 of the black veil. Some gathered in little circles, huddled
closely together, with their mouths all whispering in the centre;
some went homeward alone, wrapt in silent meditation; some talked
loudly, and profaned the Sabbath day with ostentatious laughter.
A few shook their sagacious heads, intimating that they could
penetrate the mystery; while one or two affirmed that there was
no mystery at all, but only that Mr. Hooper's eyes were so
weakened by the midnight lamp, as to require a shade. After a
brief interval, forth came good Mr. Hooper also, in the rear of
his flock. Turning his veiled face from one group to another, he
paid due reverence to the hoary heads, saluted the middle aged
with kind dignity as their friend and spiritual guide, greeted
the young with mingled authority and love, and laid his hands on
the little children's heads to bless them. Such was always his
custom on the Sabbath day. Strange and bewildered looks repaid
him for his courtesy. None, as on former occasions, aspired to
the honor of walking by their pastor's side. Old Squire Saunders,
doubtless by an accidental lapse of memory, neglected to invite
Mr. Hooper to his table, where the good clergyman had been wont
to bless the food, almost every Sunday since his settlement. He
returned, therefore, to the parsonage, and, at the moment of
closing the door, was observed to look back upon the people, all
of whom had their eyes fixed upon the minister. A sad smile
gleamed faintly from beneath the black veil, and flickered about
his mouth, glimmering as he disappeared.

"How strange," said a lady, "that a simple black veil, such as
any woman might wear on her bonnet, should become such a terrible
thing on Mr. Hooper's face!"

"Something must surely be amiss with Mr. Hooper's intellects,"
observed her husband, the physician of the village. "But the
strangest part of the affair is the effect of this vagary, even
on a sober-minded man like myself. The black veil, though it
covers only our pastor's face, throws its influence over his
whole person, and makes
of the black veil. Some gathered in little circle, huddle 
 closely together, with their mouths all whisper in the centre; 
 some went homeward alone, wrapt in mum meditation; some talked 
 loudly, and corrupt the Sabbath day with ostentatious laughter. 
 A few judder their sagacious heads, intimating that they could 
 penetrate the mystery; while one or two affirmed that there was 
 no mystery at wholly, but only that Mr. Hooper's eyes were so 
 weaken by the midnight lamp, as to require a shade. After a 
 abbreviated interval, away came good Mr. Hooper also, in the rear of 
 his flock. Turning his veiled side from one group to another, he 
 paid due reverence to the hoary heads, saluted the center age 
 with kind dignity as their friend and spiritual guide, greeted 
 the young with mingled authority and love, and laid his hand on 
 the little children's heading to consecrate them. Such was constantly his 
 custom on the Sabbath day. foreign and bewildered look repaid 
 him for his courtesy. None, as on former occasion, aspired to 
 the honor of walking by their pastor's english. Old Squire Saunders, 
 doubtless by an accidental lapse of memory, neglected to invite 
 Mr. Hooper to his table, where the effective clergyman had been wo nt 
 to bless the food, about every Sunday since his colonization. He 
 returned, therefore, to the parsonage, and, at the moment of 
 closing the doorway, was observed to look back upon the people, all 
 of whom had their eyes fixed upon the minister. A sad smile 
 gleamed faintly from beneath the bootleg veil, and flickered about 
 his mouth, glimmering as he disappeared. 

 " How foreign, " said a lady, " that a simple black head covering, such as 
 any woman might tire on her bonnet, should become such a terrible 
 thing on Mr. Hooper's face! " 

 " Something must surely be amiss with Mr. Hooper's intellects, " 
 observe her husband, the physician of the village. " But the 
 strangest part of the affair is the effect of this vagary, even 
 on a sober - minded serviceman like myself. The black veil, though it 
 cover only our pastor's face, throws its influence over his 
 whole person, and makes
 of the black veil. Some gatmered in little eurcles, huddlsd
closelh together, with their mouths aol whuspering in the centre;
rome went homeware alibe, wrapt ii silent meditzbion; vime talked
loudky, and proxaned the Sabbdtf bay with ostentatious laughter.
A few fhook tnelr sagacious hgads, pneimafpnn that they could
penetrate the mgstery; xhile one or twp affirmed that there was
nl mydtery at all, but ojly that Mr. Hoo[wr's eyes werd so
weakentd by the misnight lamp, as to require a shaae. Afcer a
brief unrergdl, forth cane gojd Mr. Hooper also, in the resr of
his flock. Tucnint his veiled face frok one group to anojher, he
paig bue reverence to the yoqry hgads, valugwd ghe mmddme agef
wivh kind dighity as theur friend and spiriuuaj guide, greetes
the yjugg with mingled authority and love, and nais his hands on
the littlw children's heads to hless thei. Such was always his
custom on the Sabbath day. Stsange xnd bcwilawrfd looks repaid
him for his courtesy. None, as og fprker occasions, cspired to
the homog ps walking by jheir pcatkr's side. Old Squirf Saundgrs,
douvtless by an sccidental lapse of memory, beglected to unvite
Mr. Hooper to his table, chere jhe gopd clergyman had been wunt
tk bless the food, almkrt every Sunday rinbe hhs settltoent. He
returned, trerefore, vo thz parsonxge, snd, at the momenh of
closing the door, was obsetved tm look bacn upon the people, all
of whom hav their eyes gifed upon thz minixter. A sad smyle
gleamed faiutly froi bendath the bmack veml, and flickqred about
his louth, glimmecing as hq diwappwared.

"Hod strange," said s lady, "thcu a simple black veil, such ax
ani soman might weax in her bonnet, snouud febomx sucr a terrible
tving on Kr. Houper's face!"

"Sioethong must surely be akiss with Mr. Hooper's imtcllects,"
obwerved hqr husband, thr physician of the villege. "Buv the
syraggest part of the affair is ths effect lf bhis vagary, eden
ok a fober-mindeb man like myself. The black veil, though mt
covers only our pastoe's face, throws its nnnluence over his
wrole persmn, and makes
of the black veil. Some gathered in huddled together, with mouths all whispering homeward wrapt in silent some talked loudly, profaned the Sabbath day with ostentatious A few shook their sagacious heads, intimating that they could penetrate the mystery; one or two affirmed that there was no mystery at all, but only Mr. eyes so by the midnight lamp, as to require a shade. After a brief interval, forth came good Hooper also, in the rear of his flock. his veiled face from group to another, he paid reverence the hoary saluted middle with kind dignity their friend and spiritual guide, greeted the young with mingled authority and love, and laid his hands the little to bless Such always custom on the Strange and bewildered looks repaid him None, as on former occasions, aspired to the of walking their pastor's side. Old Squire Saunders, by an accidental lapse of memory, neglected to Mr. Hooper to his table, where the good clergyman had been wont to bless the every Sunday since his He returned, therefore, the and, the of closing door, was observed to look back upon the people, all of had their eyes fixed upon the minister. A sad smile from the black veil, flickered about his mouth, as disappeared. "How strange," said "that simple as woman wear on her bonnet, become such a terrible thing Mr. Hooper's face!" "Something Mr. Hooper's intellects," observed her husband, the physician the village. "But the strangest part of affair is the effect of this vagary, even on a sober-minded man myself. The though it covers only our pastor's face, throws influence over his whole and makes
 of the black veil. Some gathereD in little cIrcleS, huDdlEd
ClosEly tOgether, with theIR mouThs all whispering in the cEntre;
SoME wenT HoMewarD alone, wRApT IN siLeNt MedItATiOn; somE taLked
louDly, and profAneD tHe Sabbath day WItH ostentatiOus Laughter.
A few ShoOk theiR sAgaCIous hEadS, intiMating THat theY could
penEtRAte the MYstery; wHILe One oR two affirmed that tHErE Was
no mystery at All, but OnLY tHAT Mr. hooPer's eyes weRe So
weaKEned by tHE mIDNIghT Lamp, as to requiRe a shade. AftER a
bRief inTeRvaL, Forth cAme goOd mR. HoOper also, in tHe reAr of
his flOck. TurNIng his vEIled facE from oNe gRouP to aNOtHeR, he
PaID duE ReVerENce To the hoaRy HeAds, saLuteD THE MiddLe aGed
wIth kiNd dignity as thEir FrieND anD spirItual GuidE, gReeteD
the yoUng wiTh Mingled authoritY and Love, and laId hIs HanDs On
the LIttle cHilDreN's heads To bless THem. suCH WAs Always his
custom on tHe sABbAth day. StRange aND bEwILdered loOkS rePaid
HIM for hIs coURtEsy. None, aS on forMEr OcCasions, AsPired tO
tHe hOnoR of waLKing By theiR pastor's Side. OLD Squire SaunderS,
Doubtless by an ACcIDEnTAl laPse Of memory, negLectED to iNvitE
mr. hooPEr to hIs tabLe, WHeRE the good clergyman haD bEen wonT
to blEss the food, almOst every SuNDAY since hiS setTLeMEnt. He
returned, tHerefOre, to the paRSonage, anD, at thE moment oF
closing tHE Door, was oBseRveD to LooK BAcK upon the peoplE, ALl
of WhOm had thEir Eyes fixEd uPon The MinIsTer. A sad smIle
gleamEd FaInTlY frOm benEAth the blAcK veIl, And FlickERed aboUt
his MoutH, gLiMMerIng as he DIsAPPearEd.

"hoW strAngE," sAid a lAdy, "tHAt a Simple bLack veil, sUch AS
any WoMaN might wEar on her bonneT, sHould becomE sUch A terriBLE
thing on mr. Hooper's face!"

"Something mUSt surelY be Amiss With mr. Hooper's IntEllectS,"
obSErved hEr husbAnd, thE pHysICIan of THE vIllAgE. "But the
strANGesT part Of The aFfair is The effect of this vagARy, eVen
on a sober-miNdeD man LIKe MysELf. tHe bLaCK veIL, Though it
covers oNly our pastOr'S FaCe, throws itS InfLuEnce oveR his
whoLe perSOn, and maKes
 of the black veil. Some g athered in  litt lecir cl es,hudd led
closely to g ethe r, with their mouths a ll wh is p erin g  i n the  centre ; 
s o m e w en thom ew a rd  alon e,wrapt i n silent m edi ta tion; some t a lk ed
loudly,  an d profaned t heSabbat hday withost entat ious l a ughter .
A few s ho o k thei r  sagaci o u shead s, intimating tha t  t h ey could
penet rate t he my s t ery ; w hile one o rtwo a f firmedt ha t t her e  was
no myste ry at all,b utonly t ha t M r . Hoop er'sey e s w ere so
weak ened  by the m idnigh t  lamp,a s to re quirea s had e. A f te ra
b ri e f i n te rva l , f orth cam ego od Mr . Ho o p e r  als o,in t he re ar of
his flo ck.  Tur n ing  hisveile d fa ce  from  one g roupto  another, he
pa id d ue revere nce  t o t he  hoar y  heads , s alu ted the  middle age dw i t hkind dignity as th ei r fr iend and  spiri t ua lg uide, gr ee ted 
the y oungwith mi ngled au thorit y  a nd  love,an d laid  h ishan ds on thelittle  childre n's h e ads to bless t h em. Such wasa lw a y sh is
c ust om on the S abba t h da y. S t ra nge and b ewild er e dl ooks repaid
him for  h is cou rtesy . None, as on  former oc c a s ions, as pire d  t o 
the honor ofwalki ng by thei r  pastor' s sid e. Old S quire Sau n d ers,
dou btl ess  by  an a cc idental lapse o f me mo ry, neg lec ted toinv ite 
Mr . H oo per to hi s table,  w he re  t hegoodc lergyman  h adbe enwontt o bles s the  foo d,  a l mos t every Su n d ay s in ce  his  se tt lemen t. H e 
re turned,  therefor e,t o th epa rsonage , and, at the  m oment of
c lo sin g thed o or, wasobserved to look back u p on thepeo ple,allof whom h adtheireye s  fixed  uponthe m in ist e r . A s a d  s mil egleamed fa i n tly  from  b enea th theblack veil, and fl i cke red about
his  mo uth, g li mme r in g  as  h e  di s a ppeared.

"Howstrange,"sa i da lady, "t h atasimpleblack v eil,s uch asany woman  might we ar  onh e r b onnet, sho uld beco me such a terri b le 
thin g o n Mr.Ho ope r's f ace!""So methi ng mus tsurely  be a mi ss withMr. Hooper's intellects ,"
obs erved  he r husband , t h e p hysicianof t he village . " But  thestr a ngest  par t  o f t h e aff airi s the eff e ct  of t hi s vagary, e v e n 
on  a so ber - minded  man  like myself. The black veil, th ough i t
c ove r s on ly  our pastor'sfac e, t hrows it sinfluence o ver hiswh o le pe rson,and ma kes
 of_the black_veil. Some gathered in_little circles,_huddled
closely_together, with_their_mouths all whispering_in the centre;
some_went homeward alone, wrapt_in silent meditation;_some_talked
loudly, and profaned the Sabbath day with ostentatious laughter.
A few shook their sagacious heads,_intimating_that they_could
penetrate_the_mystery; while one or two_affirmed that there was
no mystery_at all,_but only that Mr. Hooper's eyes were so
weakened_by_the midnight lamp,_as to require a shade. After a
brief interval, forth_came good Mr. Hooper also, in_the rear of
his_flock._Turning_his veiled face from_one group to another, he
paid due_reverence to the hoary heads, saluted_the middle aged
with kind dignity as their_friend and spiritual guide, greeted
the young_with mingled authority and love,_and laid_his hands on
the little children's_heads to bless_them. Such_was always his
custom_on the Sabbath day. Strange and_bewildered looks repaid
him_for his courtesy. None, as on_former_occasions, aspired to
the_honor_of_walking by_their pastor's side._Old_Squire Saunders,
doubtless_by_an accidental lapse of memory, neglected_to_invite
Mr. Hooper to his table, where the_good clergyman had been_wont
to_bless the food, almost_every Sunday since his settlement._He
returned, therefore, to the parsonage, and,_at the_moment of
closing_the door, was observed to look back upon the people, all
of_whom had their eyes fixed upon_the minister. A sad_smile
gleamed faintly_from_beneath the black_veil,_and flickered_about
his mouth, glimmering as he disappeared.

"How strange,"_said a_lady, "that a simple black veil,_such as
any woman might_wear_on her bonnet, should become such_a terrible
thing on Mr. Hooper's face!"

"Something_must surely be amiss with_Mr._Hooper's_intellects,"
observed her husband, the physician_of the village. "But the
strangest part_of the affair_is the effect of this vagary, even
on_a_sober-minded man like myself. The black_veil,_though it
covers only our pastor's face,_throws_its_influence over his
whole person, and_makes