Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-03-26
A STORY OF ST. MARKS EVE.
BY THOMAS noon,


has been observed on tho 25th OF
April, in Catholic countries, from timc
immcmorial, The superstition allud-
ed to in the following story was
formerly very generally believed, and
vigils IN the church porch at mid
night were common.
81 hope it'll choke thee !! said
Master Giles, the yeoman and, as he
said it, he banged bis big red fist on
tho old oak table, 81 do say hope
it'll choke thee y
The dame made no reply. She
was choking with passion and a fowls
liver, which was the cause Of the
dispute. Much has been said and
sung concerning the advantage Of con.
genial tastes amongst married people !;
but the quarrels Of this Kenlis couple
arose from too great coincidence in
their tastes. They were both fond Of
the little delicacy in question; but the
dame had managed to secure the
morsel to herself. This was sufficient
to cause n storm of high words,
which, properly understood, signifies
very low language. Their meal times
seldom passed over without some con-
tention of this sort. As sure as the
knives and forks clashed, so did they /;
being, in fact. equally greedy and dis
agrcedy ; ard when they did pick a
quarrel, they picked it to the bone.
1t was reported that, on some oc-
cnsions, they had not even contented
themselves with hard speeches, but
had come to scuffling he taking to
boxing and she to pinching, though in
far less amicable manner than is
practiced by the taker of snuff. On
The present difference, however, they
were satisfied with "wishlng each
other dead with all their hearts )" and
there seemed little doubt Of the sim
cerity of the aspiration, on looking at
their malignant faces, for they made q
horrible picture in this frame of mind.
Now, it happened that this quarrel
took place. on the morning OF st.
Marks; n saint who was supposed on
that festival to favor his votaries with
a peep into the book of fate. For it
was the popular belief in those days
that, if person should keep watch at
midnight beside the church, the ap-
partition of all those Of the parish who
were to be taken by death before the
next anniversary would be seen enter
ing the porch. The yeoman, like bis
believed most devoully in
this superstition and in the very mo
ment that he breathed the unseemly
aspiration aforesaid it occurred to him
that the eve was at hand, when, by
observing the rite of St. Mark, he
might know to certainty whether
this unchristian wish was to be one of
those that bear fruit. Accordingly, a
little before midnight, he stole quietly
out of the house, and set forth on his
way to the church.
In the meantime, the dame called
to mind the same ceremonial and,
having the like motive for curiosity
with her husband, she also put on her
cloak and calash, and set out, though
by different path, on the same
errand.
The night of the saint was as dar'
and chill as the mysteries Re was sup
posed to reveal the moon throwing
but short occasional glance, as slug.
gish masses OF clouds were diven slow.
ly from her face. Thus it fell that
her two adventures were quite un.
conscious Of being in company till a
glimpse of moonlight showed them to
each other, only few yards apart.
Both, through natural panic, became
as pale as ghosts; and both made
eagerly toward the church porch.
Much as they had wished for this