The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-08-14
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The Statue.

| II traveller ChIllc 10 u certain great Guy,
and as he entered through one of its wide
gates passeI-by spoke to him.
welcome, sir" said the citizen. II saw
by your dress that you were Il stranger and
make bold to accost you"
Your welcome is most courteous" an
swered the traveller, land thank you for it"
You must not tail TO see the statue in our
mar ket- place" said The citizen. eve take
great pride in it, and for my part consider
myself fortunate in being one of the commu-
niLy that owns so fine work Of art and so
grand a memorial"
Il shall certainly take pains to see it" an
swered the traveller, bowling to the citizen as
he passed on
So when the traveller had made his way
| into the city he paused for moment, won
dering in which direction the market place
lay. As he stood in doubt. another Gill
zen presented himself, hat in hand.
| You seem unfamiliar with our city," said
the new conner, politely. "If you are seek
ing the marke. place l can easily direct you
to it."
"You are right in your superstition" said
the traveller.
Naturally" said the citizen, smiling. "All
| the world comes to see our great statue; and
l have pointed out the way to many. 1t
| would be strange if did not know it, for it
statue in the market place. | am fortunate
enough to be one of the town council"
"My respects to YOU" said the traveller
saluting him.
Follow this straight course" said the
councilman, pointing, and ask again when
you come to the open park"
Bidding the citizen good day, the traveller
proceeded upon his way; nor did he pause
until he had come to the park. Then, as he
had been instructed to do, he made further
inquiry at the door OF a little shop.
Eyes, indeed, can tell you." said the wo-
man who came to the door, "for it was my
husband who designed the pedestal for it,
John l--another stranger TO see the statue"
"In moment" said her husband, from the
back of the shop. How do you do, sir ?"
lie asked, as he greeted the traveller. "Your
| face seems TO me familiar one. Where have
| seen you? Never been here before All,
| l must have been mistaken. A chance re-
semblance, no doubt Turn to the right, and
| follow this wall, and you will soon reach the
statue, for which designed the pedestal, as
the good people of this town will tell you"
| The traveller withdrew, and walked leisure
ly along by the wall. At the first corner he
met workingman who was carving a bit of
stone work on fence post
"a stranger, sir 7" inquired the work
|
the statue, no doubt ?'
EYES," said the traveller.
"A good bit of work, and we'll worth your
time. Many's the long day l have worked
over it. | carved the block, and never did
better bit of work Turn to the left-but,
wait Here is a man who can show you the
way. Henry I"
AS he spoke man who was driving
heavy wagon drew up near the side walk
| "Can you show this gentleman the way to
the statue :"
Can l ?--when you know well enough
that | drew the statue TO its place with this
very horse and wagon. Come, my friend,
follow me. Or better still, get up on my
wagon and I'll take you there. You're q light
er load that that bit of hewed stone, war
rant you"'
So the traveller mounted upon the wagon,
| and was soon at the markt place, and stood
before the statue itself.
As he gazed up at it, another citizen ad-
dressed him.
"Admiring the statue, eh Well, itsa
noble bit OF art, and credit to the place
| Every stranger says So"
ut seems well done and well kept replied
the traveller, quietly.
well kept? To be sure it is we'll kept!
Would the council of the town have me here
if didn't attend to my duty Perhaps you
don't know that am the custodian of this
work of art, Nor well, l am. Yes, you
see before you the statue-keeper. It's great
responsibility but there, there the towns
people don't complain, SO Isuppose my work
is not so badly done"
"Who is it?' asked the traveller.
"Oh, never thought to ask" said the man;
unconcernedly. Maybe I've heard the
name no doubt have. But l've forgotten
it long since
The traveller thanked the fellow and gave
him silver coin. Then he departed from
out the city. But as he went through the
gate in the city wall there was boy playing
marbles near by, for now the schooi-hours
were over. And as the traveller passed him
the boy looked to see whose shadow fell on
the wall and then the boy sprang to his feet
and said:
"Seel See There is the man whose statue
stands in the market-place !"
And so it was but none else in the city
knew anything beyond their stone image of
| the man.
"You were asleep and dreaming in the
sun p' the people said, when the boy told his
story. And as the traveller never came again,
even the boy himself began as he grew older
| to think it was dream, so real seemed the
the statue, compared to his faint memory of
the great one in whose honor it stood aloft.