Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-04-14
Ephraim, the old Bell
ringer.

Everybody III the village OF heeSe-
vile knew who Ephraim was. The
old men knew, and the young boys |
knew. Even the school children could
tell where his home was, and describe
his figure so that a stranger would be
sure to make no mistake in address
ing him. 1t seemed to the younger
generation that they had always
known him, and that when the for
ests. which once covered the hills be-
tween which the river flowed, were
first cleared, and human bones began
to be made in the fertile valley, Eph-
rain must have been some sort of a
relic left from former habitation.
But those who had watched the
village grow, remembered a time
when a 1.-the little figure, with keen,
bright eyes, and strange, startled
air about him got off from the big
four-horse stage coach, which made
daily trips between the lake and the
village, and began to look about, as
if he were either seeking new home
or some obscure place, where he could
with ease hide himself from the curl
Gus eyes, which he seemed to feel
were constantly looking for him.
Pretty soon, however, a little sign
was nailed above the door of a mod
est looking shop, and then the vii
layers knew that "Ephraim Tenny,
Cabinet Shop" was at their disposal
for such jobs as they might intrust to
him.
But work was slow in coming. He
never asked for it, and the startled
appearance in all his demeanor be-
came so prominent that even when
some villager sought his shop he
would seem to avoid accepting the
task, rather than to welcome it as
something which he desired. Still,
when the reserve had been broken,
and friendly relations established, he
had word of cheer and laugh, as
if somewhere in his soul there ives q
fountain of gladness, which would
now and then burst through its re-
straints despite himself. Of course,
under these circumstances, work was
slow in coming, and pretty soon his
shop was given up, and he sought
employment from others. But the
hunted air never seemed to leave him.
Upon the street corners he would Of
ten be seen standing for moment
irresolutely, and then would start off
rapidly, seeking to get out of the
way, and hide himself from human
sight.
Very soon after coming to the vii
lage he attached himself to the church
of which the writer afterwards was
pastor, and during period of relig-
ious interest gained courage to seek
admission to its membership. Thence
forward that church became the OBJ
, ject of his most devoted love. He
loved it as husband loves his wife.
as a parent loves his child. He loved,
] really loved, nothing else. For money,
e for comfort, for friends, he had nc
care in comparison with the house OF
caressing way with which mother
fondles her child. 1t became his
home not only upon the Sabbath but
i, during the week, and after his inter
e est became so manifest and he was
h given the care of its bell and clocl
and the blowing of the organ, i
seemed that more happiness shon,
: from the little mans eyes than they
q had ever known before. AS the years
t went on and his work had dwindle(
d to such little odd jobs, like the filing
( of saws, as were almost thrust upol
i him, he came to be associated in tn,
minds of the villagers more and NOR
:, with the church, and if any wanted
,r to find him they would go to som
one of its doors and call, ''Ephraim !!
," expecting him to appear. IN his noise
y less way, in answer to their call
~ Sometimes he would be found at tn
! organ, having filled its pipes by hi
own blowing and then touching it
e. keys as if it were replying to his 'ca
it ress. Sometimes he would take hi
I station near the furnace register i
y. the lower room and listen to the sci
L. mon all by himself. Often he woul
10 sleep there, frequently take his meal
th in the furnace room. The clock tow
:, er contained his wardrobe. The III
used hymn books in the pastor
n study were his bank of deposit, an
ty an old box near the foundation of til
n, church tower was his safe.
of One night there was fierce fire
e- the village and large hotel near tt
d. church was wrapped in flames. I'll
k, inhabitants were looking to the pr'
'e- lection of their own homes. Ephrai
'S looked to the protection of his hom
;. In the gray dawn of the mornin;
-. through the drifting smoke and amor
ire the thickly falling sparks, the for
of little man was discovered avs
pa up on the ridge pole of the hig
he church, anxiously looking for ea'
- falling spark and with his pail of W
Sc. ter in readiness to put it out, if da
In ger seemed likely to ensue.
lty He had no wife, no child, in da
~ ger-he had no home. But he h
of love, and all this centered in t
zen church; and, with brave hea
,rb,oh M ono IL