The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-12-02


never succeeded in obtaining the small
est tidings of him since.
Sill solitary bachelor, having been
always too difficult to please in my
choice of a mate, l now became subject
to such deep depression of spirits that
my health began to give away. In short,
l must have eventually succumbed had
it not been for the kindness Of friend
who persuaded me TO go and pay long
deferred visit to his home in d hollow
tree on the adjoining estate. Thither
l accompanied him, and owing to his
sympathy and genial companionship
became gradually reconciled to life as It
was, instead of as il might be.
1t is lesson we have most of us to
learn, my friend, even we owls; and if
it only helps us grow more loving,
more humble, and more thankful for
what we have, why, then, come what
may, we shall be in the right spirit to
receive it. But l am DEPRESSING from
my story, and must not weary you.
When | returned at length TO the old
haunt all my former interests revived
within me, and anxiously, when Sun
day arrived, did l scan the familiar
faces and note the changes that time
had affected during my long absence.
The light in our church, as you may
have observed, is always a subdued one
partly owing to the dark glass win
dow there above the atar--so that by
frequently moving the nicitating mem.
brane of the eye l am enabled to OBJ
serve what passes pretty clearly.
Well, to my surprise, the old pew
about which am telling you remained
that day empty; and remembering their
previous regularity, l grew more and
more apprehensive as to what might
have befallen its joint occupants.
However, on the following Sunday
morning l soon discovered that my
favorites were there. But alas, how
altered from the blithe and light-hearted
young couple whom | can even yet re-
CALL Clothed in black, and with heavy,
downcast eyes, their lined and harassed
faces bore evidence TO some bitter
anguish within.
| at once conjectured that their son
must be dead. But no, was mistaken.
From some scraps of talk let fall by the
sexton in the vestry gathered tn At he
had been condemned to penal servitude
for several years. That innocent babe
whom saw baptized at the sacred font,
had attempted to commit murder-had
tried to kill mani
| was not astonished now at the
striking change produced in his parents;
nor that after this they seemed to wax
older and feebler every Sunday, their
hair turning whittier and their frames
more shaky. They were among the
saddest sights that it has ever been my
lot to witness.
AT lepgth there came Sunday when
the old man appeared alone, and from
his deep mourning and woebegone as
pect | knew that his wife must be dead.
Her fun eral took place the next day,
and the old man was there. But, as l
had anticipated, judging from my own
parents case, he was not long in follow
ing her to the grave.
Three Sundays later his place was
also vacant, and the pew stood desolate
and empty. The three red hassocks
and the three hymn books still remain
ed, as you see them at present; for l
believe the old couple had always cher
ished a hope that their boy might
some day be restored to them and once
more occupy his old seat in the old pew.
They were buried side by side. 1
can point out the graves to you in the
church yard, for 1 attended the old
mans funeral. A pretty time had of
it, too, for when it was over, and 1 was
returning home, fitting noiselessly as
usual, and blinking in the strong sun
light, | was attacked by whole army
OF birds, among whom, of course, the
blue tit and chaffinch proved more ag-
gressive than any. Glad enough l was
to reach the church in safety, and 1
don't think L have ever been out in the
daytime since.
The old couple died about a year
after the conviction of their son, and it
was some years later that witnessed
the end of my story which will now
relate.
1t was New Years eve, and there
had been evensong-at the usual hour,
for our good old rector was getting too
lnfirm to undertake midnight service.
How well l remember the sermon that
evening. 1t was one of the most elo-
quent that he ever preached.
The ground was white with snow,
which was lying deep and was still fall.
ing, oh, so fast. The church door was
standing partly open, the sexton being
busted in the vestry. The. lights were
burning low, and all was very calm and
still, when l saw and heard a man
creep softly through The door and into
the church. Bowed, attenuated and
ragged, with hair cropped quite close,
some instinct told me that this could
only be one mainland he once the little
boy with the curly head and brigh blue
eyes so like what his mothers had been
when she was still pretty Rosa.
watched him intently as he stole up
The aisle cautiously and slowly, until he
reached the well-known pew. Then,
when he had stood there some minutes,
observed by the shaking of his should
ers-for his face was turned away from
me-that the man was weeping. He
lid not venture to seat himself therein,
out hesitatinglY. and with feehle omit