The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-11-15

NV" 'HPlNh WIN hFffen pl publl'liY thht
attracted many spsqAtorss who occupied tho
front seats Of the galleries, and the peHs near
the altar and along the broad aisle Il had
been arranged, or possible h was the custom
Of the day, that the parties should proceed
separately to church, iiy some accident The
bridegroom IVES little less punetual than the
widow. and her bridal attendants With whose
arrival, amer this sSdious. but necessary pre-
face, the action Of our story may be kAid 10
commence
The clumsy wheels Of several old fashioned
coaches we're heard, and the gentlemen and
lAdich, composing the bridal party came
through the door with the sudden and glad
some effect Of a burst Of sunshine. The whole
group, except The principal figure, was made
up Of youth and gayety, As they streamed
mp the broad aisle, while the pew and pil-
lars s.emed TO brighten on either side their
steps were as buoyAnt as ifthey mistook the
church for ball room, and we're ready to
dance hand in hand 10 the altar. No brilliant
was the spectacle that few took notice Of a
singular phenomenA that had marked It's en-
trance, Al the moment when the brides
foot touched the threshold, tie bell swung
heavily in the tower above her, and sent forth
lis deepest knell. The vibrations died away
and returned with prolonged solemuity, as
she entered the body Of the church.
raGodd Heaven. what AN omen . vhlsper-
ed a young lady to her lover.
'on my honor replied the gentleman, Il
believe thr-l~ll has th, g,od taste 10 toll Of
hiA own accord. What has she In do with
wedilnrs1 II YOU, deArest Julia, were an
preaching the altar, the hell would ring nut
lts netriest peal. IL hAa only a funeral knoll
Tor her .'I ron
Ibe or'de' and the most OF her company
hAd been TOO much occupied with tho bosuS
oi entrance 70 hear the hrs' ooding stroke oi
The oe'i' or Al least to- reflect on tho singular
ny OF sneh welcome TO the altar lhey
therefore continued To advance with nnd'm'n-
,shcd gaye'y The gorgeous dresses oil the
hme' the crimson NelVet Goals the siik' Saiih'
"ocade' the enioro'dery- the pnohIeS' canes
ana swords, all d'Splaycd To the best adNan-
hge on persons suited tn such hnery, made
tho group appear moro Ike very bright col
ored picture than anything rcal. But by
h' ei had 'l''' ''~i-F.-isr..-
sonted his principal hgnre rs 20 wrinkled and
decayed while yet he had deeked her out in
inc or'sh'esl sPl'hnor OF sture' asli the 'oF-
liest maiden hal suddenly wIthered into age,
aud oeeome moral 20 the beautiful around
her on they went however and had g''t-
tered along about a third OF the aisle, when
another stroke OF the bell seemed TO I'LL the
church with = visible gloom dimming and OBJ
scuring the bright pageant, till It shone forth
as from mist
This time the party wavcred, stopped and
huddled closer together, while a slight scream
was heard from some of the ladies', and con-
/ fused whispering among the gentlemen. Thus
! tossing to and fro, they might have been fan
cifully compared TO a splendid bunch of fiow.
ers suddenly shaken by n puff of wind which
threatened TO scatter the leaves of nm old,
thrown, wtrhereu rose. tiTi tte BaIHG SIatk wiIh
two dewey buds; such being the omblemor
the widow between her fair younq brides
maids. But her heroism was admirable She
had started with an irrepressiblc shudder. AS
: IL r6e stroke of the bell had fallen directly
on her heart then recovering herself while
her attendants were vet in dismay. she took
the lead, and paced calmly up the aisle. The
bell continued to swieg, swell, and -yibrate,
with the same doIefuI regularity, as when a
corpse is on its way to the tomb.
MY young friends here have their nerves
little shaken; with a smile to the clergyman
at the altar. But so many weddings have
been ushered in with the merriest peal of the
bells, and yet turned out unhappiiy. that
shall hope for better fortune under such diff
fcrene auspices
Madam answered the rector, in great per-
plexity, this strange occurrence brings to my
mind marriage sermon of the famous Bish-
op TAYLOR, wherein he mingles so many
thouahtsof mortality and future woe. that "a
speak somewhat after his own rich stylc. he
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