The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-08-11
The Way-Side c B II,
Oh! many winter night I've wept
And smiled To hear them tell

And smiled, to hear them tell,
r. With quiverng lip and upward glance.
The legend of the bell
n On the borders of dreary wood, in the
northern part of Germany, stands a little
way-side chapel; the bell is only tolled
when funeral goes past The tolling of
bell is always melancholy sound; but
this, although loud and capable of being
heard at great distance, has peculiar,
sad and solemn cadence, as if il knew it
was never, in future, to speak of anything
but death. .A
aI In small and pleasant cottage not far
from the chapel, there lived, at the time of
which we write, young man, called Paul
Vanderpant. For many generations his
family occupied the same house, and toll
cd that melancholy bell, at intervals, few
and far between; while many legends Of
the now fast decaying chapel passed from
father to son and were repeated with white
lips, around the midnight hearth. More
than once it had CHANGED that the narrator
was interrupted in the most interesting
part of those wild tales; and was obliged
to 90 forth into the dark night, to certify
to the living, by means of the way-side
bell, that the dead were going past to their
long home.
The present proprietor, however, was
not one to care for tales or legends; he
had no belief in spirits, and he used TO
laugh at such superstitions in way that
made the old gossips of the place shudder
and shake their heads at his temerity. If
Paul Vanderpant had of late begun to en-
tertain serious thoughts that it is not good
for man to be alone, it was assuredly
some other sentiment than fear which en-
yendered them, or he would not have
made choice Of Gertrude Hoffman for a
companions; unless, indeed, he thought,
with ourselves, that there is no surer
charm against the power of the evil one,
than love for one another and trust in
God sa .sa
Gertrude was the eldest child of a poor
widow, who occupied an adjoining cottage.
Shesspun and sewed, and made lace; ten
ded and arranged the flowers, which her
little brother, Eric, sold at the market
place; inursed and waited upon her aged
mother or romped and laughed with her
young sister, Lily. She was never idle
never out of spirits; and her sweet voice
he heard, from morn till night, singing at
her wheel, or among her flowers, as she
passed fearlessly through the dreary wood,
where few cared to be after nightfan. Ger,
trude feared nothing but doing wrong.
Sometimes the poor girl fancied that it
might be wrong to be always thinking "a
bout Paul Vanderpant for dearly as she
loved her own little circle, she could not
but feel that he was dearer than all to her;
foritis strange how such affections out
grow the love of kindred! And many a
time she has kneltsdown all alone in the
little way-side chapel, and prayed to God
to keep her from idols. But Paul was
worthy of her, and her infuence-for oh,
how great is amother's influence who loves
and is loved-fell upon him like a bless.
ing. i. 2
Widow Hoffman had seen great deal
of trouble in her day, and although, for
her children s sake, she still clung to life,
there was shadow over her heart that
would not suffer her to enjoy it as she once
had done. From this cause she had a
habit oftalking Of the world as if it were a
very sad and weary place-to all of which
Gertrude listened with filial reverence
and an incredulous smile. 1t seemed a
beautiful world after all; and its few days,
its wilderness wanderings, make us to
prize the sunlight and the flowers all the
more-or, better still, weans our affections
from earth, to that brighter far-of land, |,
where there will be no more signing or sor-.
row. Gertrude's creed was-Let us en-
10Y and be grateful for the present, and
trust to Him who knows what is best for
us, whether it be good or evil. P
Paul Vanderpant as we have, said, was
no believer in the supernatural, or Ger
trude either; although the deep reverence