Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-05-15
The STORY Telter.
THE HERO OF The TOWER.
WILL CARLETON, IN HARPER's MAGAZINE.

FOrtnWltn tne DuSy SIreeIS WeIe PieaS
And that which seemed but now field
With weeds of turbulence and tricky
Flashed into gardens blooming full O.
II flowers.
Beauty blushed deeper, now the rising
| sun
Of royalty upon it was to shine;. -.
Wealth cast its nets Of tinsel and of gold
To catch the kingly eye; and wisdom
Itself into the terms of an address,
Which the old mayor sat up nights tc
"a needy poet wrote the sam for him.
No maiden fiuttered throug b the narrow
! streets
That pondered not what ribbons she
| should wear;
No window on the long procession's
I route
But had its tenants long en- gagged ahead.
But the old sexton of st. Joseph's
Moped dull and sulky through the smil-
ing crowd,
A blot upon the city's pleasure-page.. 49,.
"What runs wrong with you, uncleF'
was the cry
1"4Ou VINO nave Deen tne very younseSl
! boy
Of all the old men that the city had,
Who loved professions more than per-
And rolled a gala day beneath your
| tongue
What rheumatism has turned that tenn
per lame?
Speak up, and make your inward burden
| ours"
The old man slowly walked until he
Unto the market-place, then feebly stop
| ped
AS if to talk and crowd gathe red soon,
Asmen will when q man has things to
| say.
And thus he spoke: "For fifty years and
have been sexton of st. Joseph's
| church.
St, Joseph's would have Jared i'll but for
| me.
And though my friend the priest may
smile at this,
And wink at you an unbelieving eye,
My Office shines in heaven as well as MS.
Although it was not mine to make the
| church
Cody, 1 kept it clean, and that stands
| next.
If have broken one circle Of my sphere,
Let some one with straight finger trace 1t
| out.
| "And no procession in these fifty years
Has marched the street with aught like
! kingly tread.
But on the summit OF st. Joseph's spire
stood erect and waved welcome,fa flag,
With scanty resting-place beneath my
feet,
And the wild breezes clutching at my
It took some nerve to stand so near to
| heaven
And fling abroad its colors. Try it priest
"But Ia am old' most of my manhood's
Is choked in cold white ashes; and my
nerves
Tremble in every zephyr like the leaves
What can I do?-the flag must not be
missed
From the cathedrals summit. I've nc
l son,
Or he should bear the banner, or my
| curse.
I have a daughter; she shall wave the
flag!
"And this is how my girl shall wave the
flag.
Ten suitors has she and the, valiant one
Who, strong Of heart and will can climb
/ that perch
And do what so many times have done,
Shall take her hand from mine at his
descent.
Sneak I'D, Vienna lads and recollect
j How much of loveliness faint heart e'er
won."
Then there was clamor in the callow
/ breasts
Of the Vienna youth ; for she was far
The sweetest blossom Of that city's vines.
Many youngsters eye climbed fur
lively
Where the frail spire-tip trembled in the
Then wandered to the cot wherein she
But none spoke up, till Gabriel Peter
i Sheim,
Whose ear s this proclamation strange had
Came rushing through the crowd, and
boldly said:
81 am ny your daughters suit0r' and the
She truly loves; but scarce can gain
smile
Until win her fathers heart as we'll;
And you, old man, have frowned on me,
i and said -
I was too young, too frivolous, too wild,
And had no manhood worthy OF her
i hand.
Mark me tomorrow as I mount yon
| spire,
And mention, when I bring the flag to
i you,
Whether twas ever waved more glori-
ously."
And thus the old man answered
"Climb your way;
And if senseful breeze should push you
i off,
And break that raw and somewhat worth
less neck,
I cannot greatly mourn; ; but climb your
And you shall have the gift if you sue
| ceed."
High on the giddy pinnacle next day
Waited the youth; but not till evenings
sun
Marched from the western gates, that tar
dy king
Rode past the church. And though
young Gabriel's nerves
Were weakened by fatigue and want OF
pleased the peoples and the monarch's
eye,
And flashed a deeper thrill of love
i through one
Who turned her sweet face often up to
i him,
And whose true heart stood with him on