,,twice ,,told ,,tales                  
,,sunday ,,at ,,home                    
,by ,na?aniel ,haw?orne    ,e ,sabba?   
morn+ 9 ! summ] "t ,i ?ru/ back !       
curta91 to wat* ! sunrise /eal+ d[n a   
/eeple1 :i* /&s opposite my *amb]-w9d[4 
,fir/1 ! wea!rcock beg9s to fla%2 !n1 a 
fa9t] lu/re gives ! spire an airy       
aspect2 next x encroa*es on ! t[]1 &    
causes ! index ( ! dial to gli/5 l gold1
 z x po9ts to ! gild$ figure ( ! h\r4   
,n[1 ! l(tie/ w9d[ gleams1 & n[ ! l[]4  
,! c>v$ framework ( ! portal is m>k$    
/rongly out4 ,at l5g?1 ! morn+ glory1 9 
its desc5t f heav51 comes d[n ! /one    
/eps1 "o by "o2 & !re /&s ! /eeple1 gl[+
 ) fre% radiance1 :ile ! %ades (        
twilight /ill hide !mselves among !     
nooks ( ! adjac5t build+s4  ,me?9ks1    
?\gh ! same sun bright5s x e fair morn+1
 yet ! /eeple has a peculi> robe (      
brightness = ! ,sabba?4  ,by dwell+ ne> 
a *ur*1 a p]son soon contracts an       
atta*m5t = ! edifice4  ,we naturally    
p]sonify x1 & conceive its massive walls

 & its dim empt9ess to be in/9ct ) a    
calm1 & m$itative1 & some:at melan*oly  
_s4  ,b ! /eeple /&s =emo/1 9 our       
?\ghts1 z well z locally4  ,x impresses 
u z a giant1 ) a m9d compreh5sive &     
discrim9at+ en\gh to c>e = ! great &    
small conc]ns ( all ! t[n4  ,h\rly1 :ile
 x speaks a moral to ! few t ?9k1 x     
rem9ds ?\s&s ( busy individuals ( _!    
sep>ate & mo/ secret affairs4  ,x is !  
/eeple1 too1 t fl+s abroad ! hurri$ &   
irregul> acc5ts ( g5]al al>m2 nei!r h   
gladness & fe/ivity f\nd a bett]        
utt]ance1 ?an by its tongue2 & :5 ! dead
 are sl[ly pass+ to _! home1 ! /eeple   
has a melan*oly voice to bid !m welcome4
  ,yet1 9 spite ( ?is connection ) human
 int]e/s1 :at a moral lonel9ess1 on     
week-days1 broods r\nd ab\t its /ately  
height6  ,x has no k9dr$ ) ! h\ses above
 :i* x t[]s2 x looks d[n into ! n>r[    
?or\ghf>e1 ! loneli]1 because ! cr[d are
 elb[+ _! passage at its base4  ,a      
glance at ! body ( ! *ur* deep5s ?is    
impression4  ,)91 by ! light ( di/ant   

w9d[s1 amid refract$ %ad[s1 we disc]n ! 
vacant pews & empty gall]ies1 ! sil5t   
organ1 ! voiceless pulpit1 & ! clock1   
:i* tells to solitude h[ "t is pass+4   
,"t1--:]e man lives n1--:at is x b      
et]nity8  ,& 9 ! *ur*1 we might suppose1
 are g>n]$ up1 ?r\gh\t ! week1 all      
?\ghts & feel+s t h ref]5ce to et]nity1 
until ! holy day comes r\nd aga91 to let
 !m =?4  ,might n1 !n1 its m appropriate
 site be 9 ! outskirts ( ! t[n1 ) space 
= old trees to wave ar\nd x1 & ?r[ _!   
solemn %ad[s ov] a quiet gre58  ,we w   
say m ( ?is1 h]eaft]4  ,b1 on ! ,sabba?1
 ,i wat* ! e>lie/ sun%9e1 & fancy t a   
holi] brightness m>ks ! day1 :5 !re %all
 be no buzz ( voices on ! ex*ange1 nor  
traffic 9 ! %ops1 nor cr[d1 nor bus9ess1
 any:]e b at *ur*4  ,_m h fanci$ s4  ,= 
my own "p1 :e!r ,i see x scatt]$ d[n    
among tangl$ woods1 or beam+ broad      
across ! fields1 or hemm$ 9 betwe5 brick
 build+s1 or trac+ out ! figure ( !     
casem5t on my *amb]-floor1 /ill ,i      
recognize ! ,sabba? sun%9e4 ,& ev] let  

me recognize x6  ,"s illusions1 & ?is   
among !m1 are ! %ad[s ( great tru?s4    
,d\bts may flit ar\nd me1 or seem to    
close _! evil w+s1 & settle d[n2 b s    
long z ,i imag9e t ! e>? is hall[$1 & ! 
light ( heav5 reta9s its sanctity1 on ! 
,sabba?1--:ile t bless$ sun%9e lives )9 
me1--nev] c my s\l h lo/ ! in/9ct ( its 
fai?4  ,if x h gone a/ray1 x w return   
aga94  ,i love to sp5d su* pleasant     
,sabba?s1 f morn+ till night1 beh9d !   
curta9 ( my op5 w9d[4  ,are !y sp5t     
amiss8  ,e spot1 s ne> ! *ur* z to be   
visit$ by ! circl+ %ad[ ( ! /eeple1 %\ld
 be deem$ consecrat$ gr\nd1 to-day4  ,) 
/rong] tru? be x said1 t a dev\t he>t   
may consecrate a d5 ( ?ieves1 z an evil 
"o may conv]t a temple to ! same4  ,my  
he>t1 p]haps1 has n su* holy1 nor1 ,i   
w\ld fa9 tru/1 su* impi\s pot5cy4  ,x   
mu/ suffice1 t1 ?\gh my =m be abs5t1 my 
inn] man goes con/antly to *ur*1 :ile   
_m1 ^: bodily pres5ce fills ! accu/om$  
seats1 h left _! s\ls at home4  ,b ,i am
 !re1 ev5 be=e my fri5d1 ! sexton4  ,at 

l5g?1 he comes1--a man ( k9dly1 b sombre
 aspect1 9 d>k gray clo!s1 & hair ( !   
same mixture1--he comes & applies 8 key 
to ! wide portal4  ,n[ my ?\ghts may g 9
 among ! du/y pews1 or asc5d ! pulpit   
)\t sacrilege1 b soon come =? aga9 to   
enjoy ! music ( ! bell4  ,h[ glad1 yet  
solemn too6  ,all ! /eeples 9 t[n are   
talk+ toge!r1 al(t 9 ! sunny air1 &     
rejoic+ among !mselves1 :ile _! spires  
po9t heav5w>d4  ,meantime1 "h are !     
*ildr5 assembl+ to ! ,sabba? s*ool1 :i* 
is kept some:]e )9 ! *ur*4  ,(t51 :ile  
look+ at ! ar*$ portal1 ,i h be5 gladd5$
 by ! sight ( a score ( ^! little girls 
& boys1 9 p9k1 blue1 yell[1 & crimson   
frocks1 bur/+ sudd5ly =? into ! sun%9e1 
l a sw>m ( gay butt]flies t _h be5 %ut  
up 9 ! solemn gloom4  ,or ,i might      
comp>e !m to *]ubs1 haunt+ t holy place4
  ,ab\t a qu>t] ( an h\r be=e ! second  
r++ ( ! bell1 individuals ( !           
congregation beg9 to appe>4  ,! e>lie/  
is inv>iably an old woman 9 black1 ^:   
b5t frame & r\nd$ %\ld]s are evid5tly   

lad5 ) "s heavy affliction1 :i* %e is   
eag] to re/ ^u ! alt>4  ,w\ld t !       
,sabba? came twice z (t51 = ! sake ( t  
sorr[ful old s\l6  ,!re is an eld]ly    
man1 also1 :o arrives 9 good season1 &  
leans aga9/ ! corn] ( ! t[]1 j )9 ! l9e 
( its %ad[1 look+ d[nw>d ) a d>ksome    
br[4  ,i sometimes fancy t ! old woman  
is ! happi] ( ! two4  ,aft] ^!1 o!rs    
drop 9 s+ly1 & by twos & ?rees1 ei!r    
disappe>+ ?r\gh ! doorway or tak+ _! /& 
9 its vic9ity4  ,at la/1 & always ) an  
unexpect$ s5sation1 ! bell turns 9 !    
/eeple ov]head1 & ?r[s out an irregul>  
clangor1 j>r+ ! t[] to its f\ndation4   
,z if !re 7 magic 9 ! s\nd1 ! sidewalks 
( ! /reet1 bo? up & d[n along1 are      
imm$iately ?rong$ ) two long l9es ( p1  
all conv]g+ hi!rw>d1 & /ream+ into !    
*ur*4  ,p]haps ! f>-(f ro> ( a coa*     
draws ne>]1--a deep] ?und] by its       
contra/ ) ! surr\nd+ /illness1--until x 
sets d[n ! weal?y wor%ipp]s at ! portal1
 among _! humble/ bre?r54  ,beyond t    
entrance1 9 !ory at lea/1 !re are no    

di/9ctions ( e>?ly rank2 nor inde$1 by !
 goodly app>el :i* is flaunt+ 9 ! sun1  
w\ld !re seem to be su*1 on ! hi!r side4
 ,^? pretty girls6  ,:y w !y di/urb my  
pi\s m$itations6  ,( all days 9 ! week1 
!y %\ld /rive to look lea/ fasc9at+ on !
 ,sabba?1 in/ead ( height5+ _! mortal   
lovel9ess1 z if to rival ! bless$       
angels1 & keep our ?\ghts f heav54  ,7  
,i ! m9i/] himself1 ,i mu/ ne$s look4   
,"o girl is :ite musl9 f ! wai/ upw>ds1 
& black silk d[nw>ds to h] slipp]s2 a   
second blu%es f topknot to %oe-tie1 "o  
univ]sal sc>let2 ano!r %9es ( a p]vad+  
yell[1 z if %e _h made a g>m5t ( !      
sun%9e4  ,! great] "p1 h[ev]1 h adopt$ a
 mild] *e]fulness ( hue4  ,_! veils1    
especially :5 ! w9d raises !m1 give a   
lightness to ! g5]al effect1 & make !m  
appe> l airy phantoms1 z !y flit up !   
/eps1 & vani% into ! sombre doorway4    
,ne>ly all--?\gh x is v /range t ,i %\ld
 "k x--we> :ite /ock+s1 :ite z sn[1 &   
neat slipp]s1 lac$ crosswise ) black    
ribbon1 pretty high above ! ankles4  ,a 

:ite /ock+ is inf9itely m effective ?an 
a black "o4  ,"h comes ! cl]gyman1 sl[ &
 solemn1 9 sev]e simplicity1 ne$+ no    
black silk g[n to d5ote 8 (fice4  ,8    
aspect claims my rev]5ce1 b _c w9 my    
love4  ,7 ,i to picture ,sa9t ,pet]1    
keep+ fa/ ! gate ( heav51 & fr[n+1 m /]n
 ?an pitiful1 on ! wret*$ applicants1 t 
face %\ld be my /udy4  ,by middle age1  
or soon]1 ! cre$ has g5]ally wr\ght ^u !
 he>t1 or be5 a-temp]$ by x4  ,z ! m9i/]
 passes into ! *ur*1 ! bell holds its   
iron tongue1 & all ! l[ murmur ( !      
congregation dies away4 ,! gray sexton  
looks up & d[n ! /reet1 & !n at my      
w9d[-curta91 :]e1 ?r\gh ! small         
peephole1 ,i half fancy t he has caught 
my  eye4  ,n[1 e loit]] has gone 91 & ! 
/reet lies asleep 9 ! quiet sun1 :ile a 
feel+ ( lonel9ess comes ov] me1 & br+s  
also an uneasy s5se ( neglect$          
privileges & duties4 ,o1 ,i ought to h  
gone  to *ur*6  ,! hu/le ( ! ris+       
congregation rea*es  my e>s4  ,!y are   
/&+ up to pray4  ,c\ld ,i br+ my he>t   

into unison ) ^? :o are pray+ 9 yond]   
*ur*1 & lift x heav5w>d1 ) a f]vor (    
supplication1 b no di/9ct reque/1 w\ld n
 t be ! safe/ k9d ( pray]8  ,"l1 look   
d[n ^u me 9 m]cy6  ,) t s5tim5t gu%+ f  
my s\l1 might ,i n leave all ! re/ to   
,him8  ,h>k6  ! hymn4  ,?is1 at lea/1 is
 a portion ( ! s]vice :i* ,i c enjoy    
bett] ?an if ,i sat )9 ! walls1 :]e !   
full *oir & ! massive melody ( ! organ1 
w\ld fall ) a weight ^u me4 ,at ?is     
di/ance1 x ?rills ?r\gh my frame1 &     
plays ^u my he>t/r+s1 ) a pleasure bo? (
 ! s5se & _s4  ,heav5 be prais$1 ,i "k  
no?+ ( music1 z a sci5ce2 & ! mo/       
elaborate h>monies1 if !y please me1    
please z simply z a nurse's lullaby4 ,! 
/ra9 has ceas$1 b prolongs itself 9 my  
m9d1 ) fanciful e*oes1 till ,i />t f my 
rev]y1 & f9d t ! s]mon has comm5c$4  ,x 
is my mis=tune seldom to fructify1 9 a  
regul> way1 by any b pr9t$ s]mons4  ,!  
fir/ /rong idea1 :i* ! prea*] utt]s1    
gives bir? to a tra9 ( ?\ght1 & leads me
 onw>d1 /ep by /ep1 q out ( he>+ ( !    

good man's voice1 unless he be inde$ a  
son ( ?und]4  ,at my op5 w9d[1 cat*+ n[ 
& !n a s5t5ce ( ! p>son's saw1 ,i am z  
well situat$ z at ! foot ( ! pulpit     
/airs4  ,! brok5 & scatt]$ fragm5ts (   
?is "o disc\rse w be ! texts ( _m       
s]mons1 prea*$ by ^?  colleague         
pa/ors1--colleagues1 b (t5              
disputants1--my ,m9d & ,he>t4  ,! =m]   
pret5ds to be a  s*ol>1 & p]plexes me ) 
doctr9al po9ts2 ! latt] takes me on !   
score ( feel+2 & bo?1 l sev]al o!r      
prea*]s1 sp5d _! /r5g? to v little      
purpose4 ,i1 _! sole auditor1 _c always 
und]/& !m4  ,suppose t a few h\rs h     
pass$1 & behold me /ill beh9d my curta91
 j be=e ! close ( ! aft]noon s]vice4  ,!
 h\r-h& on ! dial has pass$ beyond f\r  
o'clock4  ,! decl9+ sun is hidd5 beh9d !
 /eeple1 & ?r[s its %ad[ /raight across 
! /reet1 s t my *amb] is d>k5$1 z ) a   
cl\d4  ,ar\nd ! *ur*-door all is        
solitude1 & an imp5etrable obscurity    
beyond ! ?re%old4  ,a commotion is he>d4
  ,! seats are slamm$ d[n1 & ! pew-doors

 ?r[n back1--a multitude ( feet are     
trampl+ along ! unse5 aisles1--& !      
congregation bur/s sudd5ly ?r\gh !      
portal4  ,=emo/1 scamp]s a rabble (     
boys1 beh9d :om moves a d5se & d>k      
phalanx ( gr[n m51 & la/ly1 a cr[d (    
females1 ) "y *ildr51 & a few scatt]$   
husb&s4  ,?is in/antane\s outbreak (    
life into lonel9ess is "o ( ! pleasante/
 sc5es ( ! day4  ,"s ( ! good p are     
rubb+ _! eyes1 !reby intimat+ t !y h be5
 wrapp$1 z x 71 9 a sort ( holy trance1 
by ! f]vor ( _! devotion4  ,!re is a "y 
man1 a ?ird-rate coxcomb1 ^: fir/ c>e is
 always to fl\ri% a :ite h&k]*ief1 &    
bru% ! seat ( a tight pair ( black silk 
pantaloons1 :i* %9e z if v>ni%$4  ,!y   
mu/ h be5 made ( ! /uff call$ ev]la/+1  
or p]haps ( ! same piece z ,*ri/ian's   
g>m5ts 9 ! ,pilgrim's ,progress1 = he   
put !m on two summ]s ago1 & has n yet   
worn ! gloss (f4  ,i h tak5 a great lik+
 to ^? black silk pantaloons4  ,b1 n[1 )
 nods & greet+s among fri5ds1 ea* matron
 takes h] husb&'s arm1 & paces gravely  

homew>d1 :ile ! girls also flutt] away1 
aft] arrang+ sunset walks ) _! favor$   
ba*elors4  ,! ,sabba? eve is ! eve (    
love4  ,at l5g?1 ! :ole congregation is 
disp]s$4  ,no2 "h1 ) faces z glossy z   
black sat91 come two sable ladies & a   
sable g5tleman1 & close 9 _! re> !      
m9i/]1 :o s(t5s 8 sev]e visage1 & be/[s 
a k9d ^w on ea*4  ,poor s\ls6  ,to !m ! 
mo/ captivat+ picture ( bliss 9 heav5   
is--,!re we %all be :ite6  ,all is      
solitude aga94  ,b1 h>k6--a brok5 w>bl+ 
( voices1 & n[1 attun+ its gr&eur to _! 
sweetness1 a /ately peal ( ! organ4 ,:o 
are ! *ori/]s8  ,let me dream t !       
angels1 :o came d[n f heav51 ?is bless$ 
morn1 to bl5d !mselves ) ! wor%ip ( !   
truly good1 are play+ & s++ _! f>ewell  
to ! e>?4  ,on ! w+s ( t ri* melody !y 7
 borne upw>d4  ,?is1 g5tle read]1 is    
m]ely a flight ( poetry4  ,a few ( ! s++
 m5 & s++ wom5 _h l+]$ beh9d _! fell[s1 
& rais$ _! voices fitfully1 & blew a    
c>eless note ^u ! organ4  ,yet1 x lift$ 
my s\l high] ?an all _! =m] /ra9s4  ,!y 

are gone1 ! sons & daught]s ( music1--& 
! gray sexton is j clos+ ! portal4  ,=  
six days m1 !re w be no face ( man 9 !  
pews1 & aisles1 & gall]ies1 nor a voice 
9 ! pulpit1 nor music 9 ! *oir4  ,0 x   
wor? :ile to re> ?is massive edifice1 to
 be a des]t 9 ! he>t ( ! t[n1 & popul\s 
only = a few h\rs ( ea* sev5? day8  ,o1 
b ! *ur* is a symbol ( religion6  ,may  
its site1 :i* 0 consecrat$ on ! day :5 !
 fir/ tree 0 fell$1 be kept holy =ev]1 a
 spot ( solitude & peace1 amid ! tr\ble 
& vanity ( our week-day _w6 ,!re is a   
moral1 & a religion too1 ev5 9 ! sil5t  
walls4  ,& may ! /eeple /ill po9t       
heav5w>d1 & be deck$ ) ! hall[$ sun%9e (
 ! ,sabba? morn6