Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-04-07
THE sExToN,s HERO.

THE SGATON'6 hEhOs
By COTTON NATHER MILLS,
The afternoon sun shed down his glorious
rays on the grassy churchyard, making the
shadow cast by the old yew-tree under which
we sat, seem deeper and deeper by contrast.
The everlasting hum of myriads of summer in
sects made luxurious lullaby.
ofthe view that lay beneath our gaze cam
not speak adequately. The foreground was
the grey-stone wall of ssthe vicarage-garden !;
rich in the coloring made by innumerable lich-
ems, ferns, ivy of the most tender green, and
most delicate tracery, and the vivid scarlet of
the crane's-bill, which found home in every
nook and crevce--and at the summit of that
old wall haunted some unpruned tendrils OF
the vine, and long ilower-laden branches ofthe
climbing rose-tree, trained against the inner
side. Beyond, lay meadow-green and noun
tain-grey and the blue dazzle of Morecombe
Bay, as 1t sparkled between us and the more
distant view.
For awhile we were silent, living in sight,
and murmuring sound. Then Jeremy took up
our conversation where, suddenly feeling wear
ness as we saw that deep green shadowy
resting-place, we had ceased speaking, quar-
ter of an hour before.
1t is one of the luxuries of holiday-time that
thoughts are not rudely shaken from busy out
ward violence of hurry and busy impatence,
leisure of our days. The stock may be bad,
but the fruit is ripe
"lIow would you then define hero2' |
asked. There was a long pause, and had
almost forgotten my question in watching II
cloud-shadow floating over the far-awny hills
when Jeremy made answer
"My idea of hero is one who acts up to the
highest idea Of duty he has been able to form,
no matter at what sacrifice. think that BY
InE, 4 III. Al.
character, even to the heroes of old, whose sole
(and to us, lowl idea of duty consisted in per-
sonal prowess.'
"Then you would even admit the military
heroes r" asked /.
~ would; with a certain kind of pity for the
circumstances which had given them no higher
ideas of duty. Still, if they sacrificed self to
do what they sincerely believed to be right,
do not think | could deny them the title of
hero.n
"a poor, unchristian heroism, whose mani
festation consists in injury to others!" ! said.
We were both startled by third voice:
"If might make SO bold, sir,"-and then
the speaker stopped,
II was the sexton, whom, when we first ar
rived, we had noticed, as an accessory to the
scene, but whom we had forgotten as much as
though he were as nanimate as one of the
moss-covered head-stones.
"If might be so bold" said he again,
awaiting leave to speak. Jeremy bowed in
Difference to his white, uncovered head. And
so encouraged, he went on.
"What that gentleman (alluding to my last
specify 'has just now said, brings to my mind
one who is dead and gone this many year
ago. may be have not rightly understood
your meaning, gentlemen, but as far as could
gather it, | think you'd both have given in to
thinking poor Gilbert Dawson hero. At any
rate said he, heaving long euivering sigh,
~ have reason to think him So"
"Will you take seat, sir, and tell us about
him?" said Jeremy, standing up until the old
f man was seated confess felt impatient at
the interruption.
at will be forty-ive year come Martinmas,
said the sexton, sitting down on n grassy
mound at our feet "sincc had finished my
premiership, and settled down at Lindal. You
can see Lindal, sir, at evenings and mornings
across the bay; a little TO the right of Grange
= at least, used TO see ii many time and oft
afore my sight grew so dark and have spent
many quarter of an hour n gazing at il far
away, and thinking of the days lived there.
till the tears came so thick to my eyes, could
gaze no longer. | shall never look upon il
again, either far off or near, but you may sec
It. both ways, and terrible bonny spot II is
in my young days, when | went to settle there
= it was full Of as wild n set of young fellows as
: ever were clapped eyes ON all for fighting
s poaching, quarrelling, and such like work.
/ was startled myself when first found what q
!, set were among, but soon began TO fall into
their ways, and ended by being as rough q
:. chap as any on 'em. I'd been there matter
G of two years, and were reckoned by most th'
cock Of the village, when Gilbert Dawson, as
/. was speaking OF, came to Lindal. He wer'
u about as strapping chap as l was, Il used tt
n be six feet high, though now I'm SO shrunl
! and doubled up) and as We were like in th
same trade, (both used to prepare osiers ant
wood for the Liverpool coopers who get
: great deal of stuff from the copses round tn
d bay, sir,) we were thrown together, and tool
IS nightly to each other. | put my best leg fore
;. most to be equal with Gilbert, for I'd ha'
some schooling, though since I'd been at Lin
dal I'd lost n good part of what learnt AM
g kept my rough ways out Of sight for time,
r, felt so ashamed of his getting to know them
e But that did not last long began to thin
i, he fancied girl dearly loved but whc ha
. always held off from me. Eh but she was
: pretty one in those days There's none lik
N her now. l think see her going along tn
% road with her dancing tread and shaking bac
sd her long yellow curls to give me, or any othe
"a | Young fellow, q saucy word no wonder ill
bert was taken with her, tor all he was grave
le and she so merry and light. But began t
ct think she liked him again and then my bloc
9. was all afre. ] got to hate him for everythin
Fl he did. Afore-time had stood by, admirin
: to see him, how he eapt, and what quote
III and cricketer he was. And now ground m
u, teeth with hatred whene'er he did thin
is which caught Lettys eye. could read it ]
= her eye that she liked him, for all she hel
: herself just as high with him as with all th
i rest. Lord God forgive me how hated ths
= man
a He spoke as if the hatred were a thing {
i, Yesterday, SO clear within his memory wel
." shown the actions and feelings of his you'll
% And then he dropped his voice, and said;
at "Well began to look out to pick quarrt
is with him for my blood was up to fight hin
m If beat him, land were a rare boxer in thos
4 days,) thought Lefty would be cool TOWARD
3D. him. So one evening at quoits, I'm sure
;e don't know how or why, but large dongs gro
re- out of small words,) fell out with him, an
n challenged him to fight, could see he wei
very wroth by his color coming and going
and as said before, he were fine active your
st, fellow, But all at once he drew in, and sa