The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-06-16
CHAPTER vi

THE ELF CHILD AND THE MINISTER.
Governor Bellingham, in loose gown
and easy cap-such as elderly gentlemen
loved to endue themselves with in their
domestic privacy-walked foremost and
appeared to be showing off his estate
and expatiating on his projected i'm
provements. The wide circumference of
an elaborate ruff beneath his gray beard,
in the antiquated fashion of King
James reign, caused his head to look
not little like that of John the Baptist
in a charger. The impression made by
his aspect, SO rigid and severe and FROST
bitten with more than autumnal age,
was hardly in keeping with the appli-
ances of worldly enjoyment wherewith
he had evidently done his utmost to
surround himself.
Behind the governor and Mr.. Wilson
came two other guests, one the Reverend
Arthur Dimmesdale, whom the reader
may remember as having taken brief
and reluctant part in the scene of Hester
Prynne's disgrace, and in close COM
partnership with him old Roger Chill
ingworth, a person of great skill in
physic, who for two or three years past
had been settled in the town. It was
understood that this learned man was
the physician as well as friend of the
young minister, whose health had
severely suffered of late by his too IN
reserved self sacrifice to the labors and
duties of the pastoral relation.
The governor, in advance OF his
visitors, assembled one or two steps and,
throwing open the leaves of the great
hall window, found himself close to
little Pearl The shadow of the curtain
fell on Hester Prynne and partially con-
cealed her.
''What have we here?" said Governor
Bellingham, looking with surprise at the
scarlet little figure before him. 81 pro-
fess have never seen the like since my
days of vanity, in old King James
time, when l was wont to esteem it q
high favor to be admitted to a court
mask! There used to be a swarm Of
these small apparitions in holiday time,
and we called them children of the Lord
of Misrule. But how got such a guest
into my hall?'
''Aye, indeedl'' cried good old Mr..
Wilson. "What little bird of scarlet
plumage may this be? Methinks 1 have
seen just such figures, when the sun has
been shining through richly painted
window and tracing out the golden and
crimson images across the floor. But
that was in the old land. Prithee, young
one, who art thou, and what has allied
thy mother to bedizen thee in this
strange fashion? Art thou a Christian
child-ha? Dost know thy catechism?
Or art thou one of those naughty elfs or
fairies, whom we thought to have left
behind us, with other relics of Papistry.
In merry old England"
81 am mothers child" answered the
scarlet vision, land my name is Pearl"
Pearl? Ruby, rather, or Coral or
Red Rose, at the very least, judging
from thy hue" responded the old min
lister, putting forth his hand in vain
attempt to pat little Pearl on the cheek
''But where is this mother of thine? Ali
see, he added, and turning to Gov
ernor Bellingham whispered, ''This is
the self same child of whom we have
held speech together, and behold here
the unhappy woman, Hester Prynne, her
I mother"
''Sayest thou SOP cried the governor.
''Nay, we might have judged that such
child's mother must needs be scarlet
woman and a worthy type OF her of
| Babylon. But she comes at a good
time, and we viii look into this matter
| forthwith
/ Governor BeIlingham stepped through
the window into the hall. followed by
his three guests
Hester Prynne," said he, fixing his
naturally stern regard ON the wearer of
the scarlet letter, ssthere hath been much
question concerning thee Of late. The
point hath been weightily discussed
whether we. that are OF authority and
influence, do well discharge cur con-
/ sciences by trusting an immortal soul.
such as there is IN yonder child, 70 the
guidance of one who hath stumbled and
fallen amid the pitfalls Of this world