Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-09-14
afllisttual1tous,
THE TOLLING BELL.

L ) i IL IL a IL NJ ~ ~ u ~ % A'
Not many months ago, in one Of my sum
mer rambles, l found myself, on q beautiful
Sabbath morning, the guest Of worthy and
intelligent family in quiet couatry village.
The carly breakfast was over; parents and
children had Joined in reading chapter in
the Bible: Mr.. Sedgwick, the head of the
family. had then offered up fervent prayer,
ut the conclusion of which We all arose from
our knees, when our ears were greeted by the
clear, deep peals of the ringing church bell.
$50 late" exclaimed Mrs. Sed gwick, look
ing at the CLOCK. "Our time piece must be
slow
THAT is not the first bell ior church, re-
piled her husband, solemnly. There has
been death in the village. The bel! is going
to llforzafartin Lord
s'Such, then, is the unhappy eno: muSeu
his wife. "Wcll it will be wrong to mourn
his death. If death was ever a mcrctu! provi'
dence it is so in this case" o..
SIS it person who has been long sick Z!
I asked.
misleading Of answering my question direct
", Mr. Sedgewick said:
"Therc isa very melancholy history conTcc
ted with that Young man. 1t is now some since
the excitement occasioacd by this s:rahg'
tragedy died away; but the tolling OF th'. l"''
this morning must bring it back foreihllcc hlcrI
every heart. Perhaps you w%en'''
much interested to hear + to listen to the mar.
expressed Sc Which my friend gave me the
aaaiis Eatayis of the following story, which relate
With onl- slight variation from the ORIGINAL
Marlin Lord was once the flower and hop"
&c one Of the most respectable families III the
v;,lape. His amiable disposition and superior
intellect procured 8r him universal lcrc and
esteem:
.,-oe wh;cL indicated constitution by no
a.osn, ro,Ast, Martin was remarkable for his
,,ncon,n,n beauty and, indeed. his fine. no.
bia fo,.leal, shaded by locks Of soft brown
Is;r G al ais large expressive blue eyes. straight
noe, with the Grecian nostrils, and rather
niuptuous mouth, entitled him IN Some meas
.,re to that consideration.
"Martin was great tavorite with the laules,
old and young; but he 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
i year ago. ,.n
"No two beings could be more different.
isabella was the most young and tloughtiess
or, in the village. She could have little
sympathy with person of such deep feeling
and intellect as Martin; and beautiful as she
was, it seemed strange that he should have
riyen his love to her. There is no doubt but
She was attached to him perhaps she loved
him as well US she was capable OF loving any
one but il this instance. as in all othcfS, her
affections were secondary to Ler love Of sar.
casm aud mischief
Martin aud Isabella had been pointed out
as lovers by the village gossirs, for several
months; he was nineteen, and she was OF the
same age when the tragedy occurred, which
the tolling Of the bell has recalled TO my
memory.
IL VS. on m autumn evening, nearly ilTe
wears since, that Isabella took advantage Of
The absence of her t;,ther, 10 have spciai
gathering of young people at thclr house
Martin, Of cours. was present, with The fairesi
Youths and maitlcns; and being under no re,
st.a;nt from the gravity OF the clergyman
who was not expected home ill late, the com
panv enjoyed themselves freely with JEST
songs, and social games.
The hour at which such parties usually
broke up had already passed, and there was
no relaxation in the gaity Of the young people
when some one fooiishly mentioned the sub
iec. of ghosts, something Of that description
having h.cn rep,rtcd as having been seen in
the vicinity of he church yard.
"lt 10 d SHY rcnurt, said Martin. " No
body can believe that ghost has really been
: seen there; and doubt # u person here be-
!;eves at all in the existence of ghosts
':Iou do yourseI-you know you do. Mar.
lin. although you are ashamed to own it, :
cried Isabella. But Martin only laughed.
"Colne now" continued the though,less
girl, II can prove that you have some idea
that such things nay exist. Go to the church.
yard alone in the dark. and then declare, If
you can, that you have felt 10 iear?
And what would that prorc?"
"Why, you would be frightened, though
YOU should see nothing. Your fears woaid
put your belief to the test.
g How could you be afraid if you did not feel
that there was something to be afraid OFF,
q do not. think your logic is very good,'
replied Martin, laughing. Men are often
troubled with fear, when their reasons tells
them there is no cause to fear. But deny
in the first place that journey to the church
yard, even at midnight, would frighten me i'll
the lcast!'
aHow braveiy you can talk y said Isabella,
i1dulging in her customary tone of sarcasm.
But nobody here believes i'll don't Mt any