Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-08-09
TILE IOLLlNG RELL.

beautiful Sabbath morning the guest Of a
worthy and intelligent family, in a quiet
country village.
The early breakfast was over; parents
and children had Joined in reading chap
Ter in tie Bible Mr.. Scdgwick, the head
of the family had then offered up a fcycut
prayer, at the conclusion of which we all
arose from our knees whcn our cars
were greeted by the clear deep peals Of
the ringing church bell.
80 late" exclaimed Mrs. Sedgwck,
looking at the clock. "Our dmc.pccc
must be slow
That is not the first bell for church, ,"
replied her husband solemuy. "Thcrc
has been death in the village. The bell
IS going to toll for Martin Lord p
"Such then is his unhappy end !" mus
ed his wife. "Wcn, i, will be wrong TO
mourn his death. If death was ever n
mercilul providence II is so in this case. 80
"Ist person who had been long sick!''
asked.
Instead Of answering my question d.
rectly, Mr.. Sedgwick said
"Ihere is a very melancholy history con.
nccted with that young man. it is now
sometime since the excitement occasioncd
by this strange tragedy died away bot
the toIImg Of the bell this morning must
bring it back lorcibIy to every hcart.-
Perhaps you would be interested TO hear
the story =
expressed NY desire TO listen 10 the
narration; upon which my friend gave
me the details otthe following story. which
relate with only slight dcvi1'ion from
the original.
Marin Lord was once the flower and
hope Of one Of the most respectable lami.
lies in the village.
His amiable disposition and superorin.
rcllect procured for him universal love and
and esteem.
Although of q slight fgurc, and pale lea.
lures, which indicated constitution by no
means robust, Martin was remarked for
/ his uncommon beauty and indeed his Gnc
noble forehead, shaded By locks Of soft
brown hair, his large expressive blue ewes,
straight nose, with dim grccian nos,rijs,
and rather yolgpuous mouth; entitled
him in some measure 10 that consideration.
Martin was a great iavorI'e with the la
dies, old and young; but he never showed
any marked PariIaIlly TO any one, until he
became intimate with Isabella Ashton the
daughter oil our late clergyman, who died
OF grIel about year ago.
No two beings could be more different.
Isabella was the most thoughiIess girl OF
our village. She could have little symPa.
thy win person oI such deep feelings
ana c'e'a'eu Ih'e.ccIaS Moruh ana beau
,,uI as i Sno was II seemed strange '9S' ne
s''ou'' nave gwen MS 'o'e 10 ,er' ! mere
Is no oooo' Du' s,'j was a'"Cned 10 Ut"
perhaps sue Io'e" I'LL" as wen as Sno was
coPoO'c OIL Io'I.S ANY one Cu' IN '0IS H.
S''"Ce' as ID o'"cIS' hPr o"'cuohS were
sGConu"'! 10 HoI Io'c OI sarcasm ana mis-
chieI'
Mo'nn ana I'ooeL'a had o'en Po'n'co
ou' rs ioVGr'' OS village gosSlPS' lor se',
eFaI mon'hsi ne was now pineteen' and
She was ol me S"ln' age "hcli tne 'F1SGuy
occurred, whlch 'he toII'nS OF The bell has
Feco''eu 10 ny memory
1t was an autumn evening, nearly five
years since, that Isabella took advantage
Of the absence OF her father to have a So
clal gathering c young people at their
house. Martin OF course was present with
the iaIrcst youths and maidens; and being
under no restraint from The gravity OF the
clergyman, who was not expected home
I'LL late, the company enjoyed themselves
freely with JcsiS, songs, and social gems,
The hour at which such parties usually
broke up had already passed, and there
was no relaxation in the gaiety oil the
young people, when some one loolishly
mentioned the subject Of ghosts, something
Of that description having been reported as
having been seen in the vicinity Of the
churchyard.
"Il iS a silly report" said Martin. No.