The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-06
THE sEXTON'S STORY.


carvedeSt, seFolledest thing ever see, and
just where the sun shined slantIy on it
and showed every mite. Him being Mrs
DR.. Pray's pa didn't make it necessary nor
suitable for he was nefarious old gent
as ever I see. Drank enough to float
boat in his life, 1 don't doubt, and hadn't
what / call right views, nor no respect for
public characters. What did hear him
say once-"Ten old Hodge to open the
windy" Now, I'm used to being called
Mr.. Hodge, and didn't like it.
But he went and died, and he put DR..
Pray in his will, and the doctor he stuck
up stun inside the church as if outside
wasn't good enough. And it was always,
Mr.. Hodge, should like to see the tablet
busted better, :" or, "Couldn you wipe of
the tablet before next service, Mr.. Hodge2''
until I wished that tablet further, can
tell you. They'd spent deal on it and
was proud of it, you know. That tablet
made me see what saw and hear what /
heard, to which III take my oath if neces-
sary.
1t was a Christmas week, and I'd
cleaned up as careful as 1 always make it
pint to do, but there was to be a we'd
ding and the day before Mrs. Pray She
calls my old woman, a-passing the parson-
age window and says she:
Mrs. Hodge, won't Mr.. H. be particu-
lar about that tablet for tomorrow"
Wife came home and told me.
"I'm pertickler enough" says I.
Says she: You know Mrs. Pray always
sends US something good at New Year.
Why not be little accommodating? She's
very pleasant spoken and it's pretty of
her to care for her pas tablet as she does
"Weu," says I, "to oblige a lady,
don't mind. I'll go over this evening, and
I'll soap and water him until he shines.
If do it tomorrow, he'd be damp, so I'll
start soon tea is done.''
So, arter tea took pail of suds and
brush, and away l started across fields. It
gets dark early Christmas times, you know,
but there was moon, a big round yaller
moon, that seemed to stare down at me
as I went on. I'd took glass of brandy
and water before I started-maybe two, I
can't say, but I felt kind of sinking,
nevertheless-afe feeling as if something was
after me as I shouldn't like to see, you
know. Churches are solemn places, too,
and ours lays in kinder holler, shaddered
in by trees. Nobody could hear you if you
yelled ever so loud Nobody could See
you, unless they came a-purpose. And
when I remembered what I'd heard about
Christmas times, felt kind o. skittish.
But to go back wouldn' t do and it couldn't
take long to soap and water Mr.. Pod
dy. And 1 put the key in the door and
went to unlock it Twas unlocked
already. "What fool am, to be surev'
I said to myself. The first time I ever for
get to lock the door as long as I've been
sexton.
In went, mad at myself, can tell you.
And then I saw another sight-one of the
lamps lighted in the pulpit When 1 saw
that, I sat down, and says I:
Hodge: my man, you must be going
crazy. You didn't put out the lamps last
evening"
1t so come over me that I didn't
know myself. But 1 took heart at last,
and walked up to the tablet 'Twasn' t a
flat one, you know. 1t stood out like, and
there was a big niche under it, and big
hOller over It. And dipped the winder
brush in the suds and soused the tablet
well. The water splashed and trickled
all Overland / heard something kinder
squeak. I'd got desperate by this time.
eff tan't the rats, it's Mr.. Poddy,
says I. ''No matter, you've got to be
washed for once, SIR
And then 1 thought should sink down
In my boots, for voice answered:
How if 1 haunt you?''
There ant no words to describe my feel
ings I staggered back, and as did So
there walked out from under the mony-
ment a figure all in black, with no face
or vail over it, or something.
"What's that?" says L
Says he; "Mr. Poddy. What do you
mean by this, Hodge?'
cts Mrs. Pray's orders, SIR says I.
81 don't like it, Hodge" says he. Its
riz me up, as you see. I'm not used to
cold water where I am, and 1 never was
on earth. think shall have to take you
with me, Hodge, And then he took
a-hold of me.
''Oh sir says I. Ono, I'm a good
Episcopal, sir, - says I. CT wouldn't be
let in. I've a poor old wife. Let me go,
sir
81 don't know about that, - says he
eff do, you'll blab. I don't want folks
to know I'm uneasy, after tablets have
been put up for me and all. Swear that
you'll hold your tongue, or III be obliged
to keep you. It's warm down there, too,
and the company is not select. SwearI'
eyes, sir, indeed, sir, - says I. 81 do,
sir
Then you may go, Hodge, " says he.
"And take that water with you, and don't
come back tonight, for there'n be sights
here that would drive you crazy. You'd
never go home your own man, Hodge
Only for the sake of old times consent to
let you off now"
No fear of me coming back. 1 cut and
run the minute he let go. 1 got home
about half dead, and my old woman want
ed to know what had happened, but I
d1dn { tell her. had cramps and SpaSInS
all night, and the doctor next day, and
called it fever'n ager 'Twan't though.
That night the church was robbed--the
service took-solid silver-the big Bible
and all the prayer books left in the pews,
and Mr.. Pray's surplices into the bargain.
The burglars must have got in after
left, 1 suppose, though 1 think locked the
door. That S what 1 say to folks anyhow.
But how do we know where them things
may be nowP I never told anybody but
my old woman about Mr.. Poddy appear
ing to me, but once I said to Mr.. Pray
that seen something queerish in church
one night.
''NIr Hodge" says he, ST fear you're a
little superstitious.
Me superstitiousl I'd a liked then to
tell him about Mir. Poddy, and what he re-
vealed about his situation, but 1 respected
his daughter feelings. Only this viii
say: saw what 1 saw, and heard what