Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-11-08
miscellaneous.
The Wedding knrll.
BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.

There ~ n certun chtrch IN ille CUy ~
New York, which | have always regarded
with peculiar interest, on account Of II mar
riage there sOlemuized, under very singular
circumstances, in my grandnOtliers girl
hood. Tint venerable lady chanced to be u
spectator of the scene, aud ever after made
il her iayorite narrative. Whether the cdi-
fee now standing on the same site bo the
identical one TO which she referred, am not
antiquarian enough to know; nor would it
be worth while TO correct myself perhaps,
of an agreeable error, by reading tie date OF
its erection on tic tablet over the door. Ii
is q stately church, surrounded hy mn euclo-
sure of tic loylicst green, within which APP
pear urns, pillnrs, ObGlisks aud other forms
of monumental marble, the monuments of
private affection, or more splendid memorials
of historic dust With such place, though
the tumult of the city rolls beneath its tower,
one would he willing to connect lengendry
interest.
The marriage might he considered ms the
result Of an early engagement, though there
had been two intermediate weddings Oh the
lady's part, aud forty years of celebrary on
that OF the gentleman. AT siXty-6ye, Mr. FL
lenwood was n shy, but not quite secluded
man selfish, like oil men WHO brood over
their own hearts, yet naniiesiing, on rare
occasions, vein of generous sentiment; n
scholar throughou life, though always nm
indolent one, because his studies had no de-
finite object, either Of public advantage or
personal ambition; gentleman, hgh-brcd
and ihstdiously delicate, yet sometimes re-
quiring n considerable relaxation, in his be-
half of the common rules of society. In
truth there were so many anomalies in his
character, and, though shrinking with dis
eased sensibity from public notice, it had
been his fatality so often to become the top.
ic Of the day, by some wild eccentricity of
conduct, that people searched his lineage for
an hereditary iaint of insanity. But there
was no need of this Ills cuprces had their
origin in a mind that lacked the support of
an engrossing purpose, and in feelings that
preyed upon themselves, for want of other
food. II he were mad, it was the conse-
guence, and not the cause, of an nimcss aud
aboriye life.
The widow was us complete n contrast TO
her third bridegroom, in everything bat age,
ms can well be conceived. Compelled to re-
linqush her first engagement, she bad been
united TO man oftwicc her age, 10 whom
she had been nn exemplary wife, and by
whose death she was left in possession Of
splendid fortune southern gentleman,
considerably younger than herself succeed
tu W ntl lditls anu NdiliNtl llti W 1thl ltN-
ton, where, after many uncomfortable years,
she found herself again widow. 1t would
have been singular, if an uncommon delica-
cy OF feeling had survived through such
lite as Mrs Dabney's; it could not but he crush
ed and killed 10y her ealy disappointment,
the cold duty of her first marriage, the dis
location of her hearts principles, consequent
on n second union, and the unkindness OF her
southern husband, which had inevitably
driven her TO connect the idea of his death
with that Of new comfort. To bG brief she
was that wisest, but uuoyliost variety of wo-
mnu, philosopher, bearing troubles of the
heart with cqunninity, dispensing with all
TINT should have been her happiness, ard
making tho best of what remained. Sage in
most matters, the widow was perhaps the
more amiable, for the one frdity that made
her ridiculous. Being childess, she could
not remain beautiful by proxy, in the person
of daughter; she therefore refused TO grow
old and ugly, oil any consideration; she
struggled with time, and held fast her roses
in spite of him, till the venerable thief mp
peared TO have relinquished the spoil, as not
worth the trouble Of acquiring it,
The approaching marriage of this woman
of the world with such an unworldly man as
Mr.. Ellenwood, was announced soon after
NhIS. DdDUeJ . ItluIll 10 lltT UaliNe CltN. ou-
perlicial observers, and deeper ones, seemed
10 concur in supposing that the lady must
have borne no inactive part IN arranging the
affair; there were considerations of expc-
SIlcncy, which she would have been far n,o.e
likely to appreciate than Mr.. Ellenwood (;
aud there was just the specious phantom ot
sentiment and romance, in this late union of
early lovers, which sometimes makes fool
of woman, who has lost her true feelings
among the accidents Of life. All the wonder
was, how the gentleman with his lack of
worldly wisdom, and ngonzing conscious
ness OF ridicule, could hnve been induced TO
take measure at once so imprtdent aud so
laughable. But while people talked, the
wedding day arrived. The ceremony was
10 be solemnized according TO the Episcopa-
lian forms, and in open church, with n de-
gree Of publicity thnt attracted many specta-
tors, who occupied the front seats of the ga!-
lerics, and the pews near the altar and along
tie broad aisle. 1t had been arranged, or
possibly il was the custom of the day, that the
parties should proceed separately TO church
by some accident the bridegroom was lit
Ile less punctual than the widow aud her bri-
dal attendants; with whose arrival, niier this
tedious, bnt necessary preihce, the action of
our tale may he said 10 commence.
The clumsy wheels Of several o;d-fashion-
ed coaches were heard, aud the gentlemen
and ladies, composing the bridal party, came
through the church door with the sudden
md glndsoine effect Of hurst of sunshine.
The whole group, except the principal figure,
was made up OF youth and gayeiy. As they
strehmed up the broad aisle, while the pews
and pillars seemed To brighten on either side,
their steps were as buoyanl as it they mis-
rook the church for ballroom, aud were
ready TO dunce baud ia hand to the ALTAR
so brilliant was the spectacle that few took
notice of singular phenomenon that had
marked its entrance. At the moment when
,he brides foot touched the threshold, the
beil swung heavily in the tower above her,
aud sent forth its deepest knell. The yibra-
lions died away and returned with prolonged
ioemnity, as she entered the body of The
church.
Good Heavens! what mn omen l"-wIs-
pered young lady TO her lover.
On my honor" replied the gentleman,
VI DellpVp The hell lna tho ,,on.I ,n,t. - eli