The herald., 1894-12-25
A GOOD ENGAGEMENT,
TO LAST FOREVER,
[BY THOMAS KElRNs. COMEDIAN. ]


Had they known him to be play
actor in his lifetime it would not have
helped him along in their Estimation
for John Hopes was somewhat OF an
enigma to his neghbors; they knew
little Of him, and he never had visitors; !;
he made con6dant OF no one, for he
never held converge with anyone for
sny length OF time.
He was never seen going to church,
and yet the great st. PsuPs cathedral
WAS just next door. Still. it was not
because he did not love the dear old
church, su contraire. he loved every
fibre in its mighty structure, and its
chimes, and the great bell that used to
ring on when the chimes were finished
and the great organ that used to thunder
forth the Kyrie, and murmur plaintive
"eti ncaruatus" at intervals during the
asa-he loved them, il possible. better.
The AngeluR had awakened him at the
same time every morning for the past 10
years, and the groat organs euphony
caused him many q retrospect OF the
olden time that oaly music can bring.
He was 80 years old, if day. aud it
was Dsce ember--but that msttered little,
1t was always December with him now.
The snow that ushered in tn Christmas
morning seemed to set itself as q rival
to the whitepess of the old mans locks !;
the wintry fakes had harmlessly bat
tered sgsinst his window pane season
after season. seemingly indeiatieable in
their efforts to gain an entrance bens sth
the well-worn frame.
When he awoke ia the morning he
kindlsd the fire sparingly, and its sullen
chickering's were not in accord with the
bright peRlnga OF the merry bells next
door. During the progreas of the morn
ing the little tirs on the hearth burned
not SO brightly al it WAS wont to do for
60 many yaare ia the same old place; it
might have been from lack Of fuel, sure
ly not from laxity OF attention, for it
seemed ss though (if there was any May
time in his life OF Dacsmber) it came to
him through this little fire. Csrtain it
Was that the monthly stipend he re-
ceived from the government in the way
OF pension for honorable service in the
late War OF Brothers" Was littla tardy
for the month OF Decem ber, and it may
be this WAS IN & measure ths cause OF the
fires eullenuess. His larder was nsocked
to of-s.and the wolf few days at least,
go he did not foar that foe; he hsd but a
small part Of dollar. the only remnant
OF the previous months allowance.
The bell that rung in the faithful for
each hourly service had almost finished
its task for ths day when John Hopes
arose from his well worn Grm- chair and
tottsred to the window; from his stt;c
cham Der he could look far below to the
further walk aud aes the few tatay strag-
glars ~ho wodld bs lata for the bsgin-
ming Of tho service, for tho great organ
and ths cir were on tbs Sanctus and
tha eonor0us tonea wers vibrating
through Tho humble kitchon wares and
THAR rum blinga only seemed to cause
tho loga on ths hearth to settle moro
and more. giving leas promise OF any lit
tile comfort that mi ght coma from it.
He was seldom attracted by anything
outside the limits of his lofty dwelling !;
he had besu 80 thoroughly apart from
tbs reat Of ths world for 80 long a time
he almost csaaed himself 70 be worldly
nothing worldly now evar. arose above
hia horizon OF interest, for the world
might wag Oh forever with him and still
not awaken him from his csaseess lsth-
argy. The deeply cut limos on his face
bespoke the struggle of "a battered ex-
istence and the ravages OF time seemed
G potent co-worker in bringing about
the final touches OF nature. He fell in to
rhapsody OF thought this December
morning and it caused a retrospect OF
the various things that went to make up
his life's story. He wac alone in the
world for 10 years past; it was 10 years
since his Nancy wss called away; 10
years since The sharer of his Joy, of hie
Of hiI lnt1 ha.
meath tna hemiocks Of q lonely church.
yard, and yet il seemed but yesterday.
He can picture her now, remote "a hs is
from tho little hons that once was
their, sitting in high backed chair
proudly mending the scan:y wardrobe
he possessed, and Gs which ha was so
prcGj, and When the 5espanGiad affairn
end tlnselsd things became too tawdiy
for further Use sha would yonvsrt the
little remaining good parts into tidiss
and things for the mantleahelf and high
ERck lounge. How generous old Time
wGs then! How cruel-haedened now.
And then there wae another-anothe
OF whom he almost feared TO think, and
yet his thoughts OF her came crowding
themselves quick upon him. 1t was she
who broke her poor mothers heart, set
the hemlocks weeping and moaning over
her grave; hemlocks that are moaning
yet; hemlocka that are ever moaning for
the poor, loat ones. for the old home she
might have made 30 CHEEKY for the dear
ones; that home she forsook ; for one 80
worldly. Oh, the pity of it Her por-
trait hung alongside her nlother'6 on the
wall, well becracked end dingy, the dust
OF years standing had congregated on
the glRss aud frames. The facs of the
wife penetrated its fGcings, but within
the frame OF the other WAS stuck card
OF Invitation to a Sunday school outing
OF very ancient date, and which en-
tira!y enComp passed the face of the pic
turs. The old mans memory
kept drifting aback. q spirit OF unrest
parVGded him. Feebly tottering from
his chair he made his way to the win
dow casing and his thoughts wandered
from things ETHEREAL to the more terres-
trial ones below, that his atruggles Of the
past might find consolation in occupying
himself with the preaent--the passing
show beneath.
Far below, on the farther side of the
walk, was vacant square its fronting
on the street was blocked by the dead
walls devoted to the advertising OF the
drama to be seen at one of the town
theaters. Tue attractions and the stars
name displayed upon he board was in
bold type that even the orbs that were
aged and gu nixon gazing aloof. discerned
the name of a fellow player, whose
memory cruel time failed to erase from
his calender OF estimation; to him what
IL fE "a L