-house, pulling
busily at the bell-rope. The old people of the village came
stooping along the street. Children, with bright faces, tripped
merrily beside their parents, or mimicked a graver gait, in the
conscious dignity of their Sunday clothes. Spruce bachelors
looked sidelong at the pretty maidens, and fancied that the
Sabbath sunshine made them prettier than on week days. When the
throng had mostly streamed into the porch, the sexton began to
toll the bell, keeping his eye on the Reverend Mr. Hooper's door.
The first glimpse of the clergyman's figure was the signal for
the bell to cease its summons.

"But what has good Parson Hooper got upon his face?" cried the
sexton in astonishment.

All within hearing immediately turned about, and beheld the
semblance of Mr. Hooper, pacing slowly his meditative way towards
the meetinghouse. With one accord they started, expressing more
wonder than if some strange minister were coming to dust the
cushions of Mr. Hooper's pulpit.

"Are you sure it is our parson?" inquired Goodman Gray of the
sexton.

"Of a certainty it is good Mr. Hooper," replied the sexton. "He
was to have exchanged pulpits with Parson Shute, of Westbury; but
Parson Shute sent to excuse himself yesterday, being to preach a
funeral sermon."

The cause of so much amazement may appear sufficiently slight.
Mr. Hooper, a gentlemanly person, of about thirty, though still a
bachelor, was dressed with due clerical neatness, as if a careful
wife had starched his band, and brushed the weekly dust from his
Sunday's garb. There was but one thing remarkable in his
appearance. Swathed about his forehead, and hanging down over his
face, so low as to be shaken by his breath, Mr. Hooper had on a
black veil. On a nearer view it seemed to consist of two folds of
crape, which entirely concealed his features, except the mouth
and chin, but probably did not intercept his sight, further than
to give a darkened aspect to all living and inanimate things.
With this gloomy shade before him, good Mr
-house, pulling 
 busily at the bell - rope. The old citizenry of the greenwich village came 
 stooping along the street. child, with undimmed faces, tripped 
 merrily beside their parent, or mimicked a graver pace, in the 
 conscious dignity of their Sunday apparel. Spruce bachelors 
 looked lateral at the pretty maidens, and fancied that the 
 Sabbath sunshine make them prettier than on week days. When the 
 throng had largely streamed into the porch, the sexton began to 
 toll the bell, keep his eye on the Reverend Mr. Hooper's door. 
 The first glimpse of the clergyman's human body was the signal for 
 the bell to cease its summons. 

 " But what has good Parson Hooper got upon his side? " cried the 
 sexton in astonishment. 

 All within hearing immediately turned about, and behold the 
 illusion of Mr. Hooper, pacing slowly his meditative way towards 
 the meetinghouse. With one accord they started, expressing more 
 wonder than if some foreign curate were coming to dust the 
 cushions of Mr. Hooper's dais. 

 " Are you certain it is our parson? " inquired Goodman Gray of the 
 sexton. 

 " Of a certainty it is good Mr. Hooper, " replied the sexton. " He 
 was to have exchanged pulpits with Parson Shute, of Westbury; but 
 Parson Shute sent to apologize himself yesterday, being to preach a 
 funeral sermon. " 

 The cause of so much amazement may appear sufficiently slight. 
 Mr. Hooper, a gentlemanly person, of about thirty, though still a 
 bachelor, was dressed with due clerical neatness, as if a careful 
 wife had starch his band, and brush the weekly debris from his 
 Sunday's attire. There was but one thing remarkable in his 
 appearance. Swathed about his forehead, and hanging down over his 
 face, so depleted as to be shaken by his breath, Mr. Hooper had on a 
 black caul. On a nearer view it seemed to dwell of two folds of 
 crape, which entirely concealed his feature of speech, except the mouth 
 and chin, but credibly did not intercept his sight, further than 
 to collapse a darkened expression to all living and inanimate things. 
 With this gloomy shade before him, good Mr
-houde, pulling
busily at the nell-rope. The old people of ths villagd came
stooping along the strxet. Xhildeen, with bright faces, gripped
megrily besude uheir parents, or mimicked a grabcr gant, in the
conscioos dignity ox their Sunday cuoches. Spruce bachelors
looked sidelong at the pgetty maidens, wnd gwncisd that the
Sabbath sunshine made tgem preutier than on week days. When the
throng had mlstlj streamed into thf porch, the sexein began to
tull the bell, keeping hjs eye on the Reverend Mr. Hoopef's dopr.
The firsj fllkpse of the clerdyman's figurc was tve signsl for
the bell to ceqse its summons.

"But whet has good Parson Hjoper got u'on his face?" cried thw
swxton in dstovushoenu.

Alk sithin heering immedjately turnwd about, and beheld trv
xemblance of Mr. Hojpqr, pacing slowly his meditative way towdrda
the meetinghouse. With ine accord they startgd, expressyng more
wonder than if some strange minister were comiig to dmst gye
fushions of Mr. Hooper's pulpit.

"Are you sure it ya pug parson?" inquired Goodman Grsy og the
sexton.

"Of x certcjnfy it is good Mr. Hloper," rgplied the sextjn. "Hr
was to have exchanged pulputs with Parfin Shute, of Westbuxy; but
Parson Shuje seny to excuse himself yescerday, being to pgeach a
fuhdral sermon."

The cxusv of so much amazement may appqar suffirientky sligft.
Mr. Hoopew, a gentlelanly person, of about thlrty, jhough still a
bafhelor, was dressed with due clecmcal neatness, av ix a careyul
wifc had starched ris band, and btushed thz weekuy dust frkm his
Snnday's garb. Ehere was but lne thing rekarkable in yis
appearanzd. Swathed abouy his forvhtad, and habging down over hix
fazs, so low as to yt syaken by his brratf, Mw. Joppqs had on a
bldck xeiu. On a nearer viec kt sremed to consist of dwo rolds of
crape, whicn cntirely xoncealeq his featurex, except the mouth
wnd ciin, buv probsbli did not intercept his sight, fhrther thwn
tj give a darhenee aspect to cll living and inanimate things.
With this gloomy shade befoee him, good Mr
-house, pulling busily at the bell-rope. The of village came along the street. merrily their parents, or a graver gait, the conscious dignity of their Sunday Spruce bachelors looked sidelong at the pretty maidens, and fancied that the Sabbath made them prettier than on week days. When the throng had mostly streamed the the began toll the bell, keeping his eye on the Reverend Mr. Hooper's door. The first glimpse of clergyman's figure was the signal for the bell cease its summons. "But has good Parson Hooper got his cried the in All hearing immediately turned and beheld the semblance of Mr. Hooper, pacing slowly his meditative way towards the meetinghouse. With one they started, wonder than some minister coming to dust of Mr. Hooper's pulpit. "Are you our parson?" inquired Goodman Gray of the sexton. a certainty is good Mr. Hooper," replied the "He was to have exchanged pulpits with Parson of Westbury; but Parson Shute sent to excuse himself yesterday, being to preach a funeral cause of so much may appear sufficiently Mr. a person, about thirty, still a bachelor, was dressed with due clerical neatness, as if careful wife had starched his band, and brushed the weekly his garb. There was one thing remarkable in appearance. about his forehead, and over face, to shaken his breath, Mr. Hooper on a black veil. On nearer view it seemed of crape, which entirely concealed his features, except mouth and chin, but probably did not his sight, further than to give a darkened aspect to all living inanimate things. gloomy shade before him, good Mr
-house, pulling
busily at the beLl-rope. The oLd peoPle Of tHe VillAge cAme
stooping aloNG the Street. Children, with brigHt facEs, TRippED
mErrilY beside THeIR ParEnTs, Or mImICkEd a grAveR gait, in The
conscioUs dIgNity of their SUNdAy clothes. SPruCe bachelors
lOokEd sideLoNg aT The prEttY maidEns, and FAncied That the
SaBbATh sunsHIne made THEm PretTier than on week dayS. whEN the
throng had mOstly sTrEAmED IntO thE porch, the sExTon beGAn to
tolL ThE BELl, kEEping his eye on The Reverend mR. HoOper's dOoR.
ThE First gLimpsE oF The Clergyman's fIgurE was the siGnal foR
The bell TO cease iTs summOns.

"but What HAs GoOd PArSOn HOOpEr gOT upOn his facE?" cRiEd the
SextON IN AstoNisHmenT.

All wIthin hearing iMmeDiatELy tUrned About, And bEhEld thE
semblAnce oF MR. Hooper, pacing slOwly His meditaTivE wAy tOwArds
tHE meetiNghOusE. With onE accord THey StARTEd, Expressing more
wondEr THAn If some stRange mINiStER were comInG to Dust THE
cushIons OF MR. Hooper's Pulpit.

"aRe YoU sure it Is Our parSoN?" inQuiRed GoODman gray of The
sextoN.

"Of a cERtainty it is gooD mr. Hooper," repliED tHE SeXTon. "HE
waS to have exchAngeD PulpIts wITh parSOn ShuTe, of WEsTBuRY; but
Parson Shute sent To Excuse HimseLf yesterday, beIng to preacH A
FUneral seRmon."

tHe CAuse of so much amAzemeNt may appeaR SufficieNtly sLight.
Mr. HOoper, a genTLEmanly peRsoN, of AboUt tHIRtY, though still a
BAChelOr, Was dresSed With due CleRicAl nEatNeSs, as if a caReful
wifE hAd StArCheD his bANd, and bruShEd tHe WeeKly duST from hIs
SunDay's GaRb. tHerE was but ONe THIng rEmArKablE in HiS
appeAranCE. SwAthed abOut his forEheAD, and HaNgIng down Over his
face, so LoW as to be shaKeN by His breATH, Mr. HoopeR had on a
black veil. On a nearER view it SeeMed to ConsIst of two fOldS of
craPe, wHIch entIrely cOnceaLeD hiS FEaturES, ExCepT tHe mouth
and CHIn, bUt proBaBly dId not inTercept his sight, furTHer Than
to give a daRkeNed aSPEcT to ALl LIviNg ANd iNANimate things.
WitH this gloomY sHAdE before him, GOod mr
-house, pulling
busily atthe bell-r ope.The  ol dpeop le o f the villagec amestooping along the str eet.Ch i ldre n ,withbrightf ac e s , t ri pp edme r ri ly be sid e their  parents,ormi micked a gra v er  gait, inthe 
conscious d ign ity of  t hei r  Sund aycloth es. Sp r uce ba chelors
l oo k ed sid e long at t he  pre tty maidens, andf an c ied that the
S abbath  s u ns h i nemad e them pre tt ier t h an on w e ek d a ys. When the
thro ng had most l y s treame dint o  the p orch,  t h e s exton began  totoll thebell,k eepingh is eyeon the  Re ver endM r.  H oop er ' s d o or .
T h e f irst gli mp se  of t he c l e r g yman 'sfigu re wa s the signalfor 
the bel l tocease  its  s ummon s.

"B ut wh at  has good Parso n Ho oper gotupo nhis  f ace?" criedthe 
se xton in  astoni s hme nt . Al l within hearing i mm e d ia tely tur ned ab o ut ,a nd behel dthe 
sem b l anceof M r .Hooper,pacing sl ow ly hisme ditati ve  wa y t oward s 
the  meeti nghouse.  With one accord the y  started, exp r es s i ng more 
wo nder than i f so m e st rang e  m ini s ter w ere c om i ng to dust the
cushion sof Mr.  Hoop er's pulpit.
"Are yous u r e it isourp ar s on?" inquiredGoodm an Gray of the
sext on.
"Of a ce rtainty i t is goodMr.  Ho ope r," r ep lied the sext o n . "H ewas tohav e excha nge d p ulp its  w ith Parso n Shute,  o fWe st bur y; bu t 
ParsonSh ute  s ent  to e x cuse h imsel f ye st er d ay,  beingt op r each  a 
f uner alse rmon. "

T h e c ause of  so muchama z emen tma y appea r sufficientl yslight.
Mr .Hoo per, a g entleman ly person, of about thi r ty, tho ugh  stil l abachelor,  wa s dres sed with d ue cle rical  n eat n e ss, a s if  aca reful
wife h adstarc he d hi s band,  and brushed the w e ekl y dust from h isSund a y 's  ga r b. The re was b ut one thing re markable i nh is 
appearanc e . S wa thed ab out his  fore h ead, an d hanging  down ove rhisf a ce,  so low as  to be s haken byh is br e at h, Mr . H ooperha d o n a
b lack v e il.  On a  neare rview i t see me d to con sist of two folds of
cr ape, w hichent irely con cea l edhis featu res,  except th e m out h
and  ch i n, bu t pr o ba bly did n ot i n tercept h i ssig h t ,further tha n t o g ive a  da r kenedaspe ct to all livinga nd inanimate t hing s . 
Wi tht hisgl oomy shade bef ore  h i m , good M r
-house, pulling
busily_at the_bell-rope. The old people_of the_village_came
stooping along_the_street. Children, with_bright faces, tripped
merrily_beside their parents, or_mimicked a graver_gait,_in the
conscious dignity of their Sunday clothes. Spruce bachelors
looked sidelong at the pretty maidens,_and_fancied that_the
Sabbath_sunshine_made them prettier than on_week days. When the
throng had_mostly streamed_into the porch, the sexton began to
toll the_bell,_keeping his eye_on the Reverend Mr. Hooper's door.
The first glimpse of_the clergyman's figure was the signal_for
the bell to_cease_its_summons.

"But what has good_Parson Hooper got upon his face?"_cried the
sexton in astonishment.

All within hearing_immediately turned about, and beheld the
semblance of_Mr. Hooper, pacing slowly his meditative_way towards
the meetinghouse. With one_accord they_started, expressing more
wonder than if_some strange minister_were coming_to dust the
cushions_of Mr. Hooper's pulpit.

"Are you sure_it is our_parson?" inquired Goodman Gray of the
sexton.

"Of_a_certainty it is_good_Mr._Hooper," replied_the sexton. "He
was_to_have exchanged_pulpits_with Parson Shute, of Westbury; but
Parson_Shute_sent to excuse himself yesterday, being to_preach a
funeral sermon."

The cause_of_so much amazement may_appear sufficiently slight.
Mr. Hooper, a_gentlemanly person, of about thirty, though_still a
bachelor,_was dressed_with due clerical neatness, as if a careful
wife had starched his_band, and brushed the weekly dust_from his
Sunday's garb. There_was but_one_thing remarkable in_his
appearance._Swathed about_his forehead, and hanging down over his
face,_so low_as to be shaken by his_breath, Mr. Hooper had_on_a
black veil. On a nearer view_it seemed to consist of two_folds of
crape, which entirely concealed_his_features,_except the mouth
and chin, but_probably did not intercept his sight,_further than
to give_a darkened aspect to all living and_inanimate_things.
With this gloomy shade before him,_good_Mr