The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-05-16
OVER TIE FENCE.

OVER TEE FENCE.
It<R1 LfskT--
1t was shabby old mansion in a
shabby old thoroughfare, which had
been fashionable street in its day, but
was anything else now. Grocery shops
and junk shops had invaded It. The
square, white-painted, green-blinded
dwellings,, with rallied roofs and pilaster-
ed front doors, through which decorous
worthless in ruffles and bob-wigs had
onco gone in and ont, shorn of their
prestige now, and divested of shining
knobs and knockers, were turned into
tenement houses of the poorer sort.
Only the magnificent double row Of
elms which had been the glory of the
street in its prime, remained intact to
deck its decadence. Thet owering splen-
dor of their green masses rustled in the
salt mir now as then, but mournfulness
mingled with the rustic Perhaps-who
knows ?--the elms were sorry for the
deserted old street. 1t is not easy
always to fathom what lies at the heart
OF things, trees or men.
The shabby old mansion had belonged
to General Wesson, a Revolutionary
hero, less conspicuous in history than
in the affections of his townsfolk, who
to do him honor had called the street by
his name-Wesson street. His residence,
once the finest in the neighborhood, had
still this advantage over its dilapidated
compeers, that it retained its old-time
garden, large square inciosure laid out
in formal box.edged beds and walks
This garden had the odd appearance of
having sunk slightly during some
convulsion of nature, for its surface lay
some five feet below the level of the
street, which had been "flled in." 1t
was walled on three sides. Peeping over
the low fence which topped the wall,
passer.by could look down into the very
heart of gooseberry bushes and peony
clumps. The wall itself was tangle Of
honeysuckle, ivy, and brier roses, and
altogether the garden had q sweetness
still, though its paths had run to weeds,
and lines of wet linen tapped over the
rose circle which had been the pride of
Madame Wesson's heart almost hun
dred years ago.
So long past, so forgotten, were the
traditional dignities of the old house, so
poor and decayed was its present SEEM
ing, that people experienced shock of
surprise almost indignation-when told
that the Moravian Society had bought
the property for a chapel and parson-
age. "What that old thing ?" they cried.
But the thrifty Moravians went their
way without minding much what peo-
pie said. They had little money to ex-
pend, and a righteous horror OF debt.
The old place was cheap; they could
make it do, they thought. So little
army of work-people deployed upon the
premises, and presently all was changed.
The ground-foor, divested Of partitions,
became large plain meeting-room.
The second floor was reserved for tho
pastors dwelling. There was much
scrubbing and whitewashing, new paint
and plaster; blinds were rehung, a tot
tering chimney rebricked, the fences
mended. Last of all arrived cart-load
of benches, another of furniture, and
Pastor Lubke and his family. The
neighbors, watching, saw them go in:
first the grave old pastor leading little
boy, then long file of girls of graduated
heights, all clad in black, worn, it was
whispered, in memory of their mother,
who had died few months before. The
beds, chairs and tables seemed scanty
plenishing for 30 many, and lookers-on
wondered how they managed; but no.
body found out, for the Lubkes were
quiet and reserved, saying little or moth
ing of their affairs, but simply taking
things as they were, and settling into
the new home without discussion or
words.
All these things to watch did serious
ly incline Mr.. Erasmus Stockton-a
young man who, for his misfortune, had
little to do then except look out of win
dow. His lodging next door command
ed view of the long south side of the
"Wesson house." as the neighbors still
called it, and of the whole garden, and |
having, as 1 said, little to do except look |
out of window, while waiting the report |
of the Patent-office on his improved |
air brake" he naturally looked out a
great deal. Idleness is the root of curl |
Osity as well as of mischief. It is aston |
ishing how persistently he watched the
Lubkes and their doings, and how much |
entertainment he found in doing 30, all |
the time persuading himself that he was
studying "Chitty on Special Pleas"
which lively work he held in his hand,
to be sure, but ever the top of which |
his eyes were forever straying to note
the comings and going next door.
" Heavens what lot of girls I" was
his first reflection as he saw the sable
clad procession file up the walk. "And
how much alike they are p was his sec
ond. They were strangely alike. The
four elder all seemed of the same age.
They were of the same slender build,
with clouds of haxen hair flying over
their shoulders, the same pale blue
eyes, the same colorless skins. For a
long time Erasmus could fix on no point
of difference by which to distinguish
them, but after while he learned to
classify the four as "Sister," "The
Twins, and "Hilda." The twins were
always together, inseparable as Castor
and Pollux. " Sister =" was the central
star of the little ones. They were for
ever clinging TO her skirts and follow
ing 10 help or hinder In her many house
hold tasks. from washing windows and