The Minister's Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Section [1 | 2]
the minister's black veil

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

a parable[1]

[1] another clergyman in new England, Mr Joseph moody, of York, Maine, made himself remarkable by_the same eccentricity that_is here related of_the reverend Mr Hooper . in_his case, however, the symbol had a different import . in early life he had accidentally killed a beloved friend, and from_that day till the hour of_his own death, he hid his face from men .

the Sexton stood in_the porch of Milford meeting- 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, agentlemanly 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 adarkened aspect to all living and inanimate things . with_this gloomy shade before him, good Mr Hooper walked onward, at a slow and quiet pace, stooping somewhat, and looking on_the ground, as is customary with abstracted men, yet nodding kindly to_those of_his parishioners who still waited on_the meeting- house steps . but so wonder- struck were they that his greeting hardly met with a return .

" I_can't really feel as_if good Mr Hooper's face was behind that piece of crape," said the Sexton .

"I don't like it," muttered an old woman, as she hobbled into_the meeting- house ." he has changed himself into something awful, only by hiding his face ."

" our parson has gone mad ! " cried Goodman gray, following him across the threshold .

a rumor of some unaccountable phenomenon had preceded Mr Hooper into_the meeting- house, and set all the congregation astir . few could refrain from twisting their heads towards the door; many stood upright, and turned directly about; while several little boys clambered upon_the seats, and came down again with a terrible racket . there_was a general bustle, arustling of_the women's gowns and shuffling of_the men's feet, greatly at variance with_that hushed repose which should attend the entrance of_the minister . but Mr Hooper appeared not to notice the perturbation of_his people . he entered with an almost noiseless step, bent his head mildly to_the pews on each side, and bowed as he passed his oldest parishioner, a white-haired great grandsire, who occupied an arm- chair in_the centre of_the aisle . it_was strange to observe how slowly this venerable man became conscious of something singular in_the appearance of_his pastor . he_seemed not fully to partake of_the prevailing wonder, till Mr Hooper had ascended the stairs, and showed himself in_the pulpit, face_to_face with_his congregation, except for_the black veil . that mysterious emblem was never once withdrawn . it shook with_his measured breath, as he_gave out the psalm; it threw its obscurity between him and_the holy page, as he read the Scriptures; and while he prayed, the veil lay heavily on_his uplifted countenance . did he seek to hide it from_the dread being whom he_was addressing ?

such was_the effect of_this simple piece of crape, that more than one woman of delicate nerves was forced to leave the meeting- house . yet perhaps the pale- faced congregation was almost as fearful a sight to_the minister, as his black veil to_them .

Mr Hooper had the reputation of a good preacher, but not an energetic one: he strove to win his people heavenward by mild, persuasive influences, rather than to drive them thither by_the thunders of_the word . the sermon which he now delivered was marked by_the same characteristics of style and manner as_the general series of_his pulpit oratory . but there_was something, either in_the sentiment of_the discourse itself, or in_the imagination of_the auditors, which made it greatly the most powerful effort that_they had ever heard from their pastor's lips . it_was tinged, rather more darkly than usual, with_the gentle gloom of Mr Hooper's temperament . the subject had reference to secret sin, and those sad mysteries which we hide from_our nearest and dearest, and would fain conceal from_our own consciousness, even forgetting that_the omniscient can detect them .a subtle power was breathed into his words . each member of_the congregation, the most innocent girl, and_the man of hardened breast, felt as if_the preacher had crept upon them, behind his awful veil, and discovered their hoarded iniquity of deed or thought . many spread their clasped hands on their bosoms . there_was nothing terrible in what Mr Hooper said, at_least, no violence; and yet, with every tremor of_his melancholy voice, the hearers quaked . an unsought pathos came hand in hand with awe . so sensible were the audience of some unwonted attribute in their minister, that_they longed for a breath of wind to blow aside the veil, almost believing that a stranger's visage would_be discovered, though the form, gesture, and voice were those of Mr Hooper .

at_the close of_the services, the people hurried out with indecorous confusion, eager to communicate their pent- up amazement, and conscious of lighter spirits the moment they lost sight 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 him ghostlike from head to foot . do_you not feel it so ? "

" truly do I," replied the lady; " and I would_not_be alone with_him for_the world .I wonder he_is_not afraid to_be alone with himself ! "

" men sometimes are so," said her husband .

the afternoon service was attended with similar circumstances . at its conclusion, the bell tolled for_the funeral of a young lady . the relatives and friends were assembled in_the house, and_the more distant acquaintances stood about_the door, speaking of_the good qualities of_the deceased, when their talk was interrupted by_the appearance of Mr Hooper, still covered with_his black veil . it_was now an appropriate emblem . the clergyman stepped into_the room where the corpse was laid, and bent over the coffin, to_take a last farewell of_his deceased parishioner . as he stooped, the veil hung straight down from_his forehead, so_that, if her eyelids had_not_been closed forever, the dead maiden might_have seen his face . could Mr Hooper be fearful of her glance, that he so hastily caught back the black veil ? a person who watched the interview between_the dead and living, scrupled not to affirm, that, at_the instant when_the clergyman's features were disclosed, the corpse had slightly shuddered, rustling the shroud and muslin cap, though the countenance retained the composure of death .a superstitious old woman was_the only witness of_this prodigy . from_the coffin Mr Hooper passed into_the chamber of_the mourners, and thence to_the head of_the staircase, to make_the funeral prayer . it_was a tender and heart-dissolving prayer, full of sorrow, yet so imbued with celestial hopes, that_the music of a heavenly harp, swept by_the fingers of_the dead, seemed faintly to_be heard among_the saddest accents of_the minister . the people trembled, though they but darkly understood him when he prayed that_they, and himself, and all of mortal race, might_be ready, as he trusted this young maiden had_been, for_the dreadful hour that should snatch the veil from their faces . the bearers went heavily forth, and_the mourners followed, saddening all the street, with_the dead before them, and Mr Hooper in_his black veil behind .

" why do_you look back ? " said one in_the procession to_his partner .

"I had a fancy," replied she, " that_the minister and_the maiden's spirit were walking hand in hand ."

" and so had I, at_the same moment," said the other .

that night, the handsomest couple in Milford village were to_be joined in wedlock . though reckoned a melancholy man, Mr Hooper had a placid cheerfulness for such occasions, which often excited a sympathetic smile where livelier merriment would_have_been thrown away . there_was no quality of_his disposition which made him more beloved than this . the company at_the wedding awaited his arrival with impatience, trusting that_the strange awe, which had gathered over him throughout_the day, would now be dispelled . but such was not the result . when Mr Hooper came, the first thing that their eyes rested on was_the same horrible black veil, which had added deeper gloom to_the funeral, and could portend nothing but evil to_the wedding . such was its immediate effect on_the guests that a cloud seemed to_have rolled duskily from beneath the black crape, and dimmed the light of_the candles . the bridal pair stood up before_the minister . but the bride's cold fingers quivered in_the tremulous hand of_the bridegroom, and her deathlike paleness caused a whisper that_the maiden who had_been buried a few hours before was come from her grave to_be married . if ever another wedding were so dismal, it was_that famous one where they tolled the wedding knell . after performing the ceremony, Mr Hooper raised a glass of wine to_his lips, wishing happiness to_the new- married couple in a strain of mild pleasantry that ought_to_have brightened the features of_the guests, like a cheerful gleam from_the hearth . at_that instant, catching a glimpse of_his figure in_the looking- glass, the black veil involved his own spirit in_the horror with_which it overwhelmed all others . his frame shuddered, his lips grew white, he spilt the untasted wine upon_the carpet, and rushed forth into_the darkness . for_the earth, too, had on her black veil .

the next_day, the whole village of Milford talked of little else than parson Hooper's black veil . that, and_the mystery concealed behind it, supplied a topic for discussion between acquaintances meeting in_the street, and good women gossiping at their open windows . it was_the first item of news that_the tavern- keeper told to_his guests . the children babbled of it on their way to school . one imitative little imp covered his face with an old black handkerchief, thereby so affrighting his playmates that_the panic seized himself, and he well- nigh lost his wits by his own waggery .

it_was remarkable that all of_the busybodies and impertinent people in_the parish, not one ventured to_put the plain question to Mr Hooper, wherefore he_did this thing . hitherto, whenever there appeared the slightest call for such interference, he had never lacked advisers, nor shown himself averse to_be guided by their judgment . if he erred at all, it_was by so painful a degree of self- distrust, that even the mildest censure would lead him to consider an indifferent action as a crime . yet, though so_well acquainted with_this amiable weakness, no individual among his parishioners chose to make_the black veil a subject of friendly remonstrance . there_was afeeling of dread, neither plainly confessed nor carefully concealed, which caused each to shift the responsibility upon another, till at_length it_was found expedient to send a deputation of_the church, in_order to deal with Mr Hooper about_the mystery, before it should grow into a scandal . never did an embassy so ill discharge its duties . the minister received then with friendly courtesy, but became silent, after they were seated, leaving to_his visitors the whole burden of introducing their important business . the topic, it might_be supposed, was obvious enough . there_was the black veil swathed round Mr Hooper's forehead, and concealing every feature above his placid mouth, on_which, at times, they_could perceive the glimmering of a melancholy smile . but that piece of crape, to_their imagination, seemed to hang down before his heart, the symbol of a fearful secret between him and them . were the veil but cast aside, they_might speak freely of it, but not till then . thus they sat a considerable time, speechless, confused, and shrinking uneasily from Mr Hooper's eye, which they felt to_be fixed upon them with an invisible glance . finally,

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