The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-02-22
THE SEXTON'S STORY.
Many Memories Recalled Beside an
Open Grave.


but had been so absorbed with the
beauties Of the scenery that [ had not
realized the fast approaching shower
till the first great drops which herald
the coming tempest battered around
me, now and then one striking me and
going through my thin summer coat.
looked up and saw that I was just
passing the gate Of a country cemetery,
and a short distance from the gate I
espied clunp of trees, under which
thought l might find temporary shelter
from the dash of rain that I knew
would soon be upon me.
Passing through the gate, went up
the pathway a short distance and dis
covered a rustic house in the center Of
the group of trees which had seen
from the road. I started toward this
house, when flash Of lightning nearly
blinded me.
When l. recovered from the shock,
the clouds had gathered so thickly that
1peered into darkness as I approached
the rustic house. AS I was entering
the door an apparent apparition arose
before me, and started back at the
a long, snoW-white beard and hollow
eyes, who looked as if he might be
tenant of one of the old graves near by.
But a welcome from him, uttered in
very pleasant voice, treasured me, and
I entered just as the shower burst in
all it's fury.
AS 1 took a seat beside the old man,
he said:
Rather dismal place to be caught
in thunder shower, isn't it?"
"We11, yes" I answered, est is so. l
am glad have company. But how
happened you to be here at this time,
if l may ask?"
''Why, certainly you may ask such
question. am here to prepare place
for one Of my tenants. You see have
been sexton of this cemetery for forty
years, and have come to look upon all
the inmates as my tenants"
looked little way from where we
sat, and the pile of fresh earth indicat-
ed the place where he had made pre-
paration for the new tenant.
Another binding flash of lightning
made me involuntarily start, and as the
peal VI GAuuucE W11Cu 4O11OWCO OICO
away said:
Forty years! that's long time. I
suppose you could tell some interesting
stories from your experience here?"
eyes," answered the old sexton; eff
I had the faculty of storytelling l
could find enough to make many stor-
les"
"Whose grave are you making ready
now?" queried.
"Mrs. Trescott's," he said, in mus.
ing manner, and asked:
"And who might Mrs. Prescott be?"
The old sexton sat IN a study for a
moment, and then replied:
"Who was Mrs. Prescott? Well, I'll
have to begin at the beginning. Sixty
years ago Thomas and Robert Ed
,munds came to this town from Eng
land. The two men were brothers and
had married sisters. Thomas, the eld-
est, was widower with one daughter,
three years of age. Roberts wife was
an invalid, and their family consisted
of son, also three years old.
''These two brothers built those two
houses that you can get glimpse Of
over the tops Of the trees yonder. The
houses stand side by side, and in the
rear between the two stands a garden
er's house, where lived Richard Tres
colt, gardener whom the Edmunds
brothers had brought with them from
England. Richard Trescott's wife was
q thorough lady, and they had one son,
Richard Tr fO71r wears of aUe