Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-06-25
CHAPTER XVI.
THE NEW ENGLAND HOLIDAY,

THE NEW ENGLAND HOLIDAY.
Betimes in the morning of the day on
which the new governor was to receive
his Office at the hands of the people,
Hester Prynne and little Pearl came
into the market place. 1t was already
thronged with the craftsmen and other
plebeian inhabitants of the town i'll con-
siderable numbers, among whom, like
wise, were many rough figures, whose
attire of deerskins marked them as be-
longing to some of the forest settlements
which surrounded the little metropolis
of the colony.
On this public holiday, as on all other
occasions for seven years past, Hester
was clad in garment Of coarse gray
cloth. Not more by its hue than by
some indescribable popularity in its
fashion, it had the effect of making her
fade personally out of sight and outline,
while again the scarlet letter brought
her back from this twilight indistinct-
ness and revealed her under the moral
aspect of its own illumination. Her
face, so long familiar to the townspeo-
pie, showed the marble quietude which
they were accustomed to behold there.
1t was like mask, or rather like the
frozen calmness Of dead woman's fea-
lures, owing this dreary resemblance to
the fact that Hester was actually dead
in respect to any claim of sympathy
and had departed out Of the world
with which she still seemed to mingle
Pearl was decked out with airy gayety
1t would have been impossible to guess
that this bright and sunny apparition
owed its existence to the shape of gloomy
gray; or that fancy, at once so gor-
geous and so delicate as must have been
requisite to contrive the child's apparel,
was the same that had achieved task
perhaps more difficult in imparting so
distinct popularity to Hester's simple
robe. The dress, SO proper was it to
little Pearl, seemed an effiucnce, or in
evitable development and outward man
Hesitation of her character, no more to
be separated from her than the many
hued brilhancy from butterfiy's wing.
or the painted glory from the leaf of a
bright flower. AS with these, SO with
the child; her garb was all of one idea
with her nature. On this eventful day,
moreover, there was certain singular
inquietude and excitement in her mood,
resembling nothing so much as the SHIN
mer of a diamond, that sparkles and
flashes with the varied throbbings of the
breast on which it is displayed.
Children have always sympathy in
the agitations of those connected with
them; always, especially sense Of any
trouble or impending revolution Of what
ever kind in domestic circumstances,
and therefore Pearl, who was the gem
ON her mothers unquiet bosom, betrayed
by the very dance Of her spirits the emo
tons which none could detect in the
marble passiveness of Hester's brow.
This effervescence made her fit with
birdlike movement, rather than walk
by her mothers side. She broke con
tinually into shouts of a wild, inarticu-
late and sometimes piercing music.
When they reached the market place she
became still more restless on perceiving
the stir and hustle that enlivened the
spot, for it was usually more like the
broad and lonesome green before vii
lage meeting house than the center Of a
towns business.
why, what is this, mother cried
she Wherefore have all the people
left their work today: Is It play day
for the whole world? See, there is the
blacksmith He has washed his sooty
face and nut on his Sabbath day clothes
and looks as if he would gladly be merry
if any kind body would only teach him
howl And there is Master Bracket, the
old jailer, nodding and smiling at me.
Why does he do so, mother
HE remembers thee little babe, my
child, answered Hester.
HE should not nod and smile at me
for all that-the black, grim, ugly eyed
old manr said Pearl. He may nod at
thee, if he viii; for thou art clad III
gray and wearest the scarlet letter. But