294 
RURAL HOURS. 
but the pines themselves are all the spontaneous growth of the 
soil. Judging from their size, and what we know of their 
histor}'^, they must have sprung up from the seed about the time 
when the first colonists arrived — contemporaries of the little town 
whose graves they overshadow. 
The tombs themselves have all a natural interest for the peo- 
ple of the place, but there are none to attract the attention of a 
stranger. One of the earlier Missionaries in these parts of the 
country is buried here among his flock ; he came into the woods 
a young man, passed a long life in preaching the Gospel among 
the different hamlets about, and died at last much respected and 
esteemed for his simplicity of character and faithful performance 
of the duties of his sacred office. One day, as he was walking 
through the church-yard with a brother clergyman, he pointed 
out a spot beneath two pines, expressing a wish to lie there, 
when the work of life should be over. Years after this conver- 
sation, he died in another parish, and was buried there ; but he 
was nominal rector of this church at the time, and his friends 
were aware that he wished his body removed to this ground. 
Steps were accordingly taken, his remains were brought here, and 
laid in a grave selected by one of the vestry. A simple monu- 
ment of white marble was raised to his memory by the difierent 
parishes he had founded in the county. Some years later, the 
clergyman to whom the old Missionary had pointed out the spot 
where he wished to be buried, happened to preach here, and 
passing through the church-yard, he paused to look at the monu- 
ment, observing that he was pleased to find his friend had been 
laid in the very spot chosen by himself so long before ; and it was 
only then the parish learned that their old rector had pointed out 
