Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-07-16
NO. XXXIV.

ing back, found my friend at the piano, and
young girl singing at his side. With great po-
liteness, he suspended the performance to inform
me thatthe sexton had not been there, to show
me way by which could ascend lntothe body
of the church. After losing my way in the dark,
and being set right by my guide, who, though
he seemed to walk with difficulty, fastened to
my rescue, found myself in contact with
massive door, which | in vain essayed to open,
and, on trying to retrace my steps, was equally
unable to find the steps by which had ascend
ed. After cropping few moments among bot
ties and oil-cans, | succeeded IN making my way
down, and fearful Of provoking my new friend
to any further acts of humiliating courtesy, |
hurried through his room, simply saying that l
had not found my lost umbrella. | now dos
paired, and formally resolved to make no other
effort; but, while sitting in the Court of Com
mon Pleas, the thought of my lost umbrella O.
yerpowered me, and almost involuntarily re-
traced my steps to the church, but found the
door of my friends office closed, with apaper on
it stating that the office-hours were from nine
to three. 1t was now past four, and was turn
ing away in despair, wnen | espied key in the
key-hole, and, without pausing to consider the
consequences, turned it in the lock, and opening
the door, to my astonishment beheld my good
genius, silently seated at his piano, as if await
ing my appearance. Without giving me timet to
explain my intrusion on his privacy, he hasten-
ed to tell me that the sexton had not yet ap-
peared and then to offer me massive key, 10y
which, if could turn it, one of the chamber
doors might be opened. Armed with this weap-
on, ascended the church steps, opened the door
with unexpected ease, hurried to Replace where
l had left my treasure-it was gone! Instead
of seeking to describe my feelings at the fearful
moment, will merely add, that as went out,
seeing large closet open near the front door,
peeped in, and there was my umbrella, standing
in the corner l could almost say with Mac
beth, SIS this dagger that see before ineg"
so spectral did its iron stock andhorn handle APP
pear to me ut first sight. But soon convinced
myself of its reality by graspng it and bearing
it away in triumph. On returning the Key anu
my Acknowledgements for such unwearied kind
ness. assured my benefactOr that if the UNI
brella served no other purpose it would serve
to remind Inc of his most obliging conduct
confessed my inability to account for my ankle
ty about so worthless an object, to which ne hap
PLY replied "After, ,allyou know,it is an umbrel-
la" In answer to my apologies for interrupt
ing him so pertinaciously, he apologised in turn
for not accompanying me in my subterraneous
explorations, rs he happened to be specially en-
gagged! parted from this worthy gentleman
by telling him my similar adventure at st.
Pauls, with which you are already acquainted,
and carried off my long-lost but recovered treas
urc in sort of triumph. AS it is now so COM
mon to send Southern young ladies to the North,
and even to New England for Instruction. hope
that, if any of my friends from the Valley go to
Boston for that purpose, and should want
teacher who is not only musician but gem
tleman, they will make some inquiries as to the
one who treated me SO kindly, and whose ad-
dress enclose for private information.
Besides my opportunities of seeing the Bosto-
mans in three churches and in Faneuil Hall. l
attended a promenade concert in the Common,
where some thousands must have been collected,
and also witnessed review in the same place,
where the attendance was at least as great