The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-08-11

But the full peal remained unheard
 All entreaties that 1t be rung were unheeded. Old Joe's triumph was to be had In such q surprise to the stithney' ans as they had never before exper' fenced. He changed awsy with old time clamor upon the three ancient bells but the new ones were mute, Al Christmas. not before. should the glor- ious peal be heard.
 Meantime the bent old ringer stole secretly to Crowan. to Helston and to St. Hilary and there. night after night. practised with the ringers and trained his own ringers on the tuneful numbers of "Hark That News" Hark the Her aid" and Hall Smiling Morn:" while q haggard old woman always sat shiver- ing and mute but radiant in the dark shadows of the towers: and when tho ringers were done the same trembling old form trudged beside Joe Davy over the dreary roads or through the ghost ly lanes. back to dark old Stithney hamlet. Al Three days before Christmas old Joe had "set up" the bells of Stithney. and. | after locking fast the church tower. so that no envious hands could endanger his great triumph at midnight of chist- mas eve. he hastened back to the shore and his boat for another short cruise for fish. the proceeds Of which were to be expended upon the ringers for their payment and good cheer: so that Stith- ney chould assuredly hear the bravest change-ringing that Cornwall had ever known.
 This 'setting up" the bells. as may not be generally known. Is 6 common custom among the peal-ringers of Eng land. when. as at midnight of Christ mas or New Years eve. or on the oc- casion of great weddings or general ju- bilations, sudden melodious and tre- mendous clamor of the bells Is desired.
 For this purpose upright oaken or Iron stays" are fitted into the stocks or beams upon which the bells are hung. When the bell is reversed, mouth upward, this stay strikes @ slider and moves against 1t gently, permit ting the bell at last to remain station ary in this position. but so trifiingly ov- erbalanced that 2 babes hand upon the ropes will bring bells of tons weight whirling madly in their thund- erous throbs:I and a full peal of from five to eleven bells. set of in this i'm pettuous manner in the silences of the night, produces one of the most thrill ling and solemn effects with which the human ear can be greeted.
 This. afternoon before Christmas was wild one In the English channel. Great banks of fog pounded along the southern Cornish downs. Driving rain and sleet cut sharply the faces of all who sbraved the blast: and the thun- derings along the coast were fearsome to hear
 It was so dark. but an hour after midday, in the single struggling street of Stithney. that huge miners candles flared in the dingy windows of the dingier shops. and other lights flashed cheerily out of few of the better habi- tations and from the latticed windows of the rectory.
 Littls for Christmas. cheer was pre- pairing in the scrimped homes of this old Cornish hamlet; and the only ob- jects of animation or life in the storm beaten village street were Poll Treen- oodle with her donkey and cart, and a greedy rabble of children following af- ter, as Poll passed from door to door, her usual load of growder now ex- changed for sprigs and holly, wreaths Of mistletoe and that greatest treat to Cornish little folk, the currant-filled. saffron-smothered Christmas bun,
 But old Poll was in surprising spirits and even in more surprising attire. Over her poor, bent frame was strange white gown. She had twined about this. scraggy garlands of mistle- toe, interlaced with gaudy ribbons, and on her palsied head hung an outlandlsh Cornish gowk: wide bonnet whose flap covers the shoulders; and from this the mist and sleet trickled upon her gown, sadly discoloring it with the f1imsy, fading ribbon shades.
 Some came to the doors and windows and looked pityingly upon her, with such sayings as "See the poor mazed pattic (simpleton)" or "Awd rat it! "Tis pity on tn roadling r tn skew (pelting storm)" or "Or Polls streeved QaboreO o'erlong, thar's down souse Chats plain)!'and the like; but the lonely soul smiled and gurgled to coin- passionate or railing face alike, and sold her Christmas wares betimes. un- needing all the folk and storm.
 She~had come in front of the little parish church with her stores nearly gone.& She. looked up to the belfry' with a grand and knowing air. Some who were near heard her mutter:
 When our beels best once wrang tn baans'll be caa'd oot, an then Joe an Polpll be just one!"
 Those who heard this, also saw her suddenly grow pale and totter against the cart They saw, too, that her eyes were almost starting from their sockets and were fixed in an agony of terror upon corner of the church tower bat clement.
 Peering through the mist. they saw a single raven perche ed upon the stone The bird of i'll omen bobbed and ducked and craned its cunning head, first toward old Poll and her cart. Then it settled it's head back between it's shoulders, opened it's uncanny throat and uttered 8 mournful: '
 "Caw-caw-cawr'
 With an unearthly cry of"Joe, Joel we're korph marc (dead body) corb'n (bumping) on tn shore!" she leaped into her cart, shriekingly urged the donkey into a mad pace, and disap- peared in the thickening fog in the di- rection of the sea. .a.r ..3.4 ., .,......
 Tha1y talI at Stifhnox, +o +his aoX, hau,