The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-09-08
THE STORY OF THE BELL.
Translated from the German.
, BY CLARA CUsHNIAN.

The village was smah, and the churcl.
was not a cathedral, but aquiet, uiostenta-
tious stone chapel, half covered by climb.
ing plants, and forest Of dark trees grew
round it. They shaded the interior SO COM
p!etely in the summer afternoons that the
figure Of the ar-piece-panted, the vii
layers averred, by Albrecht Dwier--could
scarcely be distinguished, and rested upon
the, broad canvass mass OF shadowy out
line. s. -. @.@.A
A quaint carved belfry rose above the
trees, and in the bright dawn Of the Sabbath
chime sweet Ind holy. foated from il,
calling the villagers 10 their deyotions; but
the bell whoseyion tongue gave forth that
chime was not the bell that my story speaks
of-there was another, long before that was
cast, that had hung for many years, perhaps
century'in the same place. But now it is
no longer elevated, its tongue is mute, for ii
lies upon the ground at the foot Of the church
tower, broken and bruised Ii is half buried
in the rich mould, and there are green stains
creeping over it, eating into its iron heart,
no one heeds it now, for those who brought
it there are sleeping coldly and silently all
around in the church-yard The shadow
of those dark trees rests on many graves.
How came the old bell 10 be thus neglect
edo new generation arose-"See," they
said, sihe church where our parents wor-
SHIPPED fails TO decay. lis tower crumbles
to dust. The bell has lost its silver tone
it is cracked, it is broken. We will have
a new tower, and another bell shall call Us
to our worship" .. ...,.
So the'old belfry was destroyed, and the
old bell laid at the foundation lit was griev-
ed al the cruel sentence, but it scorned TO
complain, it was voiceless. They came
weeks after to remove 1.-THE remains would
still be Of use but strive as they would, no
strength was able 10 raise the bell, it had
grown ponderous-it dehed them-rooted
to the earth as it seemed.
"!They cannot make me leave my post"
thought the bell-s'I will still watch over
this holy spot, it has been my care for
years" "s.
Time passed, and thew strove no longer
to remove the relic. It's successor rang
clearly from the tower above its head, and
the old bell slumbered on, in the warm sun
shine, and the dreary storm, unmolested,
and almost forgotten. g. ...,.
The afternoon was calm, but the suns
rays were most powerful. A bright, noble
boy had been walking lisrlessly under the
whispering trees. He was in high health
and was resting from eager exercise, for
there was flush upon his open brow, and
as he walked he wiped the beaded drops
from his forehead. 81.
"Ah, here is the place." he said 81 will
lie down in his cool shade, and read this
pleasant volume" The lays Of Hans Sachs
were in his hand. So the youth stretched his
wearied limbs upon tine velvet grass, and his
head rested near,the old bell, hut he did not
know it, for there was low, shrub with
thick serra'ed leaves and fragrant blossoms
spreading over it, and the youth did not
care to look beyond. ~.
Presently the letters in his book began to
grow indistinct, there was a mist creeping
over the page, and while he wondered at
the marvel, a low clear voice spoke to him.
Yes, it called his name, "Norvais.'
81 am here," said the lad, though he could
see no one. He glanced upward and around,
yet there was no living creature in sight,
"Lsten," said the voice 81 have moi
spoken 10 mortal for many, many years.
My voice was hushed at thy birth. Come,
will tell thee of it " The youth listened,
though he was sadly amazed. He felt
bound to The spot, and he could not close
his ears,
"Time has passed swiftly" said the voice,
"since watched the children who are now
men and women, at their sports in the neigh
boring forest. looked out from my station
in the old tower, morning and evening be-
held with Joy those innocent faces, as they
ran and bounded in wild delight, fearless of
the future, and careless Of the present hour.
They were all my children, for had re-
joiced at their birth, and if il was ordained
that the Good Shepherd early called one Of
the lambs to his bosom, toled not mourn
fully, but solen,nly at the departure. knew
il was far better for those who slept thus
peacefully, and could not sorrow for them.
81 marked one, fair, delicate girl, who
often separated herself from her merry COM
paniops. She would leave their noisy play,
and stealing with her book and work through
the dark old trees, would sit for hours in
the shadow Of the tower. Though she
never came without volume, such an one
as Just now you were reading, the book was
often neglected, and leaning her head upon
her hand, she would remain until the lwi-
light tenderly yelled Der beautiful form,
wrapt in deep, still musing, knew that her
thoughts were holy and pure; often Of
heaven, FOR she would raise her eyes 10 the
bending sky, jeweled as il was in the even
ing hour, and seem in prayer, though her
Ups moved not, and the listening broczes
could not catch mumered word.
But the girl grew up, innocent as in her
childhood, ye, with roster flush upon her
cheeks and brighter lus,re in her dreamy
eye. did not see her so often then, but
when my voice on the brish, Sabbath morn
ing called those who love the good Father
TO come and thank him for his wonderons
mercy and goodness, she was the frat ,o
obey the summons, and | watched The
snowy drapery which she always 49, = :,