The Sierra citizen., 1854-02-11
Ihe AUio . us Son.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

BY WASHINGTON IRVING.
DURING my residence in the country, | used
frequently to attend at the old village
church, which stood in country filled with
ancient families, and contained within its
cold and silent aisles the cOngregatcd dust
of many noble generations. Its shadowy
aisles, its mouldering monuments, its dark
oaken panneling, all reverend with the
gloom of departed years, seemed to tit 1T
for the haunt of solemn meditation. A
Sunday, too, in the country, is so holy in its
repose; such pensive quiet relgns over the
face of nature that every restless passion is
charmed down. and we feel all the natural
religion of the soul gently springing up with
us
s.Sweet day-so pure, so calm so bright,
The bridal of the earth and sky"
do not pretend to be what is called a
devout man; but there are feelings that visit
me in a country church, amid the beautiful
serenity of nature, which l experience no
where else; and ifnot a more religious,
think am a better man on Sunday than on
any other day of the seven,
But in this church felt myself continually
Fhrown back upon the world by the frigidity
and pomp of the poor worms around me-
The only being that seemed thoroughly to
feel the humble and PROSTATE piety OF true
Christian was poor decrepit old woman,
bending under the weight OF years and in
frmities. She bore the traces OF sOmthing
better than abiect poverty. The lingerings
of decent pride were visible in her appear
.ance. Her dress, though humble in the
extreme. was scrupulously clean. Some
trivial respect, too, had been awarded her
for she did not take her seat among the
village poor but sat alone on the steps OF
the altar. She seemed tie have survived
all love, all friendship, all society; and to
have nothing left her but the hopes of Hea-
ven. When saw her fecbly rising and bend
ing her aged form in prayer, habitually
coming her prayer book, which her
nalsied hand and falling eyes would not per-
init her to read, but which she evidently
knew by heart-I felt persuaded that the
faltefing voice of that poor woman arose to
heaven far above the responses of the clerk,
the swell of the organ, or chanting of the
choir.
I am fond of lettering about country
churches. and this was so delightfully situa-
ted that it frequently attracted me Istood
on knoll. around which a stream made a
beautiful bend. and then Meund its way
throu oh lengreach of seft meadow scenery.
The church was surrounded by yew trees
which seemed almost eeeval with itself. Its
tall Gothic spire shot up lightly from among
them, with rocks and crows generally wheel
ing about it. was seated there one still,
sunny morning watching two labOrers who
Uere digging a grave. They had chosen one
of the most remote and neglected corners of
tho cburcb-yard: where, from the number OF
nameless Graves around, it would appear that
the INDECENT and friendless were huddled
into the earth | was told that the new
made grave was for the only son OF poor
widow
While I was meditating on the distinc-
tions of worldly rank. which extend thus
down into the very dust, the toll of the bell
announced the approach of the funeral
They were the obsequies of povetry, with
which pride had nothing to do. A coffin of
the plainest materials, withoutpall or other
covering. was borne by some of the villagers.
The sexton walked before with an air of
cool indifference. There were no mock
amourners in the trappings of affected woe.
but there was one real mourner who feebly
tottered after the corpse, 1t was the aged
mother of the deceased-the poor old wo-
man whom had seen seated on the steps
of the altar. She was supported by an
humble friend, who was endeavoring to
comfort her. A few of the neighboring poor
had ioined the train, and some of the chill
dren of the village were running hand in hand
now shouting with unthinking mirth, and
now pausing to gaze, with childish curiosity
on the grief of the mourner.
AS the funeral train approached the
Grave, the parson issued from the church
norch arrayed in a surplice, with prayer
book in hand, and attended by the clerk
The service, however, was mere act OF
charity. The deceased had been destitute