Lancaster Gazette, 1828-09-02

lay damp and cold on the banks of % river, and which, at this dull season, looked more gloomy than ever. At the door he was met by the little Maria, who called out with great delight, " You must not go up stairs, father; the stork has been here and brought Maria a little brother!" - a piece of information more expected than agreeable, and which was soon after con confirmed - firmed confirmed by the appearance of his sister-in law, with a healthy infant in her arms; Ilis wife, however, had suffered much, and andwas - was andwas in a state that required assistance far beyond his means to supply. In this dis distress - tress distress he bethought himself of the Jew, Isaac, who had lately advanced him a tri trifle - fle trifle on his old silver watch ; but now un unfortunately, - fortunately, unfortunately, he had nothing more to pledge, and was forced to ground all his hopes on the Jew's compassion - a very unsafe anchorage. With doubtful steps he sought the house of the miser, and told his tale amidst tears and sighs; to all of which Isaac listened with great patience - patienceso so patienceso much so, indeed, that Bolt began to flatter himself with a favourable answer to his petition. But he was disappointed ; the Jew, having heard him out, coolly re replied, - plied, replied, " that he could lend no monies on a child - it was no good pledge." With hitter execrations on the usurer's hard-heartedness, poor Bolt rushed from his door ; when, to aggravate his situation, the first snow of the season began to fall, and that so thick and fast, that 5 , in a very short time, the house tops presented a sin single - gle single fielcT of white. Immersed in his grief, he missed his way across the market place, and, when he least expected such a thing, found himself in the front of the cathe cathedral. - dral. cathedral. The great .clock chimed three threequarters - quarters threequarters ; it wanted then a quarter of twelve. Where was he to look for assist assistance - ance assistance at such an hour, or, at any hour ? He had already applied to the rich pre prelates, - lates, prelates, and got from them all that their charity was likely to give. Suddenly a thought struck him like lightning; he saw his little Maria crying for the food he could not give her , his sick wife, lying in bed, with the infant on her exhausted bosom ; and then Adelaide, in her splend splendid - id splendid coffin, and her hand glittering with jewels that it could not grasp. "Of what use are diamonds to her now ? said he to himself. "Is there any sin in robbing the dead to give to the living for myself if I were starving ; no, Heaven forbid ? But for my wife and child. - ah ! that's quite another matter. Quieting his conscience, as well as he could, with this opiate, he hurried home to got (I.c. 1 ,m *7 ....plw. - ,J. 1,1. 1.,. ,1... time he reached his own door, his resolu resolution - tion resolution began to waver. The sight, howev however, - er, however, of his wife's distress wrought him up again to the sticking-place; and having provided himself with a dark lantern, the church keys, and a claw to break open the coffin, he set out for the cathedral. On the way, all seemed to shake from un under - der under him, - it was the tottering of his own limbs ; a figure seemed to sign him back, - it was the shade thrown from some column, that waved to and fro as the lamp-light flickered in the night wind. But still the thought of home drove him on ; and even the badness of the weather carried this consolation with it, he was the more likely to find the streets clear, and escape detection. He had now reached the cathedral. For a moment he paused on the steps, and then, taking heart, put the huge key into the lock. To his fancy, it had never opened with such readiness before. The bolt shot hack at the light touch of the key, and he stood alone in the church, trembling from head to foot. Still it was requisite to close the door behind him, lest its being open should be seen by any one passing by, and give rise to suspicion ; and, as he did so, the story came across his mind of the man who had visited a church at midnight to show his courage. For a sign that he had really been there, he was to stick his knife into a coffin ; but, in his hurry and trepidation, he struck it through the skirt of his coat without be being - ing being aware of it, and, supposing himself held back by some supernatural agency, dropt down dead from terrour. Full of these unpleasant recollections, he tottered up the nave ; and, as the light successively flashed upon the sculptured marbles, it seemed to him as if the pale figures frowned ominously upon him. But desperation supplied the place of courage. He kept on his way to the choir, - de- scended descended the steps, - passed through the long, narrow passage, with the dead heap heaped - ed heaped up on either side, - opened Adelaide's chapel, and stood at once before her cof coffin. - fin. coffin. There she lay, stiff and pale, - the wreath in her hair, and the jewels on her fingers.gleaming strangely in the dim light of the lantern. He even fancied that he already smelt the pestilential breath of de decay, - cay, decay, though it was full early for corruption to have begun its work. A sickness seiz seized - ed seized him at the thought; and he leaned for support against one of the columns, with his eyes fixed on the coffin ; when - whenwas was whenwas it real, or was it illusion ? - a change came over the face of the dead ! He start started - ed started back ; and that change, so indescriba-

With a trembling hand he held up the lantern in the direction to which he point pointed. - ed. pointed. It was indeed as he had said. There she, with the paleness of death upon her face, her white garments waving heavily in the night wind, that rushes through the aisles of the church, and holding the silver gohhlet to her lips, with long bony arms-, wasted by protracted illness. Even Adolph's courage began to waver - " Ade Adelaide," - laide," Adelaide," lie cried, " I conjure you in the name of the blessed Trinity to answer mo - is it thy living self, or but thy shadow ?" " Ah," replied a faint voice, " you bu buried - ried buried me alive, and, but for this wine, I had perished from exhaustion. Come up to me, dear Adolph; I am no shadow - hut soon shall be with shadows, unless I re receive - ceive receive your speedy succour." "Go not near her !" said Hans: "it is the Evil One, that has assumed the bless blessed - ed blessed shape of my lady to destroy you." " Away, old man !" exclaimed Adolph, bursting from the feeble grasp of his ser servant, - vant, servant, aud rushing up the steps of the al altar. - tar. altar. It was indeed Adelaide that beheld in his eager embrace, the warm and living Adelaide ! - who had been buried for dead in her long trance, and lmd only escaped from the grave by the sacrilegious daring of - The Sexton of Cologne. COMMON SENSE IN DISHABILLE. Almost every parent will say of his son "He is a genius." Why 1 Because, from a very natural and iunocent preju prejudice, - dice, prejudice, he believes ho is an extraordinary boy. If genius met with sufficient encour encouragement, - agement, encouragement, and your son happened to be one of these rare birds, it might be well to assist him in his flights. If he is not, never lead him into a fatal errour. I seldom spend an evening at my neighbour Meanwell's, hut he employ* one half his time in praising the uncom uncommon - mon uncommon talents of his darling Sammy. He is called upon to speak a number of de declamations - clamations declamations he has learned at school: his oratory lias just as much merit as the par parrot's. - rot's. parrot's. Ilis writing and ciphering books arc shown as prodigies of improvement; they prove that lie has had an inattentive master, and is a very careless scholar. The fond father believes him to he a nat natural - ural natural poet; true he is fond ofxeadiug bal ballads, - lads, ballads, has been taught to repeat a num number - ber number of hymns by heart, and, like most chil children, - dren, children, is fond of the tinkling of rhyme. He has proceeded so far as to compose a few couplets that would be a sufficient antidote to the poctick mania. Ilis little iricJ; q a ro. t/>I - *- - l - o - oor or oor flights of genius. lam tired of hearing them. He is neither more nor less than other hoys ; and his father is like many other men. 'Tis a pity a lad- shout'** be made a fool, because lie happens to be thought a genius. How often is a lad sent to college, because he is unfortunate unfortunately - ly unfortunately taken for an uncommon youth ? A father who has not spare dollars enough to bring up his son at college would do well never to force him from the beaten track of honest industry; it has peace and plenty on the right hand and on the left. A good common education and the habit of industry are worth more to a young man than the dear-bought and ill merited A. M. Many may flutter on the artificial wings of genius; hut few can soar above their fellow-creatures. A real genius is a very rare thing; not to be seen in every family, except by the eye of do dotage - tage dotage or ignorance. If a hoy, from the productions of his leisure hours, that his mates devote to play, can produce a mas masterly - terly masterly specimen of meclianickai genius, en encourage - courage encourage his exertions, and let him follow the bent of his mind. If he discover an early propensity to study, will be industri industrious - ous industrious in flie field, and forfeit the pastimes of youth for the entertainment of his books, becomes master of his Pike, and a proficient in philosophy and history, Jet him drink his fill at the Pierian spring he will be a scholar. But if he is distin distinguished - guished distinguished for nothing but his flights of fan fancy, - cy, fancy, love of poetry, novels and plays; tie him to the tail of the plough, rather than send him to college. Fancy without judg judgment, - ment, judgment, is like a fine ship without a rudder"; it had better lie at anchor in a safe har harbour, - bour, harbour, than be left adrift on the ocean. And genius, without application and econ economy, - omy, economy, is a mere ignis fatuus; while it promises to guide the bewildered object to the temple of fame it leads to the vale of oblivion. Men frequently say that good action*,, to be truly good and honourable, should be done secretly. It is a false idea, and ariscs.generally from an envious disincli disinclination - nation disinclination to contemplate the good actions of others. Indeed, the world would lose a great part of tho benefit of exalted deeds by the concealment of them - the influence of their example. Surely if any species of vanity is venial, it is that of displaying to mankind an example of virtue and usefulness. A preacher, hearing the cry of an infant among his congregation, commanded that the child should be removed - observing at the same time, that a crying child in a place of worship was like the tooth ache there was no but having it out.

ble, had passe4 away in an instant, leav leaving - ing leaving a darker shadow on the features. " If 1 had only time," he said to him himself,lf - self,lf himself,lf I had only time, I wfiuld rather break open one of the other coffins, and leave the lady Adelaide in quiet. ' A>re has destroyed ail that is human in these mummies; they have lost that resem resemblance - blance resemblance to life, which makes the dead so terrible, and I should no more mind hand handling - ling handling them than so many dry boges. It's all nonsense, though ; one is as*harmless as the other, and since the lady Adelaide's house is the easiest for my work, I must e'en set about it." But the coffin did not offer the facilities he reckoned upon with so much certainty. The glass-windows were secured inwardly with iron wire, leaving no space for the admission of the hand, so that lie found himself obliged to break the lid to pieces, a task that, with his imperfect cost both time and labour. As the wood splintered and crocked under the heavy blows of the irch, ts.e cold perspiration poured in streams down his face, the sound assuring him more than all the rest that he was committing sacrilege. Before, it was only the place, with its dark asso associations, - ciations, associations, that had terrified him ; now he began to he afraid of himself, and would, without doubt, have given up tiie business altogether, it the lid had not suddenly flown to pieces. Alarmed at his very success, he started round, as if expecting to see some one behind watching his sac sacrilege, - rilege, sacrilege, and ready to clutch him; and so strong had been the illusion, that when he found this was not the case, he fell upon his knees before the coffin, exclaiming, "Forgive me, dear lady, if I take from you what is of no use to yourself, while a single diamond will make a poor family so happy. It is not for myself - Oh, no! - it is for my wife and children." He thought the dead looked more kind kindly - ly kindly at him as he spoke thus, and certainly the livid shadow had passed away from her face. Without more delay, he raised the cold hand to draw the rings from its finger ; hut what was his horror when the dead returned his grasp ! his hand was clutched, aye firmly clutched, though that rigid face and form lay there as fixed and motionless as ever. With a cry of hor horrour - rour horrour he burst away, not retaining so much presence of mind as to think of the light, which ho left burning by the coffin. This, however, was of little consequence; fear can find its way in the dark, and lie rush rushed - ed rushed through the vaulted passage, up the steps, through the choir, and would have recicless hurry, forgotten the stone, called the Devil's Slone, which lies in the middle of the church, and which, according to the legend, was cast there by the Devil. Thus much is certain, it has 'fallen from the arch, and they show a hole above, through which it is said to have been hurled. Against this stone the unlucky sexton stumbled, just as the turret-clock struck twelve, and immedialely he fell to the earth in a deathlike swoon. The cold, however, soon brought him to himself, and on recovering his senses he again fled, winged by terrour,and fully convinced that he had no hope of escaping the vengeance of the dead, except by the confession of his crime, and gaining the forgiveness of her family. With this view he hurried across the market-place to the burgomas burgomaster's - ter's burgomaster's house, where he had to knock long before lie could attract any notice. The whole house-hold lay in a profound sleep, with the exception of the unhappy Adolph, who was now sitting alone on the same sofa where he had so often sat with his Adelaide. Her picture hung on the wall opposite to him, though it might rather be said to feed his grief than to afford him any consolation. And yet, as most would do under such circumstances, he dwelt upon it the more intently even from the pain it gave him, and it was not till the sexton had knocked repeatedly that he awoke from his melancholy dreams. Roused at last, he opened the window, and inquired what it was that disturbed him at such an unseasonable hour ? "It is only I, Mr. Burgomaster," was the answer. " And who arc you ?" again asked Adolph. " Bolt, the sexton of St. Peter's, Mr. Bur Burgomaster - gomaster Burgomaster ; I have a thing of the utmost importance to discover to you." Natu Naturally - rally Naturally associating the idea of Adelaide with the sexton of the church where she was buried, Adolph was immediately anxious to know something more of the matter, and, taking up a wax-light, he hastened down stairs, and himself opened the door to Bolt. " What have you to say to me ?" he ex exclaimed. - claimed. exclaimed. " Not here Mr. Burgomaster," replied the anxious sexton ; " not here; we may he overhead." Adolph, though wondering at this affec affectation - tation affectation of mystery, motioned him in and closed the door; when Bolt, throwing himself at his feet, confessed all that had happened. The anger of Adolph was mixed with compassion at the strange re recital - cital recital ; nor could he refuse to Bolt the ab absolution - solution absolution which the poor fellow deemed so essential to his future security from the

vengeance of the dead. At the same time he cautioned him to maintain a profound silence on the subject towards every one else, as otherwise the sacrilege might be attended with serious consequences - it not being likely that the ecclesiasticks, to whom the judgment of such matters be belonged, - longed, belonged, would view his fault with equal indulgence. He even resolved to go him himself - self himself to the church with Bolt, that he might investigate the affair more thoroughly. But to this proposition the sexton gave a prompt and positive denial. " I would rather," he exclaimed, " I would rather he dragged to the scaffold than again disturb the repose of the dead." This declaration, so ill-timed, confounded Adolph. On the one hand, he felt an undefined curiosity to look more narrowly into this mysterious business ; on the other lie could not help feeling compassion for the sexton, who, it was evident, was labouring under the in influence - fluence influence of a delusion which he was utterly unable to subdue. The poor fellow trem trembled - bled trembled all over, as if shaken by an ague fit, and painted the situation of his wife and his pressing poverty with such a pale face and such despair in his eyes, that he might himself have passed for a church-yard spectre. The burgomaster again admon admonished - ished admonished him to he silent for fear of the con consequences, - sequences, consequences, and, giving him a couple of dollars to relieve his immediate wants, sent him home to his wife and family. Being thus deprived of his most natural ally on this occasion, Adolph summoned an old and confidential servant, of whose secrecy he could have no doubt. To his question of "Do you fear the dead?" Hans stoutly replied, " They are not half so dangerous as the living." " Indeed !" said the burgomaster. "Do you think, then, that you have courage enough to go into the church at night ?" " In the way of my duty, yes," replied Ilans ; " not otherwise. It is not right to trifle with holy matters." "Do you believe in ghosts, Ilans ?" continued Adolph. " Yes, Mr. Burgomas-' ter." "Do you fear them ?" " No, Mr. Bur Burgomaster. - gomaster. Burgomaster. I hold by God, and ho holds me up ; and God is the strongest." " Will you go with me to the cathedral, Hans ? I have had a strange dream to tonight - night tonight : it seemed to me as if my deceased wife called tome from the steeple-window." " I see how it is," answered Hans : " the sexton has been with you, and put this whim into your head, Mr. Burgomaster- Thesc grave-diggers are always seeing ghosts." r ' - -l - - - j ~m%M * PU'UT Adolph, avoiding a direct reply to this ob observation - servation observation of the old man. "Be silent and follow me." " if you bid me," said Hans, " I must of course, obey ; for you are my magistrate as well as my master." Herewith he lit the candle in the lan lantern, - tern, lantern, and followed his master without fur further - ther further opposition. Adolph hurried into the church with hasty steps ; but the old man, who went before to show the way, delayed him with his reflections, so that their progress was but slow. Even at the threshold he stopt, and flung the light of his lantern upon the gilded rods over the door, to which it is the custom to add a fresh one every year, that people may know how long the reign reigning - ing reigning elector has lived. " That is an excellent custom," said Ilans: " one has only to count those staves, and one learns immediately how long the gracious elector has governed us simple men." " Excellent!" replied Adolph ; " but go on." Hans, however, had too long been in indulged - dulged indulged in his odd wayward habits, to quicken his pace at this admonition. Not a monument would he pass without first stopping to examine it by the lantern light, and requesting the burgomaster to explain its inscription. In short, he behaved like a traveller who was taking the opportuni opportunity - ty opportunity of seeing the curiosities in the cathedral, although he had spent his three-and-sixty years in Colonge, and, during that period, had been in the habit of frequenting it al almost - most almost daily. Adolph, tvho well knew that no repre representations - sentations representations would avail him, submitted pa patiently - tiently patiently to the humours of his old servant, contenting himself with answering his questions as briefly as possible; and in this way they at last got to the high altar. Here Hans made a sudden stop, and was not to be brought any farther. " Quick !" exclaimed the burgomaster, who was beginning to lose his patience; for his heart throbbed with expectation. " Heaven and all good angels defend us !" murmured Hans through his chat chattering - tering chattering teeth, while he in vain felt for his rosary, which yet hung as usual at his gir girdle. - dle. girdle. " What is the matter now ?" cried Adolph. "Do you see who sits there ?" replied Hans. " Where 1" exclaimed his master ; " I sec nothing ; hold up your lantern." " Heaven shield us !" cried the old man: " there sits our deceased lady on the altar, in a long white veil, and drinking out of the sacramental cup!"

EVER* TUESDAY EVENING. BY liTBRj ANDREWS, & CO., MASSACHUSETTS. I Two dollars per annum - or one dollar I; five cents if paid m advance. If not months after the expiration of the and fifty cents. TS conspicuously inserted three K'nve DOLLAR per square; less than a " tv-five cents, and continued a longer an insertion. IfOR THE LANCASTER GAZETTE. E h. Hu ts, Leominster. Kes H. Whiting, Sterling. - tL A Sawyer, Bolton. E Putnam. Jr. Lunenburg. ventlemen named above as Agents are 'receive subscriptions to the Gazette, Kts for the same. Advertisements, or any forwarded through them will re- Hpt attention fccELEAJVEOUSr - of cologne. year 1571 there lived at Cologne whose wife, Adelaide, Ke prime of her youth aihl beauty, died. They had lived very Rcether, and, throughout her fatal boating husband scarcely quit- Hedsidc for an instant. During of her sickness, she did greatly; but the fainting fits He and more frequent, and of in- Huration, till at length they bc - S * lC final, y sui *k U11( ler Hell known that Cologne is a city , I far as respects religion, may Bself with Rome ; on which ac- Has called, even in the middle Bin Germanica, and sometimes Mr! City. It seemed as if, in H, it wished to compensate by misfortune of having been the the abominable Agrippina. years nothing else was seen but and mendicant monks ; were ringing and tolling Bing till night. Even now you B in it as many churches and B the year has days. Bicipal church is the cathedral B, one of the handsomest build - still not so com - was probably intended by the I The choir alone is arched. altar is a single block of black Brought along the Rhine to |Bom Namur upon the Maas. In §B an ' vor V rod is shown, said to to the apostle Peter ; and iB slands a gilded coffin, with the holy Tinee Kings lnscrio- B Skulls are visible through an B v> being white, as belonging Bnd Baltesar ; the third black, :B r - I* > s easy to be understood remarkable relicks, rendered ma he a deep impression of the Catholicks ; and ; skulls, with their jewels and B, are convincing proofs of to religious feelings, though history is sufficient to show this church that Adelaide was splendour. In the spirit had more feeling; for the taste, - more devotion and unbelieving fear, - she as a bride in flowered silk, a upon her head, and her with costly rings ; in was conveyed to the vault directly under the choir, glass windows. Many of were already resting here, W<', and with their mummy a strange contrast to the H!i with which they were dec- in a peculiar fashion, between the perishable and »^B> a We. The custom of em- W in the present instance, e place was full; and when buried, it was settled that no be laid there for the fut fut - - fut heart had Adolph followed final resting-place. The ,vvo hundred and twenty B ht > hfted up their deep voic voic. - . voic. the sounds of mourning cMvidc city ; while the monks, rs ' an< l scattering incense, '"'-'s from their huge vellum spread upon the musick But the service was B c dead l a y alone with the I^^H me nse clock, which is only , ne i^B nce a year, and shows the 3 as well as the hours the only thing that had in the whole cathedral. 311 icß us ticking seemed to mock P A ®BS° rm y November evening, the sexton of St. Peter's, home after this splendid B e Poor man, who had been I|. > e ars, had one child, a [a( | aB C * l ' s w e brought him in thc m ar ° flheir marr ' a g e > and was iff 11 ?, her confinement. It '* K W a heav y heart, that he PAIiH IMrc h for his cottage, which