The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-05-23


and walked up the street toward the
main quarter of the town.
Quaint old Norham The winter
moonlight lay clear and cold on its an.
cient cathedral, standing in its spacious
square Of sombre, stately houses. The
stranger stood still and .gazed upon it.
That stranger knew q little boy who
had attended many a service in that
cathedral-awed by its sweet music,
wondering at its white-robed choristers.
That little boy had known every face
on that quaint gargoyles of the ancient
chapter-house, and with childlike IA
miliarity he had given name to each
one of those contorted countenances.
That little boy, muhed in black weep
ers, had stood beside an open grave
right under the great west window, and
listened to the funeral services over a
little sister. The stranger went to seek
that grave-went straight to it without
one mistaken step. But it is not little
grave any more, for under the name of
"Amy Rogerson, aged four, ;" is swritten,
''Also the Rev. Rogerson, father of the
above aged 70. Also his wife Amelia,
aged GO. Also their son Thomas, aged
48."
Oh, little sister, who went so long be-
fore, how much did you know of earth
while you were growing up in heaven
Was not your father very glad on the
! day when he entered rest ard joined the
folded lamb OF happier times? Oh, lit
tie sister, is there any look on the face
of an angel, whose human heart was
| broken?
The stranger stood still by that house
hold tomb, and looked around. There
was another grave which that little boy
had known-the family grave of that
little boys playfeIlows, the H9rons.
But the stranger knew that he could not
find that grave in the twilight, though
he could have found the way to their
( houses in the utter darkness
/ He crossed the Cathedral square, and
issued out on Norham High street. The
shops were very bright with Christmas
goods, and busy with Christmas trade.
There was a little, thin, sharp-lOOking
widow, with boy on one side and a
girl on the other, gazing intently into
the best draper's shop. The stranger
stood still when he first saw them, and
then he went up slowly and stood be
hind them.
''It's no good wasting our time, Mar
gey," said the mother, 1" for We can't af-
ford to buy anything"
"But looking dosen't spend, man.
ma, " pleaded Aargey, "and I'd like to
plan what I'd give you if could, man.
ma, and to chose what l should like you
to give me. There, you should have
that beautiful thick black silk, and it
should be made with one deep founce
like the mayors wife's, and you should
have that soft gray shawl to wear with
it. And I would have two of those
merinos,-a dark brown for every day,
and an olive green for Sundays, and one
of those neat. plain bIack-cloth jackets.
And there's Tom gone off to look at the
watches. Tom is going to save sixpence
a week to buy one, mamma, but won't
it take long time o.
''Ah, I wish I could give you chill
dren pleasant surprises, said mamma,
wistfully. 81 was so fond of that kind
of tricks once upon a time"
"And so you are still, nanny dear, "
Alargey replied, pressing fondly to her.
g Isn't it always a pleasant surprise
when you make us a fig pudding? I'm
sure we are very happy, and I won't
talk any more of my nonsense if it
worries you.
Then the little group passed on; and
! the tall stranger followed them out of
the glare of the gas-light into a small
by-way, where they entered a house
with "Mrs. T. Rogerson's day school
for young ladies, " written on the door.
Then he went back to the High street,
and that same night a large parcel from
the draper's came. " For Mrs. Roger
son and Miss Margery," and a little
packet from the jewelers., for q" Master
Tom Rogerson."
d" Everything we wanted" sighed
NIargery, happily. CT only hope they
are real. How could they have come
The shop-peopIe say they were ordered
by a tall, dark gentleman, very pale. I
wish mamma would let us believe in
ghosts, and then we could understand
it easily, for that description is like
dear 6lpa. But I never did hear Of
any ghost that had money. I wonder
what Aunt Mary viii say when she
comes tomorrow ~
The stranger went back to the -Four
Swans. Next morning he went to the
cathedral, and stole into a shady cor
ner to take part in the service. The
sharp little widow came in, looking
sweeter and happier than would have
seemed possible the night before. Be
side Nargery and Tom, she had a lady
with her-an elderly, fragile-looking
lady, with one of those pale, fair faces,
that look as if perfect repose was their
only remaining atmosphere of life, and
any iarring element, even of JOY, would
shake and rend the tender spirit from
its feeble dwelling. 4 face bright with
spiritual Joy, and pleasant fancies and
sentiments. God often sends pleasant
fancies to those pure but weakly souls
that could never rise to create and
grasp pleasant faces. What are such
fancies but the daints aroma of the
royal feast awaiting them at thei1
Fathers mansion?
LOwIy kneeled the stranger through
I A. 7 1oa7,