, 1874-12-13
THE MINISTER'S BLACK VEIL,
A Parable by Nathaniel Haw.
thOrne.

The old people Of the village came STOPPING
along the street. Children, with bright faces
tripped 1ncrrily beside their Parents. mimicked
graver gait, in the conscious dignity of thei1
Sunday clothes. Spruce bachelors looked side.
long at the pretty rnaidens, and fancied that the
Sabbath sunshine made Them prsttier than on
weekdays. When the throng had mostly
streamed into the porch, the sexton began te
toll the bell, keeping his eye on the Rev. hlr.
Hooper,s door. The fret glimpse Of the clergy.
man's figure was the signal for the bell to cease
its summons.
s'But what has good paraon Hooper got upon
his face ?'' cried the sexton in astonshment
ALI within hearing Immediately turned about,
and behe1d the semb1anco OF Mr.. Hooper, pacing
slowly his meditative way toward tho meeting
house. With one accord they started. express
ing mora wonder than ii some strange minister
were coming to dust tho cushions OF Mr.. Hooper'a
pulpit.
"Are you suro it is our paraon?" inquired
Goodman Gray Of the sexton"
"Of 2 certainty it is good Mr.. Hooper," re-
piled the sexton. ''He was to have exchanged
pulpits with patson shute. Of Westbury; but
parson Shuto sent to e1cuso himself yesterday,
boing to preach funeral Sermon
The CAUSE for 60 much amazement may appear
sufficiently slight. Mr. Hooper, eentlemanly
pereon OF about 80, though still bachelor, was
dressed with due clerical neatness, as it caro-
full wife had etarched his band aud brushed tho
weekly duat from his Sundays earb. There was
but one thing remarkable in his appearance
Swathcd about his forehead, and hanging down
over his face, SO low us to bo shaken by his
BREATH Mr. Hooper had on black veil. On q
k- -
Of Grape which entirely concealed his features,
except his mouth and chin, but probably did
not intercept his sight, further than
all living aud inanimato things With this
gloomy shade before him. good Mr. Hooper
walked onward, at slow and quiet pace, stoop-
Ing somewhat and looking on the ground, rs is
customary with abstracted men, yet noddin9
kindly to those OF his pasishoners who still
waited Oh the meetinG-h house 8teps. But SO won-
dcr-struck were they that his greeting met with
no return.
II can't really feel as If good n1r. Hooper's
face WAS behind that piece of Grape" said tho
sexton.
II don't like it." muttorcd an old woman, as
she hobblod into the neetlng-house. =" lie has
changed himself into something awful, oulg BY
hiding Ills facu."
"Our pars,n has gono mad!:' cried Goodman
Gray. following him across tho threshold.
rurnor of somo unaccountable phenomenon
had preceded Mr. Hooper into the meeting-houee,
nEd set all tho congregation ast!r. Few could
refrain from twisting thoir heads towards the
door manY stood upright and turned directly.
about whllo several little boys c1aHlbored upon
the Beata, md came down again with terrible
racket There was,a general hustle, y ruBtlipg
OF tho womens gowns aud ahuf1llng OF the mems
fcet, greatfy at variance with that hushed repOse
which should attend tho entrance OF the mrnis-
ter. But s1r. Hooper appeared not to notice the
perturbation OF Ills people, 1Ie entered With an
almost noiseless step. pert his head mildly to
the pevs on each side, and bowed as lo passed
hia oldest parishioncr, Il white-haircd great
grandaire, who occupied al armchair in
the contro of the alslc. It uns strange
to observe how slowly this vcner-
ablo msn became conscious of something eingu-
1ar in,tho appearance of bis pastor. lie seemed
not fully to parlase Of the prevailing wonder. till
,dr. Hooper had ascended the stalrs, and showed
himself in the pulpit, face TO faco with tho con-
except for the black veil. That uayB~
ferrous emblem wns mover onco withdrawn. It
slooa with his measured breath as lie gave out
the psalm; it threw its obscurlty between him
aud the holy page. aa he read the Scriptures;
and while ho prayed. tho veil lay heavily on his
uplifted countenance. Did liz seek to hide it
from the dread Being whom he was addressing?
Such uas the effect Of this simple piece Of
nerves was forced to leave tho meetiug-house
YET perhaps tue pale-facsd congregation wus
almost as fearful sight to the minister as his
black roll to them.
A1r- Hooper had the reputation Of good
preacher, but not IN energetic one; be strove
to 1lu his people heayenwatd by mlld, persuasive
rather than to drive them thither By
the thunde7s Of tue word The sermon which
he now delivered was marked by the same char
acterlssics Of style and manner as the general
series of pulpit olatory. But there was como
thing, either in the sentiment Of the discourse
itself. OF in the imagination Of the auditors,
which made it greatly the most powerful effort
that they had ever heard from their pastors lips.
It was tinged, rather more darklv than usual.
with the gentle gloom Of Mr. Hooper's tempera-
ment. Tho subject had reference to secret sin,
and those sad mysteries which Nc hide
from our nearest and dearest, and
would fain conceal from o1lr own con-
5ciousness, even forgetting that the Omni-
brenthed into his words. Each member OF the
tho most innocent girl. md the
nan OF hardened breast. felt as il the preacher
aad crept upon them, behind his awful veil, and
discovered their bearded iniquty OF deed or
thought. Many spread their cIasped hands on
what Mr. Hooper said; at least. no violence /;
.nd yet, with every tremor OF his melancholy
Foice, tho hearers quaked- An uneought pathos
:ame hand-ln-hsnd with awo. So sensible were
he audience Of some unwonted attribute in
heir minister, that they longed for breath Of
Wind to blow asido the veil, almost believing
hat strangers vfsage would be discovered,
houRh the form, gesture, and voice Nese those
Il Mr. Hooper.
At the close Of the service, the people hurried
nut with indecorous confusion, eager to com I
nunicate their pent-up amnzement. and conscious
Il lighter spirits the moment they lost sight Of
he black veil. Some gathered in little circles.
luddled closely together, with their mouths all
'hispering in the centre; some went homeward I
lone, wrapt in silent meditation; some talked !
oudly, and profaued the 6abbath-day With osten- |
atious laughing. A few shook their sagacious |
leads, iutimatiug that they could penetrate the |
while one or two nffirmed that there |
ras no mystery at all, but only that Mr.. Hoopers
yee were go weakened by tho midnight lamp as
0 require shade. After brief interval forth |
anne good Mr.. Hooper also. in the rear Of his |
ock. Turning his veiled face from one group |
D another, he paid due reverence to the hoary !
eade. 6aluted the mldd1e-aged with kind digni- |
= as their friend and spiritual guide, greeted !
Lo young with mingled authority and love, and
nd his hands on tho little children's heads to
less thom. Such was always his custom on the |
abbath-day. Strange and bowi1dered looks re-
aid him for his courtesy. None, as on former |
ccasions, aspired to the honor of walking BY |
heir PASTORS side. Old Squire Saunders, doubt
ess By an accidental lapse OF memory. neglected
, invite Mr. Hooper to his table, where the good
Iergvman had been wont to bless the food,