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The Chimes
by Charles Dickens
CHAPTER I … First Quarter。
HERE are not many people … and as it is desirable that a story…
teller and a story…reader should establish a mutual understanding
as soon as possible； I beg it to be noticed that I confine this
observation neither to young people nor to little people； but
extend it to all conditions of people： little and big； young and
old： yet growing up； or already growing down again … there are
not； I say； many people who would care to sleep in a church。 I
don't mean at sermon…time in warm weather （when the thing has
actually been done； once or twice）； but in the night； and alone。 A
great multitude of persons will be violently astonished； I know； by
this position； in the broad bold Day。 But it applies to Night。 It
must be argued by night； and I will undertake to maintain it
successfully on any gusty winter's night appointed for the purpose；
with any one opponent chosen from the rest； who will meet me singly
in an old churchyard； before an old church…door； and will
previously empower me to lock him in； if needful to his
satisfaction； until morning。
For the night…wind has a dismal trick of wandering round and round
a building of that sort； and moaning as it goes； and of trying；
with its unseen hand； the windows and the doors； and seeking out
some crevices by which to enter。 And when it has got in； as one
not finding what it seeks； whatever that may be； it wails and howls
to issue forth again： and not content with stalking through the
aisles； and gliding round and round the pillars； and tempting the
deep organ； soars up to the roof； and strives to rend the rafters：
then flings itself despairingly upon the stones below； and passes；
muttering； into the vaults。 Anon； it comes up stealthily； and
creeps along the walls； seeming to read； in whispers； the
Inscriptions sacred to the Dead。 At some of these； it breaks out
shrilly； as with laughter； and at others； moans and cries as if it
were lamenting。 It has a ghostly sound too； lingering within the
altar； where it seems to chaunt； in its wild way； of Wrong and
Murder done； and false Gods worshipped； in defiance of the Tables
of the Law； which look so fair and smooth； but are so flawed and
broken。 Ugh！ Heaven preserve us； sitting snugly round the fire！
It has an awful voice； that wind at Midnight； singing in a church！
But； high up in the steeple！ There the foul blast roars and
whistles！ High up in the steeple； where it is free to come and go
through many an airy arch and loophole； and to twist and twine
itself about the giddy stair； and twirl the groaning weathercock；
and make the very tower shake and shiver！ High up in the steeple；
where the belfry is； and iron rails are ragged with rust； and
sheets of lead and copper； shrivelled by the changing weather；
crackle and heave beneath the unaccustomed tread； and birds stuff
shabby nests into corners of old oaken joists and beams； and dust
grows old and grey； and speckled spiders； indolent and fat with
long security； swing idly to and fro in the vibration of the bells；
and never loose their hold upon their thread…spun castles in the
air； or climb up sailor…like in quick alarm； or drop upon the
ground and ply a score of nimble legs to save one life！ High up in
the steeple of an old church； far above the light and murmur of the
town and far below the flying clouds that shadow it； is the wild
and dreary place at night： and high up in the steeple of an old
church； dwelt the Chimes I tell of。
They were old Chimes； trust me。 Centuries ago； these Bells had
been baptized by bishops： so many centuries ago； that the register
of their baptism was lost long； long before the memory of man； and
no one knew their names。 They had had their Godfathers and
Godmothers； these Bells （for my own part； by the way； I would
rather incur the responsibility of being Godfather to a Bell than a
Boy）； and had their silver mugs no doubt； besides。 But Time had
mowed down their sponsors； and Henry the Eighth had melted down
their mugs； and they now hung； nameless and mugless； in the church…
tower。
Not speechless； though。 Far from it。 They had clear； loud； lusty；
sounding voices； had these Bells； and far and wide they might be
heard upon the wind。 Much too sturdy Chimes were they； to be
dependent on the pleasure of the wind； moreover； for； fighting
gallantly against it when it took an adverse whim； they would pour
their cheerful notes into a listening ear right royally； and bent
on being heard on stormy nights； by some poor mother watching a
sick child； or some lone wife whose husband was at sea； they had
been sometimes known to beat a blustering Nor' Wester； aye； 'all to
fits；' as Toby Veck said； … for though they chose to call him
Trotty Veck； his name was Toby； and nobody could make it anything
else either （except Tobias） without a special act of parliament； he
having been as lawfully christened in his day as the Bells had been
in theirs； though with not quite so much of solemnity or public
rejoicing。
For my part； I confess myself of Toby Veck's belief； for I am sure
he had opportunities enough of forming a correct one。 And whatever
Toby Veck said； I say。 And I take my stand by Toby Veck； although
he DID stand all day long （and weary work it was） just outside the
church…door。 In fact he was a ticket…porter； Toby Veck； and waited
there for jobs。
And a breezy； goose…skinned； blue…nosed； red…eyed； stony…toed；
tooth…chattering place it was； to wait in； in the winter…time； as
Toby Veck well knew。 The wind came tearing round the corner …
especially the east wind … as if it had sallied forth； express；
from the confines of the earth； to have a blow at Toby。 And
oftentimes it seemed to come upon him sooner than it had expected；
for bouncing round the corner； and passing Toby； it would suddenly
wheel round again； as if it cried 'Why； here he is！' Incontinently
his little white apron would be caught up over his head like a
naughty boy's garments； and his feeble little cane would be seen to
wrestle and struggle unavailingly in his hand； and his legs would
undergo tremendous agitation； and Toby himself all aslant； and
facing now in this direction； now in that； would be so banged and
buffeted； and to touzled； and worried； and hustled； and lifted off
his feet； as to render it a state of things but one degree removed
from a positive miracle； that he wasn't carried up bodily into the
air as a colony of frogs or snails or other very portable creatures
sometimes are； and rained down again； to the great astonishment of
the natives； on some strange corner of the world where ticket…
porters are unknown。
But； windy weather； in spite of its using him so roughly； was；
after all； a sort of holiday for Toby。 That's the fact。 He didn't
seem to wait so long for a sixpence in the wind； as at other times；
the having to fight with that boisterous element took off his
attention； and quite freshened him up； when he was getting hungry
and low…spirited。 A hard frost too； or a fall of snow； wa