Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-12-05
IMPORTING AN ANCESTOR.
D. DAN DE QUILLR

Copyright. inl by American Prss Asseia
tion.l
CHAPTER TX.
Rxv. WALTER NowBRAY-rUNxRAL ORA
TON AND CKRENoNiES
Leaving my father engaged In making
bis many improvements In his plot OF
ground In the Pasonagessit oemetsry,
aided by the friendly counsel Of Rsv.
Nantucket Sperm. Captain Shrimp and
half the village besides. ! went mp to
New York 10 look after Rev. Waltsr
Mowbray.
I found him In excellent health and
spirits. He was so improved In appear
ance that hardly knew him. Both
face and form had plumped out. and he
had well to do look. The man actual.
ly looked 10 years younger than when !
had last seen him. Heinformed me that
he felt nothing but disgust for all kinds
Of liquors and for his former course In
life. He said this feeling was 10 marked
and decided that he was confident 1t was
due to his having been hypnotized, and
added: "Your father was right In what
he did. Il has made my nsw course easy
for me-indeed my easiest course"
He had finished the funeral oration to
his entire satisfaction and was anxious
to deliver II. 1t had been . labor OF love
with him.
Not only was he glad Of an opportuni-
ty Of pleasing and obliging my father,
but also Of the chance afforded for max
ing his exit from his former life In man
ner % conspicuous and decided. At his
first step he would rise to respectability.
All being thus favorable, ! wrote and
informed my father that he might safely
announce In Pasonagessit that on the oc-
casion Of the reinterment Of the ashes OF
our ancestors there would be q discourse,
historical and explanatory. by Rev. Wal.
ter Mowbray, q clergyman Of English
descent who had travelled In many lands,
and who had been for few months So
journing In New York.
My next care was to provide for my
resurrected minister u new suit from
top to toe as fine as could be made In
the city. In this suit he might safely
have assembled any pulpit In the Union
and would have been pronounced cler-
gyman of most distinguished appear
ance. Not only was he now a "nan OF
God" In outward appearance. but also
inwardly-at heart.
Indeed he one day informed me. with
tears Of JOY in his eyes. of what ne
thought strange phenomenon II not an
actual miracle wrought In his case.
This was the fact that all his old reli.
gious fsrvor had returned to him or had
been In some way revived in his heart;
also with this had been restored to him
much Of his youthful religious knowl.
edge-the love Of the good men Of all
times. When I spoke Of all this q few
days later to my father. he said. Sam,
my boy. there Is morein hypnotism than
Is 'dreamt of In our philosophy"
When returned to Pasonagessit with
the magnificent caskets containing the
remains of Sir Archibald and Lady
Eleanor, accompanied by the fine and
benevolent looking clergyman. Rev. Wal.
ter Mowbray. nothing else was talked OF
In the village. The undertaken at once
became the most popular man in town.
Nearly every man and about half Of the
women Of the place invented some ex-
cuse in order to get glimpse OF the cas-
kets and tombstones. The tombstones
effectually dispelled whatever doubts
may have arisen In the minds Of any
Pasonagessit person. They showed for
themselves, and there was no disputing
their antiquity. The undertaken would
have made good thing could he have
ventured upon charging small admis-
sion fee. However, he contented him.
self with the glory Of the commission
that had fallen to him and made the
most Of II. Ieven caught glimpse one
day Of the Bradford Of all the Brad
fords ~ he vanished within the doors
Of the undertaken. Prudence and I put
this down as u ''good sign"
At my fathers house Rev. Mr.. Now
bray was treated as an honored guest.
My mother and sisters were delighted
with him. and he certainly made himself
very agreeable and entertaining. He
and Rev. Nantucket Sperm at once be-
came great friends, and even Captain
Shrimp heartily enjoyed him.
The great day appointed for the rein.
terment Of our sncestors-bogus and
genuine-at last arrived. All the truest,
bluest blood Of New England was pres
ent. There was great curiosity to hear
the history Of our ancestors from over
the sea. II had been my fathers plan to
convey the caskets to the cemetery and
have the funeral discourse delivered In
the open air. but II being represented TO
him that there were many very aged
persons In Pasonagessit desirous OF hear.
ing Rev. Mr.. Mowbray who would find
the fatigue Of standing too great he al.
tered this part Of his programme In def.
erencs to tho generally expressed wish
Of the villagers. The people of the town
begged that the discourse be delivered In
the principal church. where all could be
comfortably seated. My father cheer.
fully consented to this proposition.
This change greatly pleased Rev.
Walter Mowbray, the dearest wish Of
whose heart was once more to ascend 4
pulpit.
In conformity with the change Of
programme all the caskets, seven In mum.
Der, were transported from the under.
takers to the church, and the bright
array was surveyed by my father with
infinite satisfaction.
was glad to note the presence OF
Amariah Bradford, even though crouch.
ed In an obscure corner. Prudence was
Of course present and thought looking
somewhat anxious, for she knew not
what would be the tenor Of the disc0urse
and feared something might be said that
would touch the pride Of her father and
perhaps arouse his wrath.
While we were awaiting the gathering
Of the people Rev. Nantucket Sperm
came TO where we were seated and said
to my father: at is good In these days.
given too much to the whirl and rush
Incident to the race after wealth and the
worship VI Msinmon, to see one man In
our community who halts and turns
aside to do honor 10 the bones and ashes
Of his ancestors. Mr.. johnson. you have
sst an example In this village which Is
being followed. Your action, sir. u bear
Ing good fruit"