English essays -- 19th century; Great Britain -- Social life and customs; London (England) -- Description and travel
UNDER THE BELLS.--Who has not seen the church under the bells? Those
lofty aisles, those twilight chapels, that cumbersome pulpit with its
huge carvings, that wide gray pavement flecked with various light from
the jewelled windows, those famous pictures between the voluminous
columns over the altars, which twinkle with their ornaments, their
votive little silver hearts, legs, limbs, their little guttering tapers,
cups of sham roses, and what not? I saw two regiments of little scholars
creeping in and forming square, each in its appointed place, under the
vast roof; and teachers presently coming to them. A stream of light
from the jewelled windows beams slanting down upon each little squad of
children, and the tall background of the church retires into a grayer
gloom. Pattering little feet of laggards arriving echo through the great
nave. They trot in and join their regiments, gathered under the slanting
sunbeams. What are they learning? Is it truth? Those two gray ladies
with their books in their hands in the midst of these little people have
no doubt of the truth of every word they have printed under their eyes.
Look, through the windows jewelled all over with saints, the light comes
streaming down from the sky, and heaven's own illuminations paint
the book! A sweet, touching picture indeed it is, that of the little
children assembled in this immense temple, which has endured for ages,
and grave teachers bending over them. Yes, the picture is very pretty of
the children and their teachers, and their book--but the text? Is it the
truth, the only truth, nothing but the truth? If I thought so, I would
go and sit down on the form cum parvulis, and learn the precious lesson
with all my heart.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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