The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-01-15
KEZIAH'S PRIDE.
A Romance of New York in the
Time of the Revolution.

In the year 1910, when the country was
in the heat and turmoil of a unique and ex-
citing canvass for the election of a Pres
ident, a gentleman withdrew from business
in New York city to his farm in a quiet
nook in upper Westchester County. Po-
sessed not only of the tastes of a l%iterateur
and ~antiquary, but of the means of graft
flying them, it was his delight to spend his
days in delving into the traditions with
which that country SO richly abounds.
Here the boisterous energy of the politicians
did not reach and the hustle of the world
seemed never to lave penetrated.
Among other tales Of older times that he
gathered was one that SO greatly interested
him that he caused a permanent and visible
remembrance of it to be set up. This was
a plain marble shaft, placed in the village
burying ground, at the head of two mounds
that wind and rain and snow had almost
leveled to the natural contour of the earth.
On it was inscribed these words
Nathan-Keziah.
Separated in life.
: United in death.
The story which was thus commemora-
ted was written out by the gentleman as
follows:
On one sweet-scented Sunday morning in
June, in the year 1774, Pastor Matthews
the old brick church on Salem Hill a SER
mon than which none of his was more ter
rible. The patriarch knew his people well,
and it was his way when there were temp
ests without to urge upon his children the
graces and the comforts of religion, but if
the sun shone and the air was waited into
the church then fragrant with blossoming
clover or the perfume Of the flow
ers on the fruit trees, the awful truths
of Calvin were in arguments CT fifthlies and
sixthlies driven home with prodigious and
dramatic force.
ON this day Pastor Matthews discoursed
on the sinfulness of pride, and to such eff
feet that the farmers sat upright against
the straightforward pews, nor did one of
them sleep, while the matrons hushed the
children with bits CT dried and aromatic
herbs, and with stern frowns, and pursuing
up of the lips that suggested the word
"Hush." 1t was observed that now and
then the eyes of the preacher would rest
for some moments on a pew just beneath
the high-perched pulpit, and that it was
then in his most powerful tones, echoed
down from the massive sounding board,
that he would deliver awful warnings for
those who lived in pride.
So, before the sermon was finished the
congregation, casting about to find that one
to whom the sermon had special applica-
ton, and being somewhat instructed by the
glances from the pulpit, fixed upon the
young man who sat within this pew as the
sinner.
Yet the farmers could not feel that
Nathan Foster was without provecation for
his sin. They remembered his splendid
a land, that his cattle were MANY
and profitable, that none of them had fields
so promising of rich harvests in the weeks
near at hand, and many of them had reason
to know that Nathan was ready to help a
%neighbor who was in distress.
Nor could the matrons find it in their
hearts greatly to accuse him of such sin.
He was well favored: none of the farmers
thereabout were so courteous and kind; he
did NOT DatrOnIZa nor panSa anunNanaa Inv
condescendlng manlers, and without flat
terry, he yet was used to pay those compli-
ments to each, that pleased her most.
Therefore, though the matrons knew
Nathan to be a man of pride, vet they were
disposed to feel annoyed at the preacher
for reminding them OF it, more than dis
pleasure with Nathan for yielding to such
snares of the evil one.
As for the maids, Nathan had offended
none of them, for he had been most cautious
and impartial in such attentions as a hand
some fellow of twenty-five or six is bound
to show to maidens of his neighborhood.
So they, too, were indignant, more or less
according to the nature of each of them, at
the pastor, and they coquetted with their
thoughts as they cast furtive glances at this
young man., who sat so straight, with up
lifted eyes on the pulpit.
No wonder was it that he found favor in
their eyes. He had a forehead smooth and
white as a child's. His cheeks, smooth
"a luNuy OOWu, III Uut cOu-
tour of his face was as sharply defined as
though cut by the keenest chisel. His let
black hair was gathered, after the manner
of that day., into a queue. SO tall was he
that his buff waistcoat was visible over the
pew-top, and everybody knew tha his
sinewy legs were encased in black silk
knee breechcs, with polished buttons at the
knees, and that he wore black silk stockings
and silver buckles Oh his shoes.
Nathan, If he was conscious of the fur.
tive OlannQG that NVora can't hip nov
seemed not so to be. He was, in fact, like
men of keen intellect, holding silent dispu.
tation with the minister. He had not the
slightest suspicion that he was the CHIEF
in all that gloomy church there was no one
who dwelt more in pride and was less con.
scious of it h the preacher himself.
There came to Nathan's ear a cry as Of
cattle in distress, and he turned coward the
window that he might look beyond. Bul
his glance did not stray so far. He en-
countered that which stayed further wan.
dering of his eyes-the dark and handsom,
eyes of Mistress Keziah Hustled. Thil
maid sat with her father in one of tn,
square boxes which the architects of tina
day placed at the extremity of churches
and from which a profile view o
the preacher was obtained. 1t wa,
a seat that afforded choice opportunity
of glancing about the church, and 81
it happened that for a longer time thai
ohO a CC I" 4uloUI Coo htZldu la
suffered her eyes to rest on Nathan's fea
lures. That she had dreamily permitted
maids b~lush-making thoughts to be slim
ulated by her observation was beyond
doubt, for the suddenness with which
Nathan turned hat wa and the plump
square meeting of eye to eye that FOLLOWED
were all too quickly done. for the exercis
of any of The arts of concealment of whicl
Mistress keziah was as fully possessed a
any of her mates. The color ran up her nee
to her cheeks like the flash of red tint on
cloud at sunset. She dropped her eyes il
the confused manner tAat no art can sim
ulate, and made greater betrayal of he
awakened consciousness by gently re
proving her little sister, who sat besid
her, and who showed some indignation a
the unmerited censure. But all this wa
for al instant only. In a moment the mai
denlurely lifted her eyes, fixed them on tn
clergyman, and slowly awayed her fan O
white turkeys feathers.
Litlle more of that sermon heard Natha
Foster. Though from mis- youth up he ha
often seen keZiah's eyes, and had admire
them, too, and though he had kissed her a
the huskings and danced with her at tn
house raisings, and ridden in the great DO
sleigh with her on moonlight and cris
winter nights, yet now he seemed to Sc
her for the first time.
Revelation cnhle to Nathan with sue
suddenness that he seemed almost stunned
SISTER" said Marian a week later, q
they sat OF his porch looking at tie su
that wss setting fs" away over the Hud
son, II pin going y take u wife,"