The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-08-03
The TOlling Bell.

The TOlling Bell.
Not many months ago, in one of my
summer rambles. I found myself on
beautiful Sabbath morning the guest Of
worthy and intelligent family, in a quiet
country village.
The early breakfast was over; parents
and children had joined in reading chap
ter in the Bible; Mr.. Sedgwick, the head
of the family, had then offered up a fer
vent prayer, at the conclusion of which we
all arose from our knees; when our ears
we're greeted by the clear deep pearls of
the ringing church belk
$50 late!' exclaimed Mrs. Sedgwici,
looking at the clock. "Our time peace
must be slow" a.
"That is not the first bell for church"
replied her husband solemnly. There
has been death in the village. The bel
is going to toll for Martin Lord !''
"Such then is his unhappy endp'-
unused his wife, "Well, it will be wrong
to mourn his death. If death was ever
merciful providence, it is so in this case"
"Is "a person who has been long sick?"
I asked. .
Instead Of answering my question di
rsctly, Mr.. Sedgwick said,-
There is a. very melancholy history
connected with that young man. tits now
sometime since the excitement occasioned
by this strange tragedy died away; but
the tolling of the bell this morning must
bring it back forcibly to every heart. Per
haps you would be interested to hear the
story?"
expressed my desire to listen to the
narration; upon which my friend gave me
the details Of the following story, which /
relate with only slight deviation from
the original
Martin Lord was once the flower and
the hope of one of the most respected
families in the village. His amiable dis
position and superior intellect procured fol
him universe love and esteem.
90 Although of a slight figure, and pale
features, which indicated constitution by
NO means robust, Martin was remarked
for his uncomon beauty; and indeed his
fine noble forehead. shaded by locks Of
soft brown hair, his large expressive blue
eyes. straight nose, with thin Greciar
nostrils, and rather volumptus mouth, en-.
titled him in some measure to that consid-
Grafton.
Martin was great favorite with the la
dies, old and young; but be never showed
any marked partiality to any one, unit
he became intimate with Isabella Ashton
the daughter of our late clergyman, who
died of grief about year ago.
No two beings could be more different
Isabella was the most thoughtless girl il
our village. She could have little sym
pythy with person of such deep feeling
and elevated intellect as Martin; an,
beautiful as she was, sit seemed strange tina
he should have given his love to her
There is no doubt but she was attached t
him; perhaps she loved him as we'll as sh
was capable of loving any one: but i
this instance, as in all others, her affec
4ions were secondary to her love of sal
casm and mischief.
Martin and Isabella had been pointe
out as lovers. by village gossips, for Sc,
eral months; he was now nineteen, an
she was of the same age, when the trag'
dy occurred, which the tolling of the be
has recalled to my memory.
twas on an Autumn evening, nearl
five years since, that isabella took ac
vantage of the absence of her father
have social gathering of young pcopl
at their house. Martin of course We
present with the fairest youths and mait
ems; and being under no restraint from IL
gravity Of the clergyman, who was n,
expected home till late, the company Ell
Joyed themselves freely with jests, song
and social games.
The hour at which such parties usual
broke up had already passed, and thel
was no relaxation in the gaiety of tt
young people, when some one foolishl
mentioned the subject of ghosts, som,
thing of that description having been r,
ported as having been seen in the vicinit
Of the churchyard.