The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-08-27

solemnly through the aisle, entered the
open door of his pew, placed his hat
on the seat in front, set his cane in the
corner, placed his gloves in his hat,
then closed the door of the pew and
sat down, took out his snowy handker-
chief and wiped his brow, placed his
left leg over the right, fixed his eyes
on the pulpit, and never stirred until
the benediction. Others rose at prayer
time, and during singing the deacon
closed his eyes during prayer, and that
was the only psrceptible change in his
demeanor through the entire service.
II was restless little fellow, and
this stern method, and strong repose OF
muscle, made deep impression npon
my young mind. Every Sabbath /
watched that unchanged pantomime,
and wondered why he did not forget
the order Of his movements, and some
times set down his cane before he did
his hat, or cross his legs before he
wiped his face. No such irregularity
ever occurred, and his fixed immobility
was as wonderful to my active mind as
it was painful to nay restless limbs.
"After the deacon was fairly fixed
would spend the next half hour watch
ing the face of the young Clary's, and
tracing the close resemblance between
Augustus and Helen, and their father,
who had long faces and cold blue eyes,
while the others were less sallow, and
round favored like the mother.
"That mother! All through the long
sermon my eyes would turn again and
again to the sweet countenance of Mrs
Clary. Her face was thin and pale
and her gray eyes dropped heavily now
and then as if some heavy sorrow was
pressing her life out; but there was
patience and submission in every linea.
ment of her delicate features. She
never frowned, not even when her
younger children exchanged whispers
or rougish pinches; but grave, loving
glance, upon the offenders would quell
all impropristies Of conduct. ! think
she loved her husband but his cold,
unloving temper and constitutional
hardness and harshness chilled her to
death. She never got up after Grace
came into the world, though nobody
could tell why she dropped.
"She was one of those sweet, loving
creatures who need fond, cherishing
affection to rest upon, to whom love
and fondness are az essential as sun.
shine to rosebuds, and without which
they must fade and die.
"He was man who considered Q
family conducive to distinction and
consequence, and valned his wife az q
part of his establishment, and quite a
necessary companion for the early days
of his sons. If there was anything
that he loved in this establishment il
was his eldest son Augustus, who
promised to become worthy successor
to his worthy parent.
He never seemed to miss his wife
when she died. She had lived as long
as was necessary to the comfort of her
sons and all must die. They said she
seemed glad to die, only she grieved to
leave her babe, little Grace"
was not mistaken. Nathan's voice
had a deeply tender modulation as il
fingered upon the words little Grace y
SO ventured to inquire:
"That was the one / saw tonight ?''
eyes. She is like her mother, poor
Grace; but we will not speak of her."
was disappointed, for young artists
are proverbially given to romance, and
I was not sufficiently an exception to dis
vow my extreme curiosity TO know this
strange romance of my strange friend
Nathan. But / knew his humor we'll,
enough to let him take his own way in
telling me the story, for / very well
knew that to betrsy undue curiosity
would only defeat my own desires upon
the subject, 20 l inquired how the dea
con had amassed such wealth, and
what was the extent of his resources.
"He inherited from his father vast
property, and constitution eminently
adapted to the acquisition OF wealth,
so that at twenty-five he was well able
to build that stone mansion we have
seen. and he married soon after. His
father left him large interest in the
West Indies, in the. sugar trade;
think he was sole proprietor of an ex
tensive platation in Cuba. But the
deacon himself commenced a busines.
here in ship building. / will take yor
down to the shipyard tomorrow it il
not so fourishing as it was a dozer