Autumn Leaves | Page 2

stranger into the church; but he
remembered a shed so placed against the building, near the farther end,
that he had often, when a child, at some peril indeed, climbed upon its
top, and looked into the church through a little window at one side of
the pulpit. For this he started; but he did not fail to run across the
square and leap over the church-gate at the top of his speed, in order to
gather warmth and courage for the attempt.
When Nathan Stoddard climbed upon the old shed and pressed his face
against the glass of the little church-window, he had at first only a
confused impression of many lamps and many figures in all parts of the
church. But as his vision grew more clear, he beheld a sight which
could not amaze him less than the apparition that startled Tam o'
Shanter as he glared through the darkness into the old Kirk of Alloway.
The great chandelier of the church was partly lighted, and there were,
besides, many candles and lanterns burning in different parts of the
room, and casting their light upon a large party of young men and
women, who were dressed in breeches and ruffled shirts, and hooped
petticoats and towering head-dresses, such as he had only seen in old
pictures. They were mounted upon benches and ladders, and boards
laid along the tops of the pews, and were apparently just completing the
decoration of the church, which was already dressed with green, with
little trees in the corners, and with green letters upon the walls, and
great wreaths about the pillars. The whole party appeared full of life
and cheerfulness, while the old man whom Nathan had seen enter stood
near the door, looking quietly on, with a little girl holding his hand.
It was not until Nathan Stoddard had looked for some little time upon
this spectacle that he began to feel that he was witness of any thing

more than natural. The whole party had so home-like an air, and
appeared so engaged with their pleasant occupation, that,

notwithstanding their quaint dress, Nathan only thought how much he
should like to share their company. But the more he studied their faces,
the more he was filled, for all their appearance of youth and their
simple manners, with a strange sort of veneration. The sweet and
cheerful faces of the young women seemed to grow awfully calm and
beautiful as they brought their task to a close, and their foreheads, with
the hair brought back in the old-fashioned way, to become more and
more serene and high. There was a strange beauty, too, about the old
man's face. He appeared to Nathan as if he felt that the group before
him only waited his command to fade away in the morning light that
struggled among the candles, but he could not bear to give the word;
and so they kept playing with the festoons, and stepping about the pews
to please him. Nathan felt a cold thrill, partly from pleasure, and partly
from awe, running up his back, and a strong pain across his forehead,
seldom known to one of his temperament. Again and again he drew his
hand across his brows, until he felt that he was near swooning, and like
to fall; and he clung desperately to his hold. When the fit was over, he
dared venture no more, but hastened to the ground.
It was no fear of ridicule or of incredulity that led Nathan Stoddard to
keep secret what he had witnessed. But it was like some deep and holy
experience that would lose its charm if it were spoken of to another. So
he went back to his shop, and sat looking upon the church, and
watching, almost with dread, the doves that lighted upon its roof, and
fluttered about, and beat their wings against its windows.
The minister of Nathan's parish was a young man by the name of
Dudley; and it so happened that he had driven out, before light, on the
morning we have spoken of, to visit a sick man at some distance. In
returning home, he had to pass along the rather unfrequented street
which runs in the rear of his church, and close to it. As he was driving
rapidly along, his ear caught what seemed the peal of an organ. He
stopped his horse to listen, and a moment convinced him that the sound
both of the instrument and of singing voices came from his own church;
and it was music of a depth and beauty such as he had never before

heard within it. Filled with astonishment, he put his horse upon its
fastest trot, and drove round into the square, to the shop of Nathan
Stoddard.
"There is music