Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-12-24
THE BELLS OF C6NNYyILLE.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.

= ON . beautiful summers afternoon, more
than fifty years ago, the good people of
Connyville hung chime of bells in the ivy
mantled belfry OF st. Johns Church; and
after the good parish minister had preached
sermon appropriate to the occasion; it was
voted, as their sexton was growing feeble,
that Ezra Potts should in future be in
trusted with the care Of the little church and
the ringing of the fine musical bells that had
just been hung In the belfry. So Ezra Potts
was made sexton, and though, thirty years
had passed away since the day the chimes
were hung, yet he still performed the simple
duties of his long continued office.
He had grown to be nearly fifty mine years
old, and though his dark hair was tfnged
with silver, his step was firm and light
was a sturdy fellow, this Ere Potts, with a
broad, smooth, genial face-a good and
merry heart will smooth over u sight of
wrinkles-and his eyes were as brimful of
mirth as they could be. In fact, this Ezra
Potts was as good a man as you often meet.
called him Father Potts, and the older folks
all loved him, too, and would shake the hon
est hand and speak to him es Brother Potts.
Yes, he was nearly fifty-nine the Christ
mas eve he lighted his lantern and left his
cosy cottage to 20 up the hill through the
on every Christmas eve since the bells first
came to Connyville. He was very happy
that night as he walked up the village street,
past the shop windows gay with toys and
bric.a-brac,, and merry with the groups Of
children gathered round to feast their eyes
and chatter with their boisterous tongues,
for he had in mind the happiness abroad
that night and the Joy that would be awak-
ened with the children In the morning. Be-
sides, he mad bought his wife a new gown
and . large print Bible, which he knew
would please her very much, and little
lame girl down the street would find WELL
filled stocking beside her bed in the morn.
Ing, and she would guess that Father Potts
put 1t there. ~
But amidst all this gayety and his own
happiness there was something thattroubled
him, and sigh escaped his lips, and invol-
UNFAIRLY he walked slower as he ascended the
hill 10 ring st. Johns bell; and rs he wend.
ed on his busy thoughts were drifting ter
years back, when his daughter Kitty was
seyenteen--a bright, pretty girl she was, Pc
In manner that made her fayorite with all
the good people of Connyvile. He, Ezra
loved that girl with all his great might and
mind; she was such winsOme creature Il
would have been hard, indeed, for anybody
to do otherwise; but II he loved her toe
fondly he was rebuked, God knows, and bit.
terly, too.
As the modest little belle of that quiet vii.
la Kitty had many suitors, for the righ,
SOFT Of girl will turn the heads of half thu
swains in any village; but the most favored
one was Ephraini Bates, a reputable young
loved as he would have loved his son, an(
after varied courtship of little ups and
downs, for they had their quarrels ant
reconciliations which go to make up tn,
spicy sum of human love affairs, he, In tn,
early spring time, In his bashful, awkward
way, asked for her hand, which she-sh,
loved to tease the fellow-granted him, af
ter keeping him In agony for month wait
ing for her answer, when she could hav,
told him on the spot he might have 1t II h,
wanted. They were very happy till Jun,
came, with Its balmy air and fragrant bios
SONS, for with 1t came wild, handsome
fellow up from the city down by the sea I.
while away his time among the hills AM
trout brooks of Connyville. Now he foun,
Kitty out and made her acquaintance; and
brilliant, well -mannered fellow such as h
was just the sort TO turn the head of sim
ple-hearted girl like Kitty, who. knew bu
little Of the life beyond her native village, o
OF the artifices OF handsome, reckless men.
Ezra noticed the change In her with paine
anxiety, but he held his tongue, hoping tn
that Kitty would as soon forget him
Ephraim was madly Jealous Of such arden
devotion to his betrothed, and one eyenin
when he had come down from his farm o
the hill to call on Kitty he said, in his blur
way W tn,s g,onng gin man from the ct
slst on having II stopped" ,,T
"What silly, nonseisical boy YOU are,
laughed Kitty In the gayest manner posi-
Bile, AZ though II was the very funniest thin
In the world.
Maybe am," he said with sorrowfl
sigh. ~ But You are not treating me as
ought TO be treated, as you would want to !
treated.o ioffA' III SrI fF b
| "How do you want to be treatedW sh
asked, coaxngiy. sff
"Just as you would want me TO trei
you,n he replied. s'Now SUPPOSE and
fixed himself as II he was about making
great and valid point al should run ha
my time with Susie Phelps or Sally Brown
how would you like thatb
'!Iiow would j like thatfn she cries
Iaughing n the hesrtiest and most proyokig