The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-01-14

A LEGEND BY THE AUTHOR OF THE ScnoN.
BERG. Cora FAMILY.
q. a. Baker, Jr., in Ncw York Eusniny Ma

The Cathedral Chimes.
a LEGEND BY THE AUTHOR OF THE ScnoN
BERG-CoTTA FAMILY.
In city whose history dates from the
ages Of the silvery bells and stately build.
ings, there stood aud stands now for aught
know, cathedral, rich in all the crd.
less fancics Of Gothic art. Inside it was
solemn with shade, and gorgeous with
light which came in through the elaoor.
ate tracery Of the stained windows, many
colored, and broken as the sunbeams
through tropical forest. Outside fret
ted pinnac.es aud carved bell towers
spraug upward, grand, yet fairy-like, as
if stone towers rose as easily and natur-
ally toward heaven as oaks and pines.
But the chief glory of this cathedral was
its bells. They were the pride of the city,
and the great attraction to strangers.
Their history formed an important part
Of the civic chronicles.
A lady Off royal house had given
them as a thank. offering for her Loves
safe return from the Crusades' All her
silver plate and ornaments with spoils
Of Saracens from the recovered Holy
Land, had been poured into the mould
when they were made, so that from their
birth all tender aud sacred memories had
been fused into their very essence, and
their first tones echoed far-off times and
lands. a bishop who alterward suffered
IN . 1 cfe A g.,
lens had blessed them. Their first peal
had sounded in honor of a great victory,
They had summoned the people through
ages Of conflict to defend their liberties.
They had blended their life with the life
Of every home,-in family JOYS and fam
lily sorrows; at wedding, christening and
funeral. They had made Sundays and
holidays glad with their joyous voices.
Al d last, but not least, by aid of an eab-
crate mechanism of hammers, rope and
p1lleys they had for ccnturios celebrated
the departure Of every hour with Choir
ale aud every half.hour with strain
like the versicle of chant, and every
quarter of an hour with sprinkle of
sweet sound
Imagine, then, the dismay of the citi-
zens when, one Monday morning, eight
o'clock, and no sound issued from the
cathedral half-past eight, silence nine,
not a note of warning Their wonder was
wonder was increased when the usual peal
rung out, clear and full as ever. for the
morning service, and by midday the
whole city was in commotion. 1t was
plain something must be wrong with the
machinery of the chimes
Immediately the most skilful mechan-
les Of the town, clock makers and bell
founders, with men of science and the
whole corporation, in state of process
sion mounted the clock tower. 1--WE will
soon set it right" they said 70 the agitat-
ed crowd as they entered the belfry door.
Tho ropes of the machinery were tested
all were sound not flaw in the ham.
mars not clog in the WHEELS; not
crack in the silver metal Microscopes
were employed, conjectures we're hazard
ed, experiments OF all kinds were tried.
but not a ray Of light was thrown on the
perplexity. The eleven hands and the
wise heads, and the will of the authorities
were all baffied; and the procession re.
appeared to the assembled mu,titldes with
very crest.lallen looks.
That afternoon little work was dore
in the workshops, few lessons were learn.
ed in the schools, all the routine of house
hold habits were interrupted and when
it grew dark the great square was filled
with people who were afraid 20 separate
and go to bed without the sanction ofthe
cathedral chimes Many ;oreboded some
terrible disaster to the city, and some
thought the end Of the world was come
But when it was dark sound very
wearied aud very strange, yet with mu-
sic like the old familiar tones came from
the church-tower, as il rose dim ard
grand against the starry sky. 1t was a
voice, not human, yet with strange
likeness to human. voice, slvery as a
stream, thrilling as battle trumpet, fam
lliar to each listener as his own, like the
blended voices of spirit and bell.
"WIhave!beeniborn too long" said the
bell-voice. ave were set here on high
for other purposes than men have put us
to. Is not this cathedral, o sanctuary,
and shrine, sacred with the dust of mar
tyrs, and dedicated to the service of
Heaven? Were not we christened like
immortals? Were not we consecrated
like priests? The touch of holy hands is
on US, and shall we be debased to secular
uses ? Set apart like sacred ministers in
a sacred dwelling, shall we be required
to mingle in the common circumstances Of
our daily life? Raised on hfth to be
near the heavens we serve, shall our
sanity voices serve to tell you when you
eat aud sleep! We have borne it too
long. We will still serve heaven, and
summon you on Sundays and holidays,
We will call you to the solemn services
Of the church We will if necessary,
sound triumphant peal on DAYS of ma
national thanksgiving, in remembrance of