Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-02-08

know, at O'Clock be opening the bclfry dooi
Cor the aamittance Of the Christmas peal
ringers. He had always had a regard for tn,
old man, who had helped him out Of many
loyish scrape. lle would wait in the church
Yard aud, making himself known to Over
bury, get him TO convey a note to his sistci
Margaret.
The little churchyard wicket was open
aud he walked in. The grave stones thick
W covered with snow, cleaned silently peace
iul in the dim moonlight for the snow had
now ceased TO fall, and the moon occasionally
shone out from the Heccy clouds which sur
rounded her. The church tower heavily
mantlcd with ivy, from Che festoons o.
which depended glittcring array Of icicles
almost appeared ike some venerable storm
battered warrior keeping guard over the last
rcs,ing-places Of the departed. The chime.
from he neighboriug town Of Kendall were
borne at intervals on the still frosty air, pro.
claiming their heartstirring message. " Peace
pcaco, peace on earth goodwill toward
men h
Walter Ringold leaned his throbbiug fore.
head upon the gray butiress Of The old church.
anu burst into tears.
Good Of old memories crowded on the
Young mans soul The rccolcctous Of hi,
childhood--of his dead mothor-of hundred
former happinesses, mingled with The thoughts
of his pale, patient wife, his unproyided-ior
child and Of all that hung upon the success
or failure Of his Christmas visit TO hi, kindred
was one Of those moments Of sublimity
into which are crowded the hopes and fears Of
a lifetime.
The church clock, striking the quarter to
the hour, brought his thoughts back to the
everyday world ne knew that the ringers
would commence at eight, and he wondered
that the old sexton had not made his appear
ance to open the church doors in readiness
Tor them.
But the truth was, that that worthy gentle
man had opened the door and leaving it ajar
(which was not perccptible from the spot
where young Ringold stood), had slipped over
to The Oak-apple for a social glass, prelcrring
the company of sprghtly Mrs. Filters and
her guests in the bar paror to that Of the
iackdaws and starlings in the bellfy.
Prompted by some curious impulse, such
o. .cizes on all Of US at times, Walter Ringold
walked up to the church door, and Of course
discovered how matters stood upon which
he walked into the belfry, too see IL by chance
old Overbury might have fallen asleep while
awaiting the arrival Of the ringers
There hung the eight bell-ropos gently
oscillating in the draught from the opened
door, and almost seeming inpatient to COM
mence their Christmas jubilee. The young
man afterward said that he could never tell
how or why it happened perhaps he was a
little ight-headed from fatigue and anxiety
but Selling upon one Of the bel-ropes, he
pulled it with all his might.
Up jumped all the guests in the bar parlor
OF the Oak-apple while the sexton, upsettiug
his glass in the excitement wrathlully ex.
claimed
"lts that drafted Tom Priugle, the tenor,
got drunk, and begun afore the others And
selling his hat, he rushed across the road to
the church. followed by half score ofgaping
rustics.
catering the belfry, what was the old mans
establishment to behold stranger shabby,
trayel-stained, storm beaten, and almost wild
with acknowledging and pulling at the
luckess bell, while the Precipitation induced
by the labor poured down his palid face.
"Cang clang discordantly groaned the
bell.
"Stop that row-stop cried the enraged
sexton. "You shall be put in the stocks
you--"
But the stranger had alrcad ceased, and,
advancing toward the old man took him by
the hand, saying in low voice which trem-
bled with emotion, "Don't you know me,
Overbury2"
At this moment the eight bel-ringcrs ar
rived
"Its the Squire's son--its Master Walter
Its the young Squire shrieked the de-
lighted old man. "Iiurrah ring away, boy
pull the belfry down Hurrah
"Oh, but my father" began Walter.
ITS all right, tell you " screamed tn,
exton, who knew the Squire's longing for hi
son nay, that the first advertisement had tina
very morning been inserted in the papers
Ring away Now, Tom Pringle! Loo
sharp, George Bush promise two gallon
Of ale among ye, and a guinea each man, i
Old Squire's name. Ring away, | tell you
Forth burst loud cheer from the bystand
ers, and away pesled the bells. ringing ou
over hill and dale their hearty welcome t
The young Squire "Peace, peace, peace o
earth goodwill toward men
" Come along, Master Waltor;7 cried tn
sexton, Selling the young man by the arr
without ceremony. esquire wants ye-
Squire's waitin for ye. He's 'tsed for We,
tell ye. Oh my blessed heart, but be glad
Won't this make Joy up yonder
And the good old fellow fairly blubbcrc
as be dragged Walter toward the Hall, c,
planning as they went how matters stood, an
how anxiously the Squire desired to be recor
ciled to his only son.
Never was happier mile tramp than thg
in the snow on that Chrstmas.eyo and q
the old aud young man, arm in arm went u
the ascent leading to the Hall, the grand r,
lrain still echoed in their ears Peac
peace, peace goodwill toward men "
Need we pursue the story farther The
was joy at the old Hall that night, and such
Christmas spent in the village as even IL
Oak-applo had never before thought possibl
Next morning an express was dispatched e
Lucy and her baby and as the young Squi
bowed his head in the old church, and ioinC
reyerently in the exulting hymn, A" Ilark, Il
herald angels sing he owned with FL
heart that there is indeed " Provden
who shapes our ends rough.hew them as v
will"
As Walter Ringold aud his sisters left Il
church amidst the hearty yet respectful co
ratulations Of their fathers tenants, aga
hc glorious Christmas message pealed for
from the belfry, while every heart echoed
triumphant rafrain a" Peace, peace, peac,
Peace on earth, and goodwill toward men
"A letter to the Philadelphia Press Civ
very interesting speech that clamoro
crowd 10 that city got out of Henry Clay O