The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1870-10-20
The TolIing Bell.

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It Is a custom in many villages il
New England to toll the bell at th,
death of any person in the village
and to indicate the age and sea by
the number of strokes. We have
fately seen so dramatic a description
of this custom as in the following eZ-
tract from Shining Hours :"
An hc.:r later, the bell tolled-slow
deep strokes at first, dying out in
throbbing waves of sound then quick
er strokesl with pauses after each ten
eight pauses; then four strokes
more-another pause-a single stroke
silence.
"Eighty-four, and maIe,' said
Farmer Brown, as be finished count
ing the strokes of the bell, and slowly
let down the pasture ''eig6ty.
four and a male. Old Dr.. Morse, no
doubt about that--bess, boss, boo IS,
co, boss Co, boss, CO, bo-o-O IS -
Good old man he was, n a Christiany
too. Sot that are heifer's leg, n took
jes' as good care on her as eff she'd
been a woman. l tell you," continu-
ed the farmer, looking the brindle COW
square in the face, as she stepped over
the bars. "theh It's good to critters
has got religion, II my plniOn."
"Bighty-tOur, and a male" said old
Widow Bailey, as she stood listening
in her cottage door. "He's gone,
then, dear old saint. Who'll look
after poor folks now when they're
sick, and tend to 'em night and day
for nothin', and talk to 'em 90 com
fortin', too, and pray as beautiful as
a minister2 We never shin hev no
sich doctor round here ag'n. But the
Lords will be done He'll find
widders and orphans enough in
heaven that'll be glad to see him
DR.. Morse will, that's clear; and 1
kind o. guess the Lord'll pay the's
bills, accordin' to what / read in the
Scriptur'." ''Eigtty. four and a male.
tt is be then sighed Mrs. Deacon
Wells, wipibg her eyes. "Heis home
at last, and at rest-a blessed change
to him, and one long prayed for. But
to Edith-this second orphGnage will
be worse than the first, What will
she do2 I must go over and try to
comfort the poor little heart"
"Eighty-four, and a maIe," said Mr..
Alden, the schOUlmaster. "That must
be Willie's grandfather. A sad loss
to such a boy, breaking up his home
When.he needs it most, and destroying
the last tie which represented the pa
rental relation. 1t has been hinted
to me that such an event would
change the prospects of my pupil. I
hope it may turn his thoughts to his
prospects for better life. He seems
to possess every good gift but that Of
which his grandfather had an abund-
ant measure-true godliness."
"Eighty-four, and a male, is it ?"
said Biddy O'Flinn. God rest his
soul, an forgive me for prayin' for
hereto. But sure an the's not a
saint in heaven could iver tells the
the likes O. him from a Catholic"
"Eighty fdur. and a male" said
Lawyer Webb to his partner, as he
drew in his head from his Office win
dow, where he had been leaning, With
his pen in his mouth. "That will was
not made an hour too soon. told
him so. we must attend to these
things at the proper time, said |, 'and
in the eyes of the law that time is an
early one. The law regards eighty
as a very uncertain figure, sir--a very
uncertain figure you will see that
have dealt largely in uncertain fig
ures,' be replied, tumbling out his
books of account. And so l found
Such set of books Thousands Of
dollars be might have collected as
we'll as not, but just let go out of good
nature. But be would not hear IL
word about my trying to get it. poor
SOULS said he, l won't physic them
and sue them, too "
"Eighty-fOur, and a male," said
young DR.. Wylie, refining in his horse
at the foot of Avelon Hill. 81 knew
he was most gone the last time l saw
him. Too bad Great loss to . the
profession. Fine Judgment. Well
read. Immense experience. Such
character, too such eKperiBnee.-
Makes me feel like heather, the way
these people talk about his goodness
1 must think of that, no mistake.-
What if the old mans mantle should
fall on my wicked shoulders. Come,
Kate, that bell tells US we have holy
work to dol"
The life and death Of the good man
formed the subject of conversation in
scores of homes that evening.