Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-12-14

A broad beam of ruddy light flashed
out over the snow. A bluff-faccd man
bent over him and shook him vigorous
ly. "Come, my man, he said, " this
won't dol Another half-hour and you'd
never have heard the Christmas bells"
The man dragged him inside and looked
at him half-curiously. half compassion
ately. "Tramp, ehP" he calculated.
"Well, even a tramp ought to have
shelter night like this. Wait here till
you feel better"
The stranger looked stupidity around
him. Above his head rose n vaultcd
roof supported by. lofty columns around
which were wreathcd long strings of
evergreens, frightened here and there
by sprays of flaming. holly. Some
church, of course, but everything
looked strange and unfamiliar. The
bluff-faced man stood on q step-ladder
busily engaged in fashioning in ever
greens motto on the wall. His guest
looked on, fascinated as the sentence
grew under the makers deft fingers.
!" Unto us child is born-unto us
Son"-it read at last; and as its mean
ing grew upon him he groaned aloud.
The sexton, as he evidently was,
turned around pleasantly. Coming
round, see," he said. "Well, now,
I've been thinking that it, hardly right
to send you out again tonight. Sup
pose you stay and help me, and I'll see
you through on bed and breakfast"
"Why, you don't know anything
about me-" said the other, slowly.
"Tll risk all that. just come up
here and finish out this sentence.
Here's the rest Of it written out on this
piece of paper"
II know it well enough-I don't
want the paper" said the stranger
roughly; then changing his tone, he
added: al beg your pardon for speak
ing hastily. just give me the greens
and I'll do my best. -
"Well, you are queer chap?' said
the sexton, reectively, "but Jim
Davidson doesn't go back on his word,
and I'll do as | said. Here are the
greens, and you'll find the holly over
there in the corner"
The two men worked on in silence for
some moments; then came n knock at
thel door, and the sexton disappeared
for a moment. "Only the rector" he
explained, as he came back and met his
companions inquirirg glance. "He
always comes to the church Christmas
Eve and waits till the bells begin to
ring-leastway he's always done so
since he took charge here, and that's
nine years ago. don't know what he
does here and l suppose its his own
business, anyway. Well, my lad, and
what is it now?" turning to boy who
had been vainly endeavoring to attract
his attention.
"Please, sir, and there's gentleman
down at your house that must see you
at once-important business"
"Tell him to come up here, Jimmy.
It's nigh to twelve, and I'll have to be
on hand to ring the BELLS"
'He says, Mr.. Davidson, that he can't
possibly come up to the church, but that
he won't keep you but moment"
"Well. suppose / might run around
for minute or so,n hesitated the SEX
ton. Then, turning to the stranger,
who had stood silently looking on:
"You'll start the bells for me if
shouldn't get back in time, won't youf
Here are the ropes, and you can easily
get the knack. I'll be back, though
| think, in time"
He threw on his overcoat and started
for the door, then stopped, and turning
around with q curious expression on hi!
face, walked up to little closet set il
the wall. Closing the door, which wal
partially open, he locked it, and slip
ping the key in his pocket went out il
silence.
"Who's that in the churcf
with you, Davidsonp" inquired the
rector as he put off his heavy overcoat
"Only poor fellow that l fount
half frozen to death on the steps, sir
I'm keeping him with me to help dres
the church, and Pm thinking I'll hell
him to lodging tonight. It's bite
weather to be about outside,"
"Quite right. You might ask him t.
, come and see me tomorrow. DON
, letlne be disturbed Just now, though
Rev. Arthur Drayton, rector of ST
Peters, raked the Goals down in tn
glowing CRATE and then, drawing up al
easy-chair, sat down before the fire.
handsome man, most people would hav
called him. 1ron-gray hair and beard
: clear, clean-cut features, mouth some
what too much compressed, perhaps
, but altogether o face that exacted re
spect, if nothing more. No one of hi
numerous acquaintances pretended t,
really know him. His parishioners re
spected and looked up to him, but the
never offered him their confidence an
, he never seemed to expect it. At an
rate, he never showed the slightest dis
position to bestow his upon them. HI
lived apart, and people respected hi
seclusion. His past history none knew
although many coniectured that he ha
seen trouble. However, there are al
ways some people ready to set up an,
number of theories for any given set Q
facts.
| Rev. Arthur Drayton looked long an
|, earnestly into the glowing Goals, and a
he looked his thoughts wandered bac
to days that had long gone past, an
this is what he saw. "A young man jus
entering upon his first pastoral charge
, strong in love and enthusiasm for hi
calling. A year of happiness that passe
; like dream, and then long days c
,, pain and sorrow that saw him bendin
over the bedside of his wife, watchin
her drift away from his strong yet, al
{ how helpless grasp! A time of blan
unconsciousness, and then the laughte
of his baby son ringing in his ears cal
ing him back to take up the burden c
life again. A sweet child's face wit
! big black eyes and long clustering curl
comes before him now. His eyes NJ
growing dim, and when he looks agai
/ II has disappeared. The years roll b
, all too soon. and now the night is con
ing on. 1t is in his old church and h
is looking down sternly-unforgivingl
= -on his son bending for pardon at hi
feet. There come hard and bitter word
that he would fain forget; then the doc
slams and he is standing alone in th
+ deserted church listening to the sounC
ing mockery of the Christmas bells.
/, He pushed back his chair from til
fire and covered his face with his hands
I The fire sinks lower and lower, unit
r only a little heap of cold and iifele:
A ashes remains, but still he sits thei
motionless in silence.
a The heavy door slamme
1 behind Sexton Davidson. sendinO lont