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The Minister’s Vigil
He,goinghometoabetterworld,I,likewise,wasonmywayhomeward,whenthislightshoneout.Comewithme,Ibeseechyou,Reverendsir,elseyouwillbepoorlyabletodoSabbathdutyto-morrow.Aha!seenowhowtheytroublethebrain—thesebooks!—thesebooks!Youshouldstudyless,goodsir,andtakealittlepastime,orthesenightwhimsieswillgrowuponyou."
"Iwillgohomewithyou,"saidMr.Dimmesdale.
Withachilldespondency,likeoneawakening,allnerveless,fromanuglydream,heyieldedhimselftothephysician,andwasledaway.
Thenextday,however,beingtheSabbath,hepreachedadiscoursewhichwasheldtobetherichestandmostpowerful,andthemostrepletewithheavenlyinfluences,thathadeverproceededfromhislips.Souls,itissaid,moresoulsthanone,werebroughttothetruthbytheefficacyofthatsermon,andvowedwithinthemselvestocherishaholygratitudetowardsMr.Dimmesdalethroughoutthelonghereafter.Butashecamedownthepulpitsteps,thegrey-beardedsextonmethim,holdingupablackglove,whichtheministerrecognisedashisown.
"Itwasfound,"saidtheSexton,"thismorningonthescaffoldwhereevil-doersaresetuptopublicshame.Satandroppeditthere,Itakeit,intendingascurrilousjestagainstyourreverence.But,indeed,hewasblindandfoolish,asheeverandalwaysis
