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Show 298 A DAY SPEN1' AT installed me in a large chamber ovc1-looking the court~ yard, which bad been Clarkson's own room; the room where for years, many of his most important labors had been conducted, and from whence his soul had ascended to the reward of the just. 'l'he servant who attended me seemed to be quite a superior woman; like many of the servants in respec· table English families. She had grown up in the family, and was idcntiiiccl with it; its ruling aims and purposes had become hers. She bad been the personal attendant of Clarkson, and his nurse during his last sickness; she had evidently understood, and been interested in his plans, and the veneration with which she therefore spoke of him, had the sanction of intelligent appreciation. A daughter of Clarkson, who was married to a neighboring clergyman, with beT husband, was also present on this day. After dinner we rode out to see tbc olil church, in whose enclosure the remains of Clarkson repose. It was just such a still, quiet, mossy olil church, as you have read of in story-books, with the grave-yard spread all around it, like a thoughtful mother, who watches the resting of her children. PLAYFORD liALL. 299 The grass in the yard was long and green, and the daisy, which in other places lies like a little button on tho ground, here had a richer frjngc of crimson, and a stalk about six inches high. It is, I well know, the vital influence from the slumbeTing dust beneath, which gives the richness to this grass and these flowers; but let not that be a painful thought; let it rather choCI· us, that beauty should spring from ashes, and life smile b1·ightcr from the near presence of death. The wave of Clarkson was ncar the church, enclosed by a railing and marked by a simple white marble slab; it was carefcllly tended and planted with flowers. In the eh LLrch was an old book of records, and among other cm·ious inscrjptious, was one recording how a pious committee of old Noll's army had been there, knocking oif saints' noses, and otherwise purging the church from the relics of idolnl!y. Near by the chmch was the parsonage, the home of my friends, a neat, pleasant, sequestered dwelling, of about the style of a New England country parsonage. The effect of the whole together was inexpressibly beautiful to me. For a wonder, it was a pleasant day, and this is a thing always to be thankfully acknowl- |