Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-09-16

cription of hundreds of pictures | have
seen; this had the appearance OF having
been painted very long ago. perhaps be-
fore the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth
Rock. In the passage between this and
the body of the church hang numerous
small pic lures rudely portraying some
happy preservation from harm for which
thanks were returned. Ono of these
showed child on his back on the ground
where hoIses were racing past, the Pill
grimage church stood near, and the yir-
gin Mary sitting on cloud radiated light
upon the child underneath. "Ex. Vote,
1868" "A ce.tain Father of Family
thanks God and the blessed Mary Tor the
preservation of his child"
The body Of the church is paved with
stone, on which wooden seats similar to
those in our early school houses are
placed. Behind the altar is a large
painting, "The Alteration of Mary" in
the arch over it the All seeing Eye, u
dove. and massive rays OF glory in gilt.
In the centre OF the roof the inscription,
"llere is the House Of God and the Door
OF Heaven" Half way down the room.
an altar on each side. Above that on the
right hangs large picture OF 1.-The
Crucifxion,n over it, smaller one OF
Abraham about 10 offer Isaac in sacrifice,
the hand with the ready knife seized by
an angel reaching from above. Over
that on the lett. one OF 1.-The Ascension !"
above its typo in the Jewish Scriptures.
Jonah leaving the open mouth of the
whale to return TO Ninevah. Sitting on
the steps Of a confessional, heard the
opening and shutting OF heavy creaking
doors; the bell in the tower rang, mon,
women and children came up the sides of
the mountain from all directions. the
seats were illed, candles lighted, the
Priest entered, the organ poured forth its
music, and Mass WAS celebrated. 1t
would not become me to describe what
so little understood. Sometimes the men.
sometimes the women responded to the
prayers. Two fine voices, treble and
tenor sang in chorus. Two laii haired
boys, perhaps twelve years old, assisted
the priest at The altar; il WAS very pretty
To see them. sometimes kncelin5 with
clasped hands, sometimes making little
schoolboy bows toward the altar. some
times shaking little bells, and Mt last
swinging the censer OF blazing incense
to walt the smoke about the room. The
devotional spirit of the audience was un-
mistakable. and although | did not dip my
fingers in the basin at tho door and make
the sign of the cross on my forehead,
bow when passing before the altar, or
carry away q bottle of holy water from
the tub in the church. like the others.
from my inmost heart went up ieryent
petition for consolation to every newly
bereaved soul.
The women were nearly all clothed in
black gowns Of the same make, and tall
black fur caps indented across the top
looking like mitre. They all, men and
women. adjourned to the great dining
room Of the inn for two hours. Seeing
one OF the women remove pots of flowers
from new made grave which had Grape
around its cross, we made inquiries and
learned that we had witnessed 4 Mass for
the soul oil The dead. The landlord OF
the inn looked shocked when l said, alter
making some inquiries about the Mass,
that we had not many Catholics where
lived sn America; but his SMILES TO the
American strangers soon returned. and
he wished us pheasant rest as we re.
tired.
The little burial ground, Gods Acre."
as the ancient Saxon still names il. is very
Interesting to me. A large metal cruciti1
stands in the centre, and every stone has
cross upon the top. Some graves have
no stone, but metallic crucifix. from the
lower part OF which basin is suspended.
Some have basins carved in the stone.
Many had flowers; some, little pictures
of the Good Shepherd with lamb in his
arms, and bits OF white lace about them.
These fancy are children's graves.
While sitting there. women who had been
in The church visited The graves, talking
in shrill voices, and passing homeward.
A gray haired man passed through with
head uncovered Till outside tho little cato.
None of the stones were very old. These
are some of the inscriptions:
"IIere rest The honored and respected
remains of Sebastian Morgold Peasant.
Of this place"
"Ruhe sauft in dieser Grun,
Aus Won delnem Ledsn,
Bis der schopfer dish berur
In dle ewigen F:cuden."
Literal translation:
"Rest softly in this grave
Ont Of thy sorrow,
Til the Creator calls thee
Into the eternal joy"
Agatha Stastmer's. Her soul pleased
the Lord. therefore lie called her out OF
this sinful world"
A large. grey marble stone with heroldic
carvings:
"Here sleeps in God
The high born Lord,
Joseph Baron Won Orr,
Royal Austrian. Chamberlain and Major.
Boln mt Eishstadt, 18th Jan. 1914 Died
n, uohopna;ssanhor0 Dot 0I,b 1851 ~