The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-13

nm SExzre NAA1zHnaCoCA
(, There were two peculiar things that no
marked about tho little brick meeting house on
the hill 1t Newasgen. The first was the fact
that II had once been chained 10 the ground. -
are some structures on mountain submits.
Big iron eyebolts were to DO seen In the ledge
on each side Of the meeting house. and to one
Of them was still attached q rusty link Of heavy
chain. The hill was not high. A stoep path
led down to tho Harbor. and you could count
the shingles on the roofs Of tho square. old
fashioned houses. On the other side Of the bill
was Doggy meadow. with scattering rlcks Of
salt hay. bonneted with aged canvas. The front
Of the church breasted the wind that blew
IN across the islands from the ocean.
The second unusual feature was the vane ON
the stubby steeple. The vane was q great gilt
Goldfish. evidently very sensitive to atmospheric
Influences. Its nose wavered ncrvously between
south.southeast and southeast by east.
why was the meetin' house tied down to
The rookf" repeated my companion. Deacon
and Captain Silas Bibber. well. I'll tell ye.
Because the congregation allowed that this
here hill was flttiner location for house O.
II
. The Deacon and Captain paused to shy
Stone ct . disreputable sheep that was foragins
amonR the gravestones.
Why do wo fly weathercod instid OF q
Wsathefcock 2" he continued. IN toll ye Be.
cause the ROSTERS the Devils own bird"
He stopped for another missile just a. the
excited sheep. which had been surreptitiously
Ranking him while Watching his movements
with vigilant eyes, cleared the stone wall at
plunge and disappeared over the edge OF the hill.
"Durn the oritter!" remarked the Deacon
and Captain.
The unwritten legends Of the coast OF Maine
arc kept by q generation that IL rapidly going.
Men and women are pretty old now who were
young In the Golden Ago Of the seaport towns;
when not only Portland and Bath and Wiscas-
Get and the places to the eastward but also all
the little settlements wedged In between rock
and wave enjoyed solid prosperity. based on
IN adventurous spirit and keen commercial In
sight In the matters Of Matanzas molasses and
Jamaica rum. Between the Maine towns and
the West Indian ports there was and is a
straight ocean way. Time was when direct
communication with foreign parts brought
sharp and interesting contrasts into the daily
LIE Of the coast people. This was the time.
too. when the prevailing orthodoxy in theo-
logical doctrine still left room for curious and
In some respects peculiar approximation that
concerned itself chiefly with the malevolent
enterprises Of the Enemy d Mankind.
Il appears from Captain silas's narrative that
about fifty years ago Parson Purington was
the chief bulwark Of the faithful against the
DEVILS assaults upon Newaggen. The Parson
was hard hitter. both In petition and In ex-
II uao hal AZ ho
Harbor. and for miles both ways along tho
coast. that nothing worried the Evil One half
20 much as Parson Purington's double hour
discourses. mercllessly exposing his character.
exhibiting his most secret plans. and defying
his worst endeavors.
II was partly this feeling OF triumph and
pride In the prowess OF their champion that
led the congregation to construct substantial
church edlflce. conspiouously situated on top
OF the hill. and possessing both o steeple and .
bell that could DO heard as far out at sea as
Ragged Tail Island. with the wind favorable.
The Parson himself chose the site. He eagerly
watched the progress OF the workmen. and his
heart was In every additional brick that went
into the walls.
At half past eleven o'clock one moonlight Sat-
urday night. Just after the last touch OF gilt had
been put on the fine rooster vane-the dona-
ton Of an unknown friend-Parson burlington
assembled tho hill on purpose to delight his
eyes with the completed structure Imagine
the establishment with which the good man dis
covered that no meeting house was therel No
Weathercock. no steeple. no belfry. no brick
walls and wooden portico. not oven tho faint
est trace OF foundation or cellari
E The Parson stamped his feet to sec II he was
awake He wondered II the three tumblerfuls Of
hot rum toddy with which his daughter Susan
nah had fortified him against the night air
Z could have played his senses such trick He
rubbed his eyes and stared at the moon. Tho
round face OF that lumlnary presented Its usual
aspect He gazed Mt the village under the hill
The well-known houses in which his parish.
toners slumbcred were all distinctly visible In
the moonlight. He saw the ocean. the islands,
. the harbor. the scKooners at the wharves. the
streets. He even made out the solitary figure
OF Peleg Trott. zigzagging home from the
tavern. as II beating against head wind. The
Parson tried to shout to Peleg Trott. but found
that he had no voice for the effort Every
thing In the neighborhood was as 1t should
( Be. except that the new meeting house had dis.
\ appeared.
: Dazed By that tremendous fact the Parson
wandered aimlessly about the summit OF tho
hill for fully half an hour. Then he perceived
that he was not alone. for q tall Individual
WS0pp0N iu - ui0cA Codt. Sdb upOu tu0 btOu0
wall The stranger looked like Spaniard or
Portugee. His elbows were on his knees his
CHA Was In his hands. and he was watching
the Parsons movements with obvious interest
May vonturo to inquire. said the stranger
whether you are looking for anythinR2"
& Sir" the Parson replied. II am sorely per.
I picked. came hither expecting to behold the
sacred ediflce In which am to preach to-mor.
row morning for the first time. from text In
thirteenth Revelations. Not longer ago than
this afternoon 1t occupied the Very spot on
I which We stand"
Alb. q Lost meeting houser said the stran-
y eer. oarelessly. Pray. is It DOT customary In
! this part OF tho world to send out the Crior
I With his bell when they stray or are stolenp"
There was something in the tone OF voice
which caused the Parson to inspect his COM
psnion more closely thap beforo. Tho tall for.
elgner withstood the scrutiny with perfect COM
posure. twirling his black mustachios. His eyes
were bright and stendy. and they seemed to
STOW brighter as the Parson gazed into them.
WE'LL" said the stranger at last Il fancy
you would know me again."
srlr Z l,ro - n.