The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-03-01
" FOR EVER AND EVER .
THE VILLAGE ANTHEM.
BY CAROLINE LEE. HESrz.

=" What is that bell ringing for ." aske,
Villcneuve, of the waiter, who was leav
ing the room.
"For church" was the reply.
For church. Oh is il Sundavl
had forgotten it. did no; think ther
was a church in this little village"
"fcs, indeed !" answered the boy, hi
village pride taking the alarm, and .
very handsome ,ne, too. just look ou
OF that window, sir. Do yon see that tai
white steeple, behind those big trees ,hcr.
That is the church, and know there i
not better preacher in the whole " orl,
than pars"n Blanford. lie was ncve
. Pestered for word YET, and lis voc,
makes one feel so warm ami tender a
bout the heart, it does one good to hea
him."
Viileneuve cast n languid glance through
the window, from the sofa on which h,
WAS reclining, thinking that psrson Bland
ford WAS probably some old hum drum
puritanical preacher, whose nasal twana
was considered tnclodious by the vulgar
ears which were accustomed to listen I,
iim. Dun as his present position wa,
he was resolved 10 keep it rather than in
nict apon himself sncli an intoierable bore
The boy who had inounted his hobby. con
tinue'i, regardless oftheunpropitious coun
tenance OF his auditor.
"Then there is Miss Grace Biandf,rL
his dr'y ylm.r. ldsys l-a,,iifnliy an th. or
gan! You never heard such music ia
y"uL life. When she sits behind the re.
curtains, and you cant see anything bu,
the edge If her white skirt below, | can,
help thinking there's an angel hid there
Hld when she comes lown and takes n,
fathers ann To walk out E church, sh.
hooks like an an scl sure enough"
N:lIeneuvc's countcnlncc brighten, |,
Allowing for all the hvp"r'oe ui i.n,.
rance, there were two positive things which
were agreeable in llleinselvcs-muSic ALI,
ay"unS maiden. lie arose from the sofa,
threw aside his dressing gown, called for
his Goa; and hat, and commanded the de,
lighted boy to direct him to the church
the nearest way. His guide proud ol
ushering such iandsome am,I arislocra.
tic looking stranger, conducted him to one
of the most conspicuous seats in the broad
isle, in full view of the pulpit and the or.
chestra, aud Fillencare's first glance ": Z
t'war,ls the curtains. which were drawn
so close not even glimpse Of white was
granted to he bcholdcr. He smiled al
his own curiosity. Very like this sn.eI
Of the village hoy, WAS = great red faced
hard handed, country girl who had been
taught inperfcc,ly To thrum the KEYS OF
an instruncn', and consequently trans.
Eoru'sl by rustic simplicity INTO n being o
superior or'icr, no matter any kind o. cx,
element Was bet,or than tile canui from
Which be had been arr,used. A low
sseet, trembling prelude stole on his ear
surely. thought he, no vulgar finger,
press those keys--,hat is the key note o
true harmony. lie listenc.l, the sound
swelled, deep-ned, and rolled tl,ruugl, IN,
arch ofthc building. and sank ag,in Will
sucl, melting cadence that the tears in.
voluntarily spran. into his eyes. Ashaim.
ed OF his emotions, he leaned his head ON
his band, and yielded unseen to an infiu
ence, which, coming over him so unex.
pectedly, had all the force Of encl,aat,nent
The notes died away, then swelled again
sn solemn accompaniment with the omen.
ing hymn. The hymn closed with tho
melodious vibrations Of the instsuncnt
and for few moments there was mos,
profound silence
"Thc Lord is in his holy temps. lc,
all the earth keep silence bef,ss Him. 2
uttered deep solemn voice.
Viilencuve raised his head aud gased
upon the speaker. He was man rather
past the meridian Of life, but wearing ui.
marred the nohle attribute Of manhood
His brow wss unwriHkle,I his piercing
eye undimmed; aud l,,s tall figure inajes.
tic and unbowed. The sun inclined from
the zenith, bat tie light, tie war nth, the
eplendor remained in all their power, and
the hearts Of the hearers radia,ed that
light anil warmth. till an iutense glow pc.
vaded the assembly, and the opening
words OF the preacher seemed realized
FilIeneuye was sn iufilel; he looked up.
on the rights OF Christianity as theatrical
machinery, necessary perhaps TO carrying
on the great drama Of life, anil when the
springs were well adjusted and oiIcd, and
The palIies worked without confision ,aa
every appearance 81 srt was ke,t success.
fully IN the back ground, l,s was willing
60 s't and listen as he was 10 q fine sctor
when reciiing the i,spassione,l language
81 the stage. The man IL n iinc actor
was his frat sbougiri, he knows bis parI
veil. IL is astsfiiai,ing, however. that ht
y willing 70 Temain IN such limited
sphere--with such an eye and yoics--
such Sowing langusae and graceful sIoea.
r'oa; he might make his fpriunc ~ any
city. II Is incomprel,cnsibI@that he |,
content 10 finger in oLscariiy.' Thus VII