Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-11-10
CHAPTER XVIII,

Open thyself, Q Earth! and press not heavily;
re easy OF access and approach to him;
So do thou cover him o EarthI
A procession wound gently down the
hill, the girls voices sounded SWeetly as
they went, and made a long echo
through the winding street, so that a
stranger on horseback who met the
children going before, dressed in white.
with white flowers in their little hands.
asked them if they were bound for a
bridal. To which they replied, "Mas-
ter, it is white burying:" while the
older ones, who followed after, answer
ed only with tears, ut is the burying of
our lady with her child"
He wondered, and drew aside. He
thought that only the funeral of maid
Ell or a very young child had been thus:
but she must have been one Of those
whose souls had been
prepared to touch
The whiteSt thought, nor soil it much.
and as he unused, with the low sound of
weeping in the air, there passed him
six young girls, who bore upon their
shoulders something covered with a
snOw-White pail. heaped up with virgin
flowers that scattered an exquisite fra
GRANGE on the air around.
Following them came young children,
also dressed III white. Their voices
took up the dying echo of those who
had gone before, and had a Silvery sound
in the clear soft air
Thou hast stilled
Now thy little lambs brief weeping
All! how peaceful, lone and mild!
In its narrow bed it's sleeping!
And no sign of anguish sore,
HeaveS that little bosom more.
The voices cease. Those before took
up the strain, but this time they sang
of her.
she chief mOurner came in sight.
wrapped in his black cloak, bare-head-
ed with no outward trapping of woe.
save only the set face, the measured
steps, the hard-won composure that
men make shift to bring to such oc-
caSlOn as this.
He walked alone. Doune. who was
to have followed beside him, had fallen
behind and taken the hand OF Frank,
upon whom all eyes that day were fixed.
ct so noble was his face, so manly his
air. so deep and bitter his grief. that
women found it in their hearts to speak
aloud their thoughts OF him as he pass
ed, the little child clinging to his hand.
After him came the Duke, and be-
hind him the head of every family in
Ine county With whom Mr.. Eyre had
been acquainted; last of all the farmers
and the villagers, all bare-headed, and
they made long and weeping follow
ing as they passed on foot through the
village. and up the hill to where the
, churchyard lay.
The air breathed softly-it was one of
those days that Madcap had loved. when
invOluntarily one looked around for the
violets that must surely be springing,
| and the scent OF the thousand flowers
that Franks love had procured con-
| firmed the idea; but Mr.. Eyre, as he
| crushed a blossom beneath his foot,
| thought of Madcap's wish, how she
might die in spring, with good store of
| flowers to cover her."
There was not standing-room in the
little churchyard for the thousands who
| had come from far and near to the bury
! ing, and the voice of the clergyman was
often inaudibIe for the sobs OF those
| who pressed around him. Mr.. Eyre
| alone made no sign, but stood with fold
| ed arms and bent head, as one who
! heard not a SYLLABLE that was uttered,