Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-17
THE BELFRY TOWER.

THE BELFRY TOWER.
Tell me a story, please!' begged
the little boy.
We'll, go to my desk and bring me
that little picture in the gold frame"
So the little boy brought the pic
ture and climbed upon his fathers
knee, and this was the story he heard:
This, laddie, is the miniature Of
your most famous ancestor, your
great-great-great grandfather, Sir
Roger Templeton. He was a brave
and gallant knight, and lived in mer-
ry England in the time of good
Queen Bess. And when l was lit
tie boy like you, laddie, there was
nothing in all the world l liked so
we'll as to listen to the stories of his
many valiant deeds.
And often he would look first at
this miniature and then at me, and
say produly that had the Templeton
nose-the long, aristocratic Temple.
ton nose. Then I would dream OF
knights and lists and tournaments,
and the brave deeds of my ances-
tors.
And one day | thought of the bel
fry tower in the old church where my
father preached. l had heard that
the ascent was difficult, and that no
one had attempted it for long time.
Here at last was task worthy of a
valiant, longnosed Templeton! So in.
stead of goig nutting with the boys,
slipped into his study and took from
his desk the heavy iron church key,
and hurried to the church, which
stood on lonely hill a little out OF
the village.
Il turned the key in the rusty lock,
climbed the gallery stairs and open
ed the door leading to the belfry. The
first two flights of stairs were easily
climbed, though the way was dark
and dusty, and, oh, so dreadfully
still!
Then the stairs ended and long
ladder led upward into the tower.
Some OF the rounds were broken,
and the whole thing seemed
terribly shaky. For a moment long
ed to turn back; then l remembered
my brave ancestors. started up the
ladder.
Il climbed it safely and found my
self in tiny room just below the bel
fry. Then came the end of my jour
ney. And, oh, how good it seemed to
be out in the clear air and bright sun
shine once more! And how tiny the
village looked, far, far below.
Then saw by the setting sun that
must hurry down If wished to go,
but turned back for just one more
look at the big bell and at that very
moment there came loud crash from
below. The treacherous old ladder
had fallen, and was prisoner in the
tower.
Il shouted and called, but no one
heard me. The sun went down, and
1t became quite dark in the belfry.
The stars came out, one by one, and
still crouched beside the big bell,
hungry and cold and frightened.
AT last, shiverlng with cold, crept
down to the inty room below the bel
fry. 1t was warmer there. and sob
bed myself to Sleep and dreamed that
Observation-Disclosures Temple
ton came a-riding on broom, witch
fashion, and carried my away-away
over the treetops.
sfThel awoke in great terror,
for the whole tower was alive with
sound, and shaking and trembling in
a fearful manner.
"The big bell was ringing madly:
Boom! boom! boom! All the world
seemed full of noise.
Boom! boom! boom! l clapped my
hands to my ears.
Then it stopped for moment, and
far below. very, very family, heard
the cry, Boy lost! boy lost! boy loste
Then boom! boom! boom. went the
bell again.
But at last it stopped, and they
heard my cries, and came with lights
and a ladder, and took me safely
home.
In my mothers arms | told my
story. My father listened quietly, and
somehow with his grave eyes upon
me, the taking of the church key
seemed anything but knightly deed.
when l had finished, my father
said. very sternly. There was one
virture. my son, that your noble an
cestors valued even more than cour.
age, and that was honor"
The little boy gazed long and
thoughtfully at the miniature. "Pa
pa" said he, have / the Templeton
lose?"
mo. laddie," said his father. Your
nose Is just an ery-day-twentieth.
century nose, and the most gallant
deed you can do tonight Is to &c
straight upstairs to bed!"-Louise
Octavian. in Youths Companion.