The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-12-26
MISCELLANY.
THE WAY-SIDE BELL.
"Oh! many winter night I've wept
And smiled, to hear them tell,
With quivering lip and upward glance,
The legend of the bell"

, "Oh! many winter night I've wept
And smiled, to hear them tell,
With quivering lip and upward glance,
The legend of the bell"
On the borders Of dreary wood, in the
northern part Of Germany, stands litfle way
, side chapel the bell is only toled when a
funeral goes past. The tolling of Il bell ID
|, always melancholy sound; but this, al
thoug loud, and capable of being heard al
, a great distance, has peculiar, sad and sol
emn cadence, as If ii knew il was never, in
future, to speak Of anything but death.
} In a small and pleasant cottage not lar
from the chapel, there lived, at the time nj
which we write, ynung man, called Pau
Vanderpanl. For many generations his lam
ily occupied the same house, and tolled thai
same melancholy bell, at intervals, few and
far between while many legends Of the now
fast decaying chapel passed from faIher 10
son, and were repeated, with white lips, a.
round the midnight hearth. More than once
it had CHANGED that the narrator was inter-
, rupted in the interesting parI oil those wild
tales, and was obliged 10 90 forth Inio The
dark night, 10 certify to the living, by means
of the way-side bell, that the dead were 60
ing TO their long home.
i The present proprietor, however, was not
one 10 care for tales or legends he had no
belief in spirits, and he used IN laugh al such
superslitions in way that made the old COS
sips OF the place shudder AMI shake their
heads al It's temerity. If Paul Vanderpant
had OF late begun 20 entertain serious thought
that il is not good for man 10 be alone, il
was assuredly some other sentiment than
fear which engendered them, or he would
not have made choice OF Gertrude Hoffman
for a companion unless, indeed, he thought,
with ourselves, that there is no surer charm
against The power of the evil one, than love
lor one another, and trust in God.
Gertrude was the eldest child of poor
widow, who occupied an adjoining collage.
She spun, and sewed, and made lace; tend
ed and arranged the flowers, which her little
brother, Eric, sold at the market place
nursed and waited upon her aged moIker, or
romped and laughed with her young sister,
4 Lily. She was never idle-never out oil
spirits; and her sweet voice was heard, from
morning till night, singing al her wheel, or
among her flowers, or as she passed fearless
ly through that dreary wood, where few car
ed TO I've alter nighl-iall. Gertrude feared
nothing but doing wrong. Sometimes the
poor girl fancied that il might he wrong 10
be always thinking o. Paul Vanderpant for,
dearly as she loved her own little circle. she
could not but feel that he was dearer Than
ali TO her; for il is strange how such affec-
tons outgrow the love OF kindred And ma
ny lime she has knelt down all alone in the
liule way-side chapel, and prayed 10 God 10
| keep her from idols. Bat Paul was worthy
of her. and her infuence-ior, o how great
is anothers influence who loves and is love-
ed fell upon him like blessing.
Widow Hoffman had seen a great deal Of
trouble in her day. and although, for her chill
dren's sake, size still chung 10 life, there was
shadow over her heart that would not sui.
fer her 10 enjoy it as she dice had done.
From this cause she had a habit of talking Of
: the world as if it were very sad and weaIv
place-io all Of which Gertrude listened with
iilial reverence and an incredulous smile. Ii
+ seemed beautiful world for all and ills few
n DAYS its wilderness wanderings, make US 10
prize the sunlight. and the flowers, all the
more-or, better still, wean our affec-
lions from earth 10 that bright, far oil land.
where there will be no more signing or sor-
row. Gertrudes creed was-Let US enjoy
: and be grateful Tor the present. and trust 10
: Him who kuowelh what is best for US, wheIh-
err il be good or evil.
Paul Vanderpant, as we have said, was
no believer in the supernatural, or Gertrude
either, although the deep reverence Of her
nature made his mockery appear painful, land
for her sake, he ceased 10 jest upon sucl
themes as he had once Gone.
! "After all said Gertrude, upon one occa-
! sion, when the conversation CHANGED 10 turn
) upon the subject, ''Ihere are many things
constantly happening around u.s. which art
Ltoo well authenticated 10 be denied, and toe
strange 10 be explained. certainly do no
believe in ghosts, but as certainly believe
that nothing is impossible 10 God
Lily. who had all a young girls love o
the marvellous and romantic, asked Paul
, he had ever seen The spirit which was said t,
haunt the little wav-sids chapel, Of which
mention has before been made.
mo. never; and have heen there at nj
hours But what is il like, that may know
il. in case we should ever meet! J"
: Like a woman, they say, dressed all II
: white, with her long hair floating on he
, shoulder
r "Who says so Lily 2"
Nonsense how provoking you are Blu
surely you know the legend 2"
"Not l." replied Paul, carelessly.
/ "She is said" continued Lily, withou
| needing his incredulous smile, ''to have beer
= the only daughter oil proud aid wealthy
baron, who wanted 10 force her into mar
,.;age with one whom she could never have
loved. even if she had not been as she was
: secretly ' beiro,hed 10 brave young knight
with no fortune but his, sword. To avoid
F., this hateful marriage, the lovers fled away
one moonlight night bur, somehow ;,b n e. 0s
, sci spurs TO his horse, and overlook mem
jus, opposite the way side chapel. in which
The Iady sough, refuge. She was kneeling
and praying before The altar, when her lathe sd
entered hastily, with his sword drawn , anu
, covered with blood and she knew by mar
as well as by the expression of his counie-
nance, that all was over. For moment, the
old baron was startled hy wild and thrilling
= Shrek; and he advanced, after pause, and
lifted her from the ground where enc nae
= faHen-be found that she was dead; her
heart was broken.
The body Of the young knight is said 70
I have been secretly inferred somewhere with