Where the land fell away to woods a tombsone stood mute and abandoned

Thomas Wallis Evans
Born Feb 9, 1848
At Wilkesbarre
Died At Germantown
May 26, 1897

it said. I copied on a piece of paper I found in my pocket and tried to imagine the face. Across the always flowing waters of the river was a city section of ancient mills and stone churches and steep hills which visited on days away from the market. The ways in which the light of winter appeared on the sides of mills and chuches made me think of the boredom and melancholy of childhood. I crossed the bridge over the river and when I reached a steep hill stared back at the cemetery.
A priest silent and reserved appeared then climbed the steps of a church.