Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-01-24

awe-stricken people, who have come IN
from the neighboring yards and alleys,
aud who also stand crowded upon the
stairs, and stare curiously over the heads
in front at the flush Of gray light which
comes from the open door above.
The corner makes his way through with
difficulty, and is followed by two men with
sponges, pals Of water, and an armful of
white cloth.
The crowd closes up tightly AGAIN. but
presently is once more divided to let in
the rector of the church, whom some one
has called, thinking him likely to be in
terested.
He softly approaches and looks at the
PROSTATE man, with the most tender SYM
pathy displayed in his STOPPING posture,
his step, breath, aud couutenance. He
remains quiet for a moment, aud his lips
instinctively move in prayer for while,
and then ceases. He then slowly erects
himself, and retreats with downcast head,
and gives way to those who have other
business with the remains.
The room interests him, he coniures the
sensations aud feelings Of him who was
its inmate. What was he' Who was he :?
What did he know Of literature2 How
came he by picture of the tragedy of
Christ? Why was he so neat? Why
was so good man so hidden? What
was the use Of so strange and terrible a
departure 2
Presently, and before it had grown
very dark, the people on the stair.ways
were again disturbed. This time it was
the curate.
He appeared at the door barcheaded. He
entered slowly, on tiptoe, and approach
ed the rector He wore black clothing,
very white linen, and blhek gloves. The
rector regarded him affectibnately, and
gave him his hand in silence. 1t was
hard work for the curate TO speak, or per.
haps it was the difficulty Of preparing
himself to hear an answer whicn made
him pause even after he had formed his
lips to ask a question. He faucied all
his life and happiness depended upon the
shape of the answer. he played a trick
upon himself; instead of persisting in bis
attempts % utter the question he at FIRST
projected, he suddenly asked another:
"Is it all over, sir"
The rector, with his eye on the grour
of men in shirt-sleeves, employed in theil
terrible labor, replied, in a whisper:
uYpe Rroftla,-dhod -
Brattle. with consummate mastery
kept his reverend posture, and prevented
the muscles of his hand from Tightening
upon the palm of the rector. He felt hi
oppressed soul throw off its burden; hi.
chest expanded, his face flushed, and he
turned his back upon the light to con
ceal it.
For several moments he was happy
the glow of the relief overwhelmed the
memory Of what he had done. Under it
, influence, he was able to feel an honest
pity for the man, a deep commiseration
He crossed over to the bed and looked
on, with his hands behind him. Coult
, he have helped, he would have done Sc
eagerly, and have hoped he was paying ;
mark of respect to the man by his act
AS it was, ventured to support the heac
in his bare hand for a single moment
5 when it became necessary that it shoulc
be so supported. He released it, an(
, withdrew with sigh and hanging head
and went and stood by the rector.
They whispered together, and agreed
: that the funeral should take place at tn,
church The curate arranged that h,
| should provide plenty of white flowers
and undertake all the little marks of re
spect customary on such occasions. Ii,
, became blithely sympathetic; his ardo
appeared, to the rector, to be anothe
mark of his goodness and gcntleness o
f heart.
! AS it grew darker, the busy people II
the room gradully finished their work
. and began to stand aside, leaving it pain
fully in order.
: Gloom obscured the corners. and lef
! only the prominences. These were tn
f motioness forms of the spectators In vari
Gus postures, the group of staring head
$ In the doorway, and the square bulk o
the trunk. The bed and its burden wer,
! a blur, and the pictures of the battle an,
the crucifxion were patches Of gray.
> Then the question arose spontaneously
e Who were his friends, and where wer
: they? The rector and curate arouse,
0 themselves. Yes, where were friends, hi
. relatives? e?
S No one could say.
: In ten minutes the fact developed Itscl
that nobody knew the man. He had bee
: to certain extent recluse. Few ha
ever spoken to him, but all had respocte
, him, for he went to work regularly an
9 returned regularly. He never had roi,
y tering friends, nor, in fact, any friends
a He had always been quiet he had bee
!. kind to the children he had met on til
$ stair-ways, and had sometimes kissed thel
P and sometimes bad given them fruit N
/ letters had ever arrived for him, nor an
|. packages. His name was unknown;
}, had heen designated simply as "the slater
n The rector was appalled,.
/ The curate caught every word of II
J dismal testimony with an anxious ca
He even cross-examined some of the pc,
a pie who spoke but he elected nothing
a torment him. The fact became more pla
IS that the man was unknown.