Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-09

An Exciting story OF Modern Life
CHAPTER /.
TIE MONKS BEouEsT.

CHAPTER /.
THE MONK $ REQUEST.
The night was closing over the capital
of Ceylon-the night Of the Orient, when
the intense and scarifying glare of day is
exchanged for the soft radiance of myriad
stars, Of n magnitude and brilliance I'M
known in Northern ATTITUDES.
But there were many spots in Columbo
which their pale light couldnot penetrate
and one was the colossal avenue OF cryp-
tomeria that overshadowed the way to
the magnificent Buddhist Temple which
for twenty-five centuries has inculcated
the teaching Of the greatest Hindu.
The tolling of its bronze bell was the
only sound that broke the solemn still
ness MS young man, who had assembled
the sacred hill from the city, toiled up
the wide fight of stone stairs that stretch
ed away mysteriously into the deep dark
ness on either side of him.
| He was not pricst-not even native
Singhalese coming to offer bronze Ian
tern Mt Gautama's shrine.
| His dress proclaimed him European,
and his face showed him to be an English
man. He was, in fact, Mr.. Cecil Chester
ton, under secretary to the treasurer.
| For more than four years he had been
a constant pilgrim to this lonely sanctuary,
and his friends down at the Government
House had almost grown tired of joking
him about shaving his head and DOMINIC
the white robe of the Shinto monk.
AS Chesterton passed the gate of the
final court, and entered the dimness Of
the golden temple, priest in silk-bro-
caded vestment was lighting the candles
on the altar, above which was throned a
golden Buddha, with the lotus blossom,
emblem of purity, in his hand, and on
his face that look of unutterable repose
which is the highest blessing his follow
ers can hopefor.
The perfume of fresh incense filled the
place with drowsy fragrance as the
priest moved about, swaying his censor,
till he perceived Cecil Chesterton stand
ing in the entrance, when he Mt once ap-
preached him, and said, in his native
tongue, "a few hours more would be too
late. Tonight he will obtain rest"
81 came to bid him farewell, respond
ed the Englishman, sadly.
II Without more words the two then pass
ed out into the night, and after silent
transit across polished courtyard, enter
ed an unpretentious wooden structure in
its rear. 1t was the Buddhist convent.
| IL
the regular priests. The sound of lew,
dirge-like chant smote the ears of the
Englishman MS he entered the building
and 1t grew more distinct as he followed
his guide into the interior. At last they
reached the singers, seated in a row on
the ground, opposite doorway across
which mat was hung. They were nco.
: phytes chanting the "Nunc Dimittis' of
, their departing mastcr,-a hymn full of
! the Oriental disrelish for life -
4 "All things arc transient;
| They being born, must die;
And being born, are dead;
And being dead are glad TO he al rest.
At a sign from the priest the chanters
ceased, and sat as still as row OF carved
, images whilst the mat was lifted and Ches-
, terton and his guide entered the room.
, 1t possessed the exquisite cleanliness
which is the distinctive feature of Budd-
: hism, though to European eyes it looked
Y bare.
n The floor, ceilings, and walls were all
]. of light polished wood, and the only fur
r niture the room contained was a bronze
t lamp depending from the roof and three
: white Angora mats. On one of them re-
: clined the man for whose approaching de-
!. mise the dirge was sung. He had the
!. shaved head and white robe of the Budd
' hist monk, and first glance at his wasted
;. features showed how nearly he had at
n tanned to that Nirvana which was his
= name for heaven.
# 81 am waiting to make last confidence
to You before enter rest" said the dying
# man, extending to Cecil thin, dark. deli
d he said, gently, "Brother, leave me,
l. pray you, awhile alone with the young
n Feringhee' (Englishman).
The regular withdrew at once, and &c
J. Gil seated himself on the mat nearest tn,
P dying monk. He had occupied that sea
!, nearly every day for four years, and thu
u knowledge that he was doing so now TO-
J.. the last time made his heart heavy ant
= his eyes dim.
N A tie, not easily accountable to
~ stranger, bound together these two men
\, SO different in age, nationality, ant
h creed.
70 The nearest clue to it doubtless cxiste,
" in Cecil's passionate devotion to knowl
le edge, and his deep generation for good
ness wherever found.
m The self-sacrificing life of the grea
fe Hindoo reforner aroused his ardent nd
ST miration when he was youth at college
and it was the desire to study the Tripi
m TAXA, or Buddhist gospel, in the land @
N its production which decided him to ell
IN ter the Indian Civil Service. He made
u, his first business, on arriving at Colunl
co DO, to seek out Sanscrit teacher; and
ID chance. ever blessed in his memory
nj brought him to the feet of Sakra Mum
en- one of the most pious profound Budd
of hists of his day.
The enthusiasm of the pupil natural
as secured the attachment of the master
G. who now invariably called him ''his whit
H. son > whilst in Cecils heart there was
ly strong filial feeling for the old man, who's
life and religion was so sad, yet so sui
lime.
Three score years of high thinking an
les low living was about to close and whc
g- we love person, it makes small diffe
%. ence to our sorrow that his skin is of
different tint from our own, or that /
calls the hope of Immortality by anotht
name.
he at is hard to think our many commul
on ings are over" said Cecil, trcmulousl
ed pressing the thin hand he held. "But
,us shall never forget your teachings,
he cease to reverence them"
1t 81 commend you to tho Great Enligh
raj ener my white son., said the dying ma
nd feebly. His disciples pass away, but h
de doctrines live on. But now my momen
on wax few, and there remains matter
cx- this world to settle before l am absorbt
, i.s in the Divine repose Put out your rigl
l uiG hand, and open the breast of my rob
u" Within its folds is concealed silken ba
10 You feel it? Draw it out. You have i
hut Well, now open it its contents are youi
far l have no earthly heir; you are the 81
nut. of my soul. To your charge contido Il
ac- only worldly possession. Guard it wei
it it is talisman that you may use, thoul