Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1867-06-21
A New England Lover.

The best portion of the opening chap
ters % lIenry Ward Bcccher'. new novel /.
New England love passage. the proposal
Of Biah Cathcart 20 Rachel Liscomb -
They we're waking silentiy and gravely
home one Sunday afternoon. an Ter the tail
elms that lined The street for haW a nile.
Neither had spoken. There hai been some
litiie parish quarrel. and on that afternoon
the text was: "a new commandment
write unto you. that ye love one another. -
Bot, sfter the sermoa was done. the text
was The best part Of IL. Some one said
that Parson Marsh's sermons we're Ike The
meeting-house- the stecple was the only
+ thing tia; folks could see after they cot
home
They walked slowly. without a word.
Oacc or twice 'Biah cssayed 70 speak. but
was stin silent. lie piuckcd dover from
between the pickcts Of the fence. and un-
eonseiously Pulled Il to pieces. as. with
troubled face. Le glanced Al Rachel. A.
fearins she would catch bis eve. be looked
a. the trees. At the elouis. a. the gas. al
everything. and saw nothing-notllins bat
Rachel. The most solemn hour Of human
experience j. not that of death. bot Of life
Wien the heart Is born again. and from
natural heart becomes a heart Of Love,
What Wonder that il i 4 sileut hour and
prrplcNeI?
Is the soul eonfuseds Why no,. when
he divine sPirii. roIlias clear. aeros. tie
aerial occan. breaks upon the hearts shore
With al The mysiery % heavens l. IL
strangc that uncertain lights dim the eye. II
above the head Of him that truly loves hov.
CT clouds Of sainly spirits? Why shogld
not tie tongue st4m1per and refuse IL. .c-
casiome.l oiicc. when al the worid-skies.
trees. plains. hills. aimospberc. aaI tie
SOLID eaIth-spring forth in new color
with strange meanings. and seen % chant
for the soul tie glory Of that rny siie Law
with which God has bound % himself his
infinite rcaIm-,he laz Of Love, Then. for
the fret time. when one 80 loves that love
: sacrifice. death to self. resurrection and
glory. Is man brought into harmony uish
the whole universe; aad. like him uio bo.
heid the seventh heaven. hears things IN
lauiui TO be uttered.
The great elm trees ghed as the fiful
breeze swept their tops. The soft sha,lous
aiitcd back AMI forth beneath the walkers
feet. iel upon them in light and darE. ran
over thc ground. quivered and shook. until
sober Ca'hcart thought that Lis heart va.
hrowing is shifting network of hope and
fear along sbe ground before Lim.
Hos strangely his voice 90 undcd 20 him
a.. AZ length. all Lis emotions could only
say. o. Rachel low dad you Ike the ser
mons-
Quiet'y she lnswercd-
Il liked ths text
''' a nes commandment l write unto
you. that ye love one another Rachel.
vii you help me keep ity~
At srs; she looked down and lost Iitile
color; thcn. rais.ng her face. sbe turned
upon BIN hor large eyes. with a look both
clear and tender u Wa ss r some pain
fui restraint bal given way. and her eyes
biossomcd into fuil beauty.
Not another ~ori vas spoken. They
Ealtcl h-ne hs0i IN hand. Tt neither
smiled nor cxuitcd. lie saw neitLer thc
trees. nor The long level rays Of sunlight
that were siaoting across ihe fcids. Ills
soul was oscr-shadoved with a cloud A. n
God vas drawing near. lie had never feit
fo solemn This woman's Efe had been
cnfrasicd % him.
Long ycars--thc ~hole length Of life
lie eternal years bcyon o. secmed IN an IN
distinct way 90 ri.e up IN bi. Imagination.
AZ that b. could say as b. iefs her AZ her
door. vas.
Birhel thi. &. forcver-forcvcr.~
She again siid nothing. bot turned 90
h'm vifh a cIrar and open face. IN rbich
joy ani fru.t wrought beauty. Il seemed
90 Dim e. "a ligh' f,I upon bin from her
eyes. There VS. look thst dc-crn,led
ani covered b.m as With an atmosphere
sri All fie ~ay bone o. was a. one Waking
ia a luminous cloud. Ile had never ieif
s.ei rerssnai dignity a. row. o. that
wins s1.h love is crowncl. ard nav call
himself hing llc iii not feel the earth un.
der be ieei. a. b. drcv near his loIrins,.
t.e sun vcnt iovu. Tie ctiil-cn tc-sn
to peer farth. no logger rc.trained Abah
iurnci 90 Be evening chores. 80 animal
thai ni-ht but bad reason O. bless Dim.
Tie ehi.iren iouni BIN unusuaiiy cool and
trnier. Ard Asnt Kerilh saiI o. her sis.
Ger Abiahf tcen roin to ueetia' very
rrgaiariy for some weeks. ard sio-ilnt
wonder. hy ne vsy D. books. if o. htd got
hore trust D. airt dccoivfn' himself