Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-10-18

dark street,
BY the light which shone from {
window of one of the best looking
houses, scholarly face was porine
over a page Of music,
What Il miserable old town this is
Not single good voice could ! heal
at the concert, he murmured pulling
out his watch, 'A'well-sounding but
drunken ditty from their watchmar
at eleven, a half-fnished grunt from
the same at twelve, and now it is ter
minutes past one, my brain full o
notes, and no sound anywhere. Mis-
cradle provincials. Alas what is
that p
"IIark We ncighhors and hear me tell,
one has pealrd from the nightly hcll
! One God above, one Lord indeed,
Who bears Us up in hour Of need
Human watch from harm can't ward us;
God will watch, and God will guard us,
| He, through his eternal might,
Grant Us all a blessed night
He had risen to his feet, and, with
parted lips. listened to the sweet clear
voice that went ringing through the
hush of midnight with an awelnspir.
ing psthos which caused more THAI,
one head, in the sleepy old town, to
turn upon its pillow, and dream, hall
waking, Of an angels nightwatch. =.
Spell bound, the late student, OF
whatever he might be, still listened,
till the voice, stronger and clearer
than before, rose again through the
still air, and made his whole frame
quiver with emotion.
No audience, and such voice
That was no mans. And, angel or
ghost, | must secure it for the king $
chapel.
So saying, he mntllel himself in his
great coat and hurried into the street
4 mantle was just tiuttering out OF
sight around the corner, and he has
tened after it with silent speed.
Again, with mtaiIlng punctnahty,
the strange night watch called the
hour Of one. lnvoluntarlly Ne stood
still and barred his head, For, divine
or human, no ear could listen to that
solitary midnight salut. without awrd
reverence.
Turning the corner he perceived
the owner of the mantle some DIS
tance ahead, pausing occasionally to
peer into the shadow Of buildings,
like a faithful mght-watch.
But that slight figure and airy
footgtep were no mans, Completely
Inv.utird, he continued his shadowln9
Ipursuit with heightened interest.
The figure suddenly halted, and
stopped over dark mass under the
caves Of house. Tiptoeing close be-
hind. under the screening shadow OF
the roofs, hc heard sob, and then a
pleading voice:
Father. dear father, it is your
night watch rise and call,
The shapelcss mass made an effort
to obey. what o'clock :?
Past one. PieaSe repeat after me
father. Think what you promised the
burgomastcr
With an effort he lrawlel after her
the first two lines Of the preceding
verse, then sank back granting some
thing about knowing amy hymns.
The g1rliSh-looking nlght-watch
took up the broken strain with the
strength of despair
"Onc God above, one Lord indeed,
Who bears Us up in hour ofnccd.
Human watch from harm can't ward rs"-
i should think not, as represented
here. You do welt to call on high
er projections broke in the unob2elv-
ed listener as he appeared, hat in
hand, and cast IA look Of mingled Sc
verify and pity at the startled girl,
i think understand the situation,
however, ard, after assisting your
parent home, ! will watch in your
stead for the remaining hours. A
woman should never attempt such a
dangerous duty,
i do not know YOU, and She
broke off with sob as her strange
situation and its probably consc-
quences flashed upon her.
'Fraulein, | am master of the
Court-chapel, be replied, sharply as
serting his questioned honor, as he
resolutely took hold of her fathers
arm, and motioned her to lead the
way.
She oheycd silently. This unlocked
for event seemed to crush her heroic
spirit completely. Together the three
went slowly through the gloomy
streets, until they stopped before the
1n+nh roo,', I11r The oha nell rlaster