy nest Of stone and
metal. His head went round and
round. He listened, and then raised