404 The Sexton of Cologne. [APRIL, 



every one else, as otherwise the sacrilege might be attended with serious 

 consequences it not being likely that the ecclesiastics, to whom the 

 judgment of such matters belonged, would view his fault with equal 

 indulgence. He even resolved to go himself to the church with Bolt, 

 that he might investigate the affair more thoroughly. But to this pro- 

 position the sexton gave a prompt and positive denial " I would 

 rather/' he exclaimed, " I would rather be dragged to the scaffold 

 than again disturb the repose of the dead/' This declaration, so ill-timed, 

 confounded Adolph. On the one hand, he felt an undefined curiosity to 

 look more narrowly into this mysterious business ; on the other, he could 

 not help feeling compassion for the sexton, who, it was evident, was 

 labouring under the influence of a delusion which he was utterly unable 

 to subdue. The poor fellow trembled all over, as if shaken by an ague 

 fit, and painted the situation of his wife and his pressing poverty with 

 such a pale face and such despair in his eyes, that he might himself have 

 passed for a church-yard spectre. The Burgomaster again admonished 

 him to be silent for fear of the consequences, and, giving him a couple 

 of dollars to relieve his immediate wants, sent him home to his wife and 

 family. 



Being thus deprived of his most natural ally on this occasion, Adolph 

 summoned an old and confidential servant, of whose secrecy he could 

 have no doubt. To his question of " Do you fear the dead ?" Hans 

 stoutly replied, " They are not half so dangerous as the living." 



" Indeed !" said the Burgomaster. " Do you think, then, that you 

 have courage enough to go into the church at night ?" " In the way of 

 my duty, yes/' replied Hans ; " not otherwise. It is not right to trifle 

 with holy matters/' 



" Do you believe in ghosts, Hans ?" continued Adolph " Yes, Mr. 

 Burgomaster/' 



" Do you fear them ?" " No, Mr. Burgomaster. I hold by God, and 

 he holds up me ; and God is the strongest/' 



" Will you go with me to the cathedral, Hans ? I have had a strange 

 dream to-night : it seemed to me as if my deceased wife called to me 

 from the steeple- window/' " I see how it is," answered Hans : " the 

 sexton has been with you, and put this whim into your head, Mr. Bur- 

 gomaster. These grave-diggers are always seeing ghosts." 



" Put a light into your lantern," said Adolph, avoiding a direct reply 

 to this observation of the old man. " Be silent, and follow me." " If 

 you bid me," said Hans, " I must of course obey ; for you are my 

 magistrate as well as my master." 



Herewith he lit the candle in the lantern, and followed his master 

 without farther opposition. 



Adolph hurried into the church with hasty steps ; but the old man, 

 who went before him to shew the way, delayed him with his reflections 

 so that their progress was but slow. Even at the threshold he stopt, 

 and flung the light of his lantern upon the gilded rods over the door, to 

 which it is the custom to add a fresh one every year, that people may 

 know how long the reigning elector has lived. 



" That is an excellent custom," said Hans ; " one has only to count 

 those staves, and one learns immediately how long the gracious elector 

 has governed us simple men." 



" Excellent !" replied Adolph ; " but go on." 



Hans, however, had too long been indulged in his odd, wayward 



