Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-04-13
NUMBER 13.

sable veil, he acquired a name through
out New England charches, aud they
called him father Hooper. Nearly all his
parishonei vino were of mature age
when he was settled bad been BONE
away by many funeral; he lad one
congregation in the church, and more
crowded Que in The church yard aud
having wrought 50 late into the evening.
and done lis wCrk - well, ID wis good
Father Hooper 5 turn 20 rest.
Several persons were visible by ihe
shaded shaded candic.iishi in The death
chamber Of the old clergyman. Natural
connections he bad none. But there
was the decorousiY grave. though ur-
moves, physician seeking only TO miu.
gate the last pang, ol the patient whom
he could not save There were the
deacous aud other omiucutiy pious MEM
bers OF his church. There, also, was
Rev Mr. Clark OF Wcs,bury, g young
and jealous divine, who had iidden IN
haste to pray by tirc bed side Of he eN-
pirng minister. There was ,hc nurse,
no hired hand maiden ct death. but our
whose affection had endured thus long
in secrecy, in solitude, amid tie call ol
age, and would MOI perish, even 90 The
dying hour. Who, bat El1a0eth! And
there lay the boary head OlF1Ler Hoop.
er upon the death pillow. with ,he black
veil still swathcd ajou, his ROW and
reaching down over III face, 20 that
each more difficult. gasp oil bis laiut
breath caused it TO stir. Al through iile
that piece Of Grape had huas between
him and The world; i bod epaaeI
him from cheerful brotherhood aud
womans love, and kept Linn .n .hal sad.
dest Of all prisons. lis oNu heat; auI
still it lay upon his face. as il 90 deepen
the gloom oil his darbsyme chamber, aud
shade him from the sunshine OF eternity.
For some time previous A:, mind had
been confused, wayoiiug douJ,i4iIy be-.
tween the past and The present, at inter-
walls. Into The indislinc,Gcss Of Tie VOL
to come. There had been ieyeli,h turns,
which tossed him from side ,o side, and
wore away what little strength be had.
But in bis most conyulsive struggles. and
in the widest yagatics OF his iuteilec,
when no other thought retained its sober
influence, he still showed IN awiul >oiici-
tude lest the black veil should Zip aside.
Even il his bewildered soul could have
forgotten there was faithful woman at
his pillow, who, with ayerted eyes,
would have covered that aged face,
which she had last beheld in the comeli-
ness Of manhood. At length the death
stricken old man lay quietly 10 the torpor
OF mental and bodily exhaustion. with
an imperceptible pulse, and breath that
grew fainter, except when long. deep
and irregular inspiration seemed to PIE
lude the flight Of lis spi.lt.
+. The minister OF WeslOury approached
the bedside. ~ enelaolc Father Hoop.
err said he, "lhe momen, OF your release
is at hand. Are you ready for the lifting OF
The veil that shuts in time from eternity
Father Hooper at first replied by
feeble motion OF the head thcn apple.
hensiye, perhaps tha. his meaning nigh,
be doubtful. he exer,ed himself 10 speak
Yea said be. in moGInll. accents.
"my soul hath patient wcarness until
the veil be lifted.
'And is il fitting" resumed E-v. Mr.
Clark, THAT man 50 given to prayeLoI
such blameless example, holy IN decd
and thought, so tar rs nor.4. judgment
can pronounce--is it .itting that father
in the church should leave shadow On
his memory that should seem 20 L.aCken
a lie so pure pray You, my ycrcu.
BILE brother, let not this thing be. Suffer
US TO he gladdened by your triumphant
aspect as YOU 90 10 your reward. Before
the veil oil eternity be Lifted. let me cast
aside this black veil from your face.
Aud thus speaking, the Rev. Mr.. Clark
bent forward 10 reveal the mystery oi -
many years. But exerting sudden
energy that made all the beho.ders stand
aghast, Father Hooper snachcd both lis
hands from beneath the bed clothcs. and
pressed them strongly on the black veil.
resolute to struggle, ii the minister Of
Westbury would contend with q dying
man.
Never cried The yelled clergyman
"on earth, never -
Ozark old man. exclaimed the alright.
ed minister " with what horrible crime
upon your soul are you now passing To-
the judgemnt? ?"
Father Hocpel's breath heavcd; .t
ratified in his throat; bur with \ mighty
effort, grasping forward with his hands.
he caug ht hold of lite, and held ], back
till he should speak. lie even raised
himself IN bed and there he sat. sEycl-
ingwilh the arms Of death around him,
while the black veil hung down; awful.
at that last moment. in tie gathered ter
rors of life time. Aud yet the iaiat
sad smile, so often there, now seemed TO
glimmer from obscurity, ard linger on
Father Hooper's lips.
"Why do you tremble at me alone -
cried he, turning his yelled lace round
the circle OF pale spectators "Tremble
al each other, lave men avoided ne,
and women shown no pity, and children
screamed and fed, only for my black
veil ~ What, but the mystery which it
obscurcly typiies; ::as made this piece OF
Grape so awful? When the friend shows
his utmost heart to bis friend; the lover
to his bes, beloved; when man does