The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1864-08-20
Loaded Dioe.

We travelled in an opsn carriAes stopping for o
rev hotrs o day. or week, ~ u might be, where
yer there was anything 70 te seen and We Rcner-
ally got through one stage before breakfaa, be-
cause u gave our horses rcct, and ourselves Me
chsnce Of enjoying the brown brcsd- new milk
nhd tresh egg: Of those country rosd,sidc inns
which are fast becoming subjects for archaeological
investigation.
One evening my friend said. Tomorrow We
WI breakfast a. T. I want 70 inquire soou,
family named Lowell, who used 70 live there. |
met the husband and wife, and two lovely chill |
dren' one summer a Exmouth. We became very /
,ntims'e, and thought them particularly interest,"
ING people, but have never scen them since"
The next mornings sun shone A. brightly a.
heart could destrc, and ater . delightful drive |
we rcachcd the outakirts u the town about nine
O'Clock"
'oh. wba, . pretty Inn 4" said l. - We sp-
preached a small white house, with sign swing |
ing In front Of II, and Tower garden on one side
stop john cried my friend. 1--WE shall get
| much cleaner breakfast here than In the town. I
dare say and II there Is anything 70 be seen there
we can walk 70 Il" 30 we alghted, and were
shown into neat little parlor, with white curtains
placed before us
pray do you happen W know anything Of |
family nsmci LOVELY" inquired my friend, whose
name, by the way, was Markham. "Mr. Lowell
was clergyman"
Eyes, Man" answered the girl who attended
us apparently the landlords daughter. 'xr. Low
ell IS the vicar Of our parish"
Indeed y and does he live here 7"
YES, Main, be lives at the vicaraee. It's just
down thsi lane opposite, about quarter OF mile
rom here or you can go acroes the hclds II you
here" '" "'''' you sec 'A'' tower no ''''' W
And which is the plcasAnsess road ." inquired
Mrs. Markham.
"wcll, Ms'm, I think by the nelds Ia the pleas
attest, II you don't mind . stile or two and, be-
sidee, you get the best view Of the Abbey by going
that way"
~. Iha, tower we sec r.r, Of the Abbey ,"
Yes NAM" answered the girl ''and the vicar
Ia the other side Of ID,
Armed with these Instructions a. soon a. We
bad finished breakfast We started across the
| We found ourselves in AN old churchyard, amongst
cluster OF the most picturesque ruins we bad
ever seen. With the exception Of the gray tower,
we had espied from, the inn and which had doubt
less been the belfrey, the remains were not consd
cradle. There was the outer wall Of tho chance,
and the broken step that had led 10 the high altar
aud there were sections Of aisles and part Of
cloistcr. all gracefully festooned with moses and
| ivy: whilst mingled with the grssr-gro>rn graves
Of the prossic dead, there were the massive tonbs
| Of the Dame Margcrys and the Sir Hid sbrands Of
| bu, such poetic ruin such picturesque decay
And Just bcyond the tall gray tower, thore
| the loveest. smiling little garden and the pref
test cottages ths. imagination could picture. The
| day yrs bright the grass 90 grecn the flowers so
! gay, the air No balmy with their sweet perfumes
the birds sang 80 checrily in the apple and cherry
trees that oil nature seemed rejoicing.
| SWELL" said my friend. as she seated herself on
| the fragment OF pillar, and looked around her
" now thu, SEC this place understand what sort
| Of people the Loveils were"
"What sort OF people we're they 2" said !.
"why, a. said before, interesting people. In
the first place, they were both extremely hand
| some"
- hut the locality had nothing TO do with their
good looks presume" said I.
81 am not sure Of that" she answered " when
therc IL the least foundation Of taste intellect "
set out With. the beauty Of external mature, and
| the picturesque accidents that harmonine with II
| do am persuaded, by their gentle and elevatiny
| influence on the mind, make the handsome hand
somcr, and the ugly ies ugly. Dut u was not
| me, but their air Of refinement and high breeding
| and I should say high birth--though I know
nothing about thor cxtrsction-conbined with
their undisguiscd poverty and as evident content
mcnt. Now. can understand such people finding
here appropriate home, and being satisned with
their small share Of tho worlds goods because
Cottage nigh. Be somewhat realized +; poverty
| might lie graceful and poetical here and then.
you know, they have no rent 70 pay"
Every true" said but suppose they had
sixteen daughters like hali-pay officer once
| met on board stesm-pEHt ~
THAT would spoil 10 certainly" said Mrs.
Markham :" but let US hope they have not.
| boy and girl, called Charles and Emily two Of
| the prcttiost creatures ever bcheld !"
As my friend tbougtt 1t yet rather early for .
visit, We had remained chsttering in this way for
| more than an hour som ctimcs seated q tomb
| stone, or Q fallen column sometimes pecring
amongst the carved fragments that were scattered
about the ground. and sometimes looking over the
hedge into the little garden, the wicket OF which
was Immediately behind the tower. The weather
being warm. most Of the windows Of the vicarage
! were open and the blinds we're sll down; had
| not yet seen soul stirring, and were wondering
| whether we might venture " present ourselves st
| the door, when strain NJ distant music struck
upon our ears. "Hark :" said, show exquisite
| II was the only thing wsi,tng to complete the
charm"
.'It's military band. I think" said Mrs. Mark
| ham, 'you know we passed some barracks before
| we reached the Inn"
Nearer and nearer drew the sound, solemn and
slow; the band WAS evidently approaching by the
green lane that skirted the fields bad come BY.
| ''lIush," said l. laying my hand on my friends
| are playing the Dead March in Saul Don't you
hear the mufled drumsf It's funeral, but where's
the yrsvc'
"rnere," said she, pointing TO q spot chose under
the hodgc where s,me earth had been thrown up:
but the aperture covered with plank, probably
| 10 prevent accidents.
There are few ceremonies in life u once 30
| touching, 80 impressive, sad and yet so bsaut-
ful, u soldiers funeral Ordinary funerals with
their unyioldy hearses and feathers aud the abb
sird looking Ilu,es, and the "inky cloaks" and
q mockcry Of the dead: the sppt intments border
keeping with the true the only view Of death that
eau render life endurabet There 10 such tone
Of exaggerated, forced, hasvy, over acted gravity
about the whole thing, that one had need TO have
q deep personal interest involved In the srene, 10
be able 10 shut ones eye TO the buTesque side Of
| II. But . military funeral. how different! There
| you death in life and life in DEATH There il