Mysticism -- Fiction; Supernatural -- Fiction; Virginia -- Fiction
The next day was Sunday. Zinia and Mimy and Mancy walked early to their
church, two miles down the river. Marget and Miss Darcy, Linden and
Curtin, went to Alder in the phaeton, drawn by Daniel and Bess. It was
as sunny and still a day as might be found in any autumn land, and most
beauteous was that forest through which they drove. Anna Darcy was glad
to see it again. It rested forever in her mind, a true magic approach.
Marget drove, Curtin sitting beside her, Miss Darcy and Richard Linden
behind them. The jewel miles went by and the pleasant, pleasant air.
Here rose Alder on a green hill, and Alder had three streets, a hundred
dwelling houses, and three white-spired churches. The houses were brick
or frame, with shady yards and late-blooming flowers. They drove by a
small, quaint courthouse, a rambling hotel, and several stores, closed
to-day. The trees were maples and Lombardy poplars and a few ancient
mulberries. Folk were going to church, and they spoke to Sweet Rocket
and Sweet Rocket to them.
Before them rose a church of white frame, set in an ample churchyard,
all glowing maples with a mosaic of red and gold leaves underfoot.
Street before it and bordering lane held horses and buggies and Fords
and Buicks. The second bell had not rung. Men and boys waited around the
doors, talk and laughter at a Sunday pitch. Women were entering, some
with children in their hands. Sweet Rocket folk, leaving the phaeton,
walking up churchyard path, took and gave greeting. They entered the
church, Marget's hand upon Linden's arm, just guiding him to a pleasant
pew by a pleasant, open window, the weather being yet so warm. Curtin
took his seat, and, turning a little, watched the folk enter. He did not
know when he had been in a village church like this, nor, indeed, had he
been for long in any church at all, barring the cathedrals and churches
abroad, into which he went as artist. A clear, sweet sound, overhead,
rang the second bell. Men and youths came in; the building filled. A
simple place, it was well proportioned and to-day filled with a dreamy,
golden, softened light. In that soft, flowing atmosphere, men and women
and children were gathered as in a bouquet. The choir assembled, the
young woman who was the organist took her place. A woman in the pew
behind Curtin leaned over and gave him an opened hymn book. The minister
appeared, a kindly faced, small, elderly man. The bouquet became more
and more Sunday.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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