Connecticut western news., 1873-11-14
ADVENTURE IN ST. PAUL,S.

AUIENI IUhE IN Sls PAUL'Ss
 Going over for six months visit to England, ono of the first things I prom ised myself on landing was to see St. Paul's; and yet it's singular fact, that up to the very end of my sojourn there, l had never been inside the great ca thedral.
 felt it impossible to go back and face my relations and friends, if couldn't say that I'd seen St. Paul's: and made half-a-dozen plans, at vari- ous times, of paying it visit. But first one thing intervened, and then another, till my last day in England had come, my pilgrimage unperformed. This last day, however, I had kept clear of en- agreements, on purpose to see the place. But before I was out of bed in the morning, I had Q telegram of import ance, which took me off post-haste to the eastern counties; and it was past eight o'clock in the evening before I reached the Shoreditch station, on my return journey.
 Now, I was bound to start early next morning, to reach Liverpool in time for the steamer, and it thus seemed as if it were my fate to miss my last chance of entering St. Paul's. Still, was deter mined not to throw away a chance. It might be that the cathedral was still open; and picked out a fast-looking horse from the row of hansoms, and bade the driver put me down in the shortest nossible time at the corner of St. Paul's church-yard.
 As I descended from the cab, and stood on the edge of the pavement look tng up at the giant bulk of the dome, the clock struck nine. The sun had set; but high overhead the golden ball and cross stood out against the sky, still burnished by the evening glow. All the lower part of the building was in deep shadow, rendered still darker by the thick coating of soot that encased it.; but the upper portion, towering clear of houses and chimneys, and swept and sweetened by the winds and rains, caught gleam of brightness from the clouds above, and raised itself white and fair into the evening sky.
 The traffic of the day had slackened ; an occasional cab rattled by. The big warehouses had retired from business the shops were shut the city seemed oO S10Cp. Ob' dul B dloO, was ClOSe1y fastened up. It misgave me that all I should see of it would be the outside.
 Bending back my neck, and gazing upwards at the huge dome, I saw that about the great golden cross and ball was @ tracery as of cobwebs, and men like flies were crawling about those slender filaments. Stout scaffoldings and thick cables they were, no doubt but from the street they looked like the delicate fabric of the gossamer.
 I walked quickly round the church, hoping to find some doorway open, some access to the interior. The iron gates were all closed, the doors were fast. Paul's portals look as inaccessi- ble and forbidding as the rocky flank of mountain. I was determined to find my way in, if possible but I knew not hsw to set about it. Could I have come across anything that looked like deanery or sacerdotal residence, should have made bold to knock thereat, and ask the occupiers for the key, But I could find nothing of the sort. Even at 8 bun-shop, which was still open, where I inquired as to the way of getting into the church, the people knew no more about St. Pauls than if it had been thousand miles distant.
 I began to feel Respondent about the matter, but went round the church once more till Icame to tho end of the south transept-the shorter limb of the cross-and looked vacantly up at the fine semi circular portico, with it's tall columns and flight of steps. All this time, I never thought of there being anybody living inside of St. Paul's :; I should as soon have expected to meet with furnished apartments in the Cata- combs, or family residence in the Pyramids. But peering curiously about, I espied, in the angle formed by the nave and transept on the western side, window, from which came the faint gleam of @ candle. I stood and looked between the railings, and saw that somebody was moving about with in. There was g bird-cage in the win dow on the sill outside, some red fower-pots. Presently, somebody came to desk near the window and began to write an old man, with white hair.
 If l could only make him see me, per. haps he would take compassion on me, and let me in. But it wasn't likely that he should see me. Looking from the light room into the twilight outside, ii was hardly possible that he should see anything. I thought of finging peb. ble at the window but it was good distance off; might break the glass, and be taken into custody. gave a few shrill whistles, holding my fingers in my mouth 1; but it was all of no use. The old man didn't turn his head.
 Once again had almost given the thing up, and gone home but just then the light disappeared from the window, and all was darkness. Was the old man off to bed, wondered, or had he gone to grope about among the crypts below Should I see his light presently twink. ling in those high windows |? Did he couch in some stone gallery, or find a resting place in the golden ball Whilst l was thus speculating, heard door softly closed, footstep on the stone staircase, and the iron gate at the bot tom creaked on it's hinges: I sprane forward, and met gray-headed old mar, with thin pallid face, who was just opening the iron grille.
 With all the eloquence of which am master, besought him to do me the goodofice of letting me into the sacred fane. He hesitated, shook his head al last he relented: "Very well, " he said.
 |" its against rules but I'll let you in, if you don't mind stopping inside alone for an hour. It will be that time be. fore return and must lock the doc, behind me. Do you still wish to go inside?" ....
 I thanked him warmly, and said " " Certainly, yes." Indeed, I was de lighted at the idea of an hour in perfect stiffness and seclusion among the fnigh ty columns and arches of St. Paul. got under the great dome, which hangs like luminous cloud above, full oi