New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-07

sexton. ., :,
When the lady and the little, girl re
turned, which they DID manu- III nanu' .n
ger tIeman asked. with rather unpleasan
look: ...,
Majesty"
"Oh. - replied the lady. pattng the hea
that law close to her hand - gave it to he
year ago, when we first began to hav
trouble about the missing book. She awe,
me one day by showing NE into the clerk
office with an enormous bunch of steel keys
She commanded me not to lay the tip of m,
finger on anything in the room, and sh
| stood before me with her eyes covering III
from head to foot and now and then drop
| ping those terrible rafting keys from on
hand into the other. She was as statue
Do you remember. Little Majesty,
| Yes, indeed" said the child. with
| laugh, aIfectiOnately Selling her hand, g
| remember; but that was a year ago.
| wCiild not act so fooiishly now, a. least, tt
| you
When the two visitors finally went away
| the little girl began to ask questions of hel
| father concerning the trouble about the
| missing book.
In effect he replied that it was register
| Of births, marriages and deaths which HAD
! taken place in the town for certain year
| dence in suit brought against her to de-
| prive her of her possessions. The partlcu
| lar volume that she wished was lost. The
| sexton whispered that he family suspected
! the clerk had hidden it until a reward was
| offered, when it would be discovered and
| produced. little Majesty stared at this,
and emp.,atically shook her head. The
clerk had been accustomed to furnish her
with carda.non seeds). Without the book
-. To-; would ha and IL Ira
possible that she and her children might be-
come suddenly poor.
Isn't that disagreeabie man her hus-
band" demanded Majesty, with sudden fire.
Yes. but he lives in another city. He
only came here because he is afraid his in
come will slip through his fingers. He is a
bird OF prey, Majesty; vulture. = sparrow
hawk - Tie last was a triumphant epithet,
for It supplied the gentleman, in a breath,
with the most malignant and rapaclous
character.
How dreadfully cruel" 1nurmured the
child to herself with snuGder.
She went slowly back to her dolls on the
porch floor, but. instead o. playing with
them she gathered them up, and sat down
u;io0 one OF the gallery steps 10 pity her
friend in secret. She was wondering if
there were any means by which she might
help her.
A little while later twittering flight of
swallows dashed down from above. and
gathered for a moment upon the iron chains
OF the fence in front of the church. Then
they disappeared in tunlUltuous clatter.
The incident at once brought 10 the little
girls mind the other unhappy subject-the
impending destruction Of the nests in the
belfrey.
"l'll.go up right away" said she to her
self. for / should never feel at ease again
if the men should come this afternoon and
drive them Off while l was occupied with
other things. I'll go now, Immediately"
She brought stool and reached the
beifrv key from its peg, and then pro-
ceeded up the winding stairs, with her
short dress gathered IN front OF her.
The iaunt was not a long one. but the
steps were high for one of her stature and
the turns were many and various. In the
first gallery above the porch she stopped to
look out az the small windows upon the
brilliant landscape. 1t seemed that she was
tremendous distance above the earth,
and, as she never had a great liking for
such positions. she shrank q little. even
while she felt the soft breeze and breathed
the perfumed air from the gardens below.
Presently she began to climb the remain
ing stairs, some OF them leading her into
darl. corners. through which she CROPPED
with the aid of her hands. Once che came
to little door with a tough lock. which
was rus.y and obstinate; bit her nervous
little fingers were too much fer il,
and she turned the key. When she passed
this, she found a short ladder. the upper end
Of which rested against the bell platform.
She clambered up the rounds with a tiInid
heart, and suddenly came to the open bel
fry. where hung the mighty bell. half green
and half brown, with pendent tongue ten
times as large as her doubled fists.
At the four corners OF the berry were
Solid pillars of masonry. which supported
the splre above but between these towers
there were no screens or lattIces-all was
open to the eye from the outside. A pretty
strong burst OF air rushed through the bel
fry, ana laid a violent hold or Majesty's |
hair; bat she clung tight tn the rounds, and
held her breath until all was quiet again.
She looked down. II seemed u frightful |
distance. She was above the roofs Of the
town, above most of the trees, and she could |
see over some Of the hills. She began to
quake, but when her eyes fell upon the gray
swallows nests she became courageous
a gam. Leaning against the side o. the huge
frame, III the midst OF which hung the bell,
was a narrow bit Of plank, across which was
nailed q series of wooden strips, intended to
serve as tootholds to those VITO assembled to |
the Top o. the structure. Il had been used |
by the sexton. whose duty it was |
10 OIL the various wheels and Joints in the |
machinery, and the child now determined |
to make use of it to get into tie ne;gLbor-
hood OF the birds above her head.
It was an act which required courage and |
nerve, especially III her, but she accom-
plshed il by mounting slowly on her feet |
and hands. Presently she stood hreathless |
and bal. erect upon one OF the wide beams. |
tightly gcasping the Pin OF the large and |
slender vince! by means Of which tie bell |
was rung. But still there was a lottier |
foothoId. 1t was the top OF the thick, wooden |
cross-riece, from which the bell suspended. |
Il was broad. bolted aud braced with iron
clamps and was arcLed in such a manner |
that it afforded step Of at least six inches
IN elevation. Timidly DID little Majesty
place her tiny foot upon this formidable
height she pressed forward and at the |
same time she raised her hand above her
head and placed her fingers against |
the dingy and shattered ceiling. She |
drew her other foot slowly after
her, and then, gasping with fright. and |
still with her face glowing with excitement, |
,le gradually ycntured to look around her. |
For a while she did not dare to move. Il /,
hone" she said to herself, with a moment |
airy sinking of her heart; Il hope they will |
not think 81 ringing the bell" Presently, |
however she felt safe enough to shake her !
head at the few remaining birds, who looked |
at her with great curiosity from their holes
IN their nests pretty smile irradiated her |
face, though it went and came Just as the |
soft breeze frightened her or left her alone. |
So slender was She and so delicate was her |
hold, that it seemed certain that puff must |
soon come that would carry her away, and |
tioat her out at the window.
She began 10 talk to the birds.
At fist she chirruped and soothed them |
to suit her fancy. and then she proceeded to
more serious business
Poor dears, poor dears." she began. in
sympathetic voice Il hoped YOU listened
TO what the mason said about vOr vaster