The Portland daily press., 1865-08-05
Saturday Morning, August 5, 1865.
tFrom Once a week.l
THE CATHEDRAL LIBRARY.

1t is now between forty and fifty years ago
that l obtained leave from the Dean and Chap
ter Of WATERBURY Cathedral to read for some
weeks in their cathedral library. The editions
Of the Fathers and some Middle-Age writers
which are preserved in that quiet library boast
of peculiar excellence, and l well remember
the exulta1ion with which | then a very young
man, received news of the desired permission
to ransack those treasures. Having secured a
small Lodging in the Close, or Cathedral en-
closure, l SET out for WATERBURY early in the
year 1872. Through the kindness of one O.
the canons' who seldom had to consult the
library on his own account, / was provided
with key TO the library buildings, and allow
ed to keep undisturbed possession of it as lone
as my visit lasted. This key gave access moi
only to the library, but to all parts of the Ca
thedral likewise, including even the cloisters.
so that | was able to let myself in and out OF
the noble ediice at all hours of the day or
night, and to ramble unchallenged through
aisle, crypt, stalls, triforum, and organ-loft
have never forgotten, and shall never for
get, the day on which first took nv seat in
the room which was to be the special scene oi
my labors The library lay on the south side
OF the cathedral, being lower continuation OF
the south transept and forming one side of the
cloister court. 1t was obviously, therefore,
raised above the height of the cloister-vault-
ing, and it was reached by fight of stairs OBJ
ening into the cathedral itself. l ~
One April evening, shortly after sunset.
when there SUI daS ENOUGH to read
the titles on the back of the books, walked
across the Close in order to fetch and bring
away with me a couple of volumes Of which
stood in need. 1t was an hour when the
grand old cathedral is accustomed to put on
its very best appearance. The heaven-kissing
spire and the far lower, but beautiful, western
towers are tinted with the faint rose-cOloi
which suits old stonework so admirably; and
the deep gloom of the cloisters, tempered by
the glow from the noble piles of masonry over
head, makes it possible and easy to realize
some of the rapturous visions of the re-
cluse. passed as usual down the nave, and
having assembled the little staircase, let myself
into the library, and was on the point of at
lacking the necessary bookshelf, when instead
of placing the key in my pocket, as it was my
habit to do, tossed it carelessly on to the sill
of an adjoining window. The woodwork Of
the library was by no means in sound condi-
ton, and between the inner edge of the sill
and the wall there was wide chink, opening
down into unseen depths of distance. Into
this chink, impelled by my evil genius, or by
one of the ghostly beings that las l was assur
ed by the varger) haunt the library and clois-
tiers, down tumbled my unlucky key. saw il
disappear with a sharp twinge of vexation
principally, however, at the thought of the
time that would be consumed in bringing it t6
light again. Tomorrow, said to myself,
shall be forced to get a carpenter to remove
this sill, and rake up the key from heaven
knows where; while Sinking Mr.. Screens, the
verger, will watch the whole proceeding, and
insinuate with silent suavity doubt whether
/ am a fit person to be entrusted with Canon
Doolittle's key 1t was not until had come
down from the short ladder with the books un-
der my arm, and, warned by the Ideepins
shades, was about to leave the library, that III
full effect of the keys disappearance present
ed itselfto my mind. The outer gate and inner
door of the nave had been carefully shut by
me, according to custom, on entering the ca
thedral All the gates and doors were fitted
with springlock, so that without my key
was double-locked into the building. My first
thought was one of amusement, and / fairly
laughed aloud at my own perplexity. Ii
seemed an impossible and uncomfortable thing
that one might really have to pass the entire
night in this situation. Presently i left the
library, the door of which had not shut on
entering, and went down the staircase into the
transept, and then into the nave. | carefully
tried the inner door, but without effect l had
done my duty on entering, and it was hopeless
" and mercilessly fastened against me. Re
solved on maintaining unbroken self-posses-
sion, returned to the library. 1t was now
quite dark, the only light being that reflected
from the shafts of the cloisters, on which the
moonbeams were now beginning to fall. l sat
down in a large armchair which stood at one
end of the library table, and thought over ali
the possible means of extricating myself from
an unexpected durance.
Should go up to the belfry in the north
western tower and toll one of the bells until
the verger, reused from his first sleep, should
come to see what was the matter? but even
this I could not do without kew, which
would be required to open the door at the en-
trance of the tower Or should / make my
way into the organ-oft and filing the bellows
quite full strike a succession OF loud chords
until the music might attract the attention o.
some passer-by? this might be done but il
would be dangerous experiment. Half Win
terbury would be seized with the belief thai
their old cathedral was haunted The organ
loft would be invaded by vergers, beadles, ant
constables, there were no blue-coated police II
those days,-and l should move about tht
ancient city ever after with the stigma OF {
madcap on my head. People would nod
knowingly to one another as | passed, and
significantly tap their foreheads, by way OF hit
ting that / was "a little touched" Canon
Doolittle would recall his key, and abstain
from inviting me to his hospitable table,
Gradually, therefore, gave up the scheme O
saving myself by means of the organ; and the
belfiy being already set aside, no other re
source remained but to stay where was, and
quietly to pass the hours as best could unit
Mr. Screens should open the doors at about
half-paSt SIX in the morning, ready for the sew
en- o'clock prayers in the Lady Chapel.
was luckily undisturbed by any fears arts
ing from the possible anxiety of my landlady
WATERBURY is near the sea; and / had on
more than one occasion spent the greater part
of the night on the cliffs, watching the glorious
moonlit effects upon the romantic coast scena.
ry Of that district These, Mrs Jollisole was
and l made no doubt that should fail to an
pear, the sensible old lady would go contented.
ly to bed, supposing me to have mounted guard
on the cliffs.
therefore lost no time in composing myself
II not to sleep, at any rate to an attempt Al
steep. The library table was always surround
ed Dy an array of solemn old oak chairs, padd
eo with cushions Of yellowish leather. Throw
ing myself into one Of these dignifed recepta
cles, soon feel asleep, and soon afterwards
took to dreaming.
On sudden | awoke. There, in one of the
al-cna'Is, was sltting-in an easy, familiar
Rosture, a. l nad been myself dean-anG
tnere peslde me, close at hand, within reach d
clearly female form, and the precaution bs1
been taken of drawing an ample veil CLOSELY .
round the head and face. Anv one INT :, II, !.
becle would have acted as did, tbou0h 7 70
member taking some credit to mvself 81 ~,
time for my GOODNESS and presence Of mind w.,
simply sat still and stared and bv DEGREES
observed, conned. Years before. in nv how
hood, had walked a good deal on the stro tC5
and had known what it was in North nauo,
to wake up, upon the middle of the nioht . +
cool harH al df,,f. g 1.