Post by carabadgermum on Jul 24, 2010 15:21:44 GMT -5
I am afraid I must begin this entry with and apology. I have, of late, been rather neglectful of my recording duties. However, I do hope that with the recent excitement in our Abbey the news I have to scribble down in my log this day will more than make up for the lack.
Let's see, where did I leave off... Oh yes! A group of our young creatures were going south down the path on a day's outing. They were charged with gathering herbs to replenish Sister Tassy's Infirmary stocks. But as young beast often will they saw fit to make a holiday of the occasion.
Only a short way down the path the gatherers stopped to have a picnic lunch in the shade of the Mossflower woodlands. Rainuh the ottermaid was the first to take a seat but she jumped back up before she could even open her sack of provisions. Poking up out of the underbrush where she had alighted was a rusted spear point.
Now Rainuh's little friends could not let the ottermaid be the only creature to find such a splendid antique, so they all began to search for similar treasures. Among other bits and pieces of armor and weaponry from some long ago battle, a cracked stone tablet was found. It appeared to be an old signpost. When the moss and soil were brushed away from the worn engraving, the words were made out to read, “S AINT NINIANS.”
The young ones, of course completely forgot their gathering duties at this discovery and hurried back to Redwall to spread the news. In no time the whole Abbey was abuzz and Foremole Gurchen and her crew were planning and excavation of the site. I asked to be included in the expedition as well. Being a Churchmouse myself, I have always felt a certain connection to the history of the burned out chapel.
Now it really was a holiday: singing, scoffing and watching the moles do their careful work. It took some time for the crew to get through the layers of many seasons of the forest's growth. Then finally they came down to the original flagstone floor of the building. It was a sure foundation. Had it not been for the structure being made of wood and susceptible to fire, the little chapel might have still been standing today.
And then the Foremole herself found a weak spot in the flooring. With a little molegrease one stone swung up as if it were on hinges. Beneath it, remarkably well preserved, was an ancient scroll. Gurchen carefully lifted the object out of its resting place with her powerful digging claws and placed it into my paws.
“Oi think you'm bees ee one to have this, mizzy,” she smiled, her cheeks crinkling so I could barely see her little shining black eyes.
I couldn't speak. Several beasts spoke up and told me to open it. As I carefully unrolled the yellowed bark parchment, I was glad Brother Diggla had insisted that I stick to my lessons in Loamscript when I was back in Abbeyschool. I had never thought it would come in useful, but here was the reason for all my study.
I cleared my throat and translated, reading aloud so that everybeast could hear, “Me name's Ninian Churchmouse and I'm writtin' down my story right here.”
I was too overcome to read anymore right then, but I promised to give a reading of the entire narrative as soon as I had a chance to translate all of it. The pawbeastship was in some places almost illegible and other sections had faded with age.
I have put my complete attention to the job for the past 3 days and now I am ready to read it out to all of our Abbeybeasts. You are welcome too, of course, as are all good and honest creatures who wonder down the path to Redwall.
Sister Cornelia Churchmouse
Recorder of Redwall Abbey in Mossflower Country.
Let's see, where did I leave off... Oh yes! A group of our young creatures were going south down the path on a day's outing. They were charged with gathering herbs to replenish Sister Tassy's Infirmary stocks. But as young beast often will they saw fit to make a holiday of the occasion.
Only a short way down the path the gatherers stopped to have a picnic lunch in the shade of the Mossflower woodlands. Rainuh the ottermaid was the first to take a seat but she jumped back up before she could even open her sack of provisions. Poking up out of the underbrush where she had alighted was a rusted spear point.
Now Rainuh's little friends could not let the ottermaid be the only creature to find such a splendid antique, so they all began to search for similar treasures. Among other bits and pieces of armor and weaponry from some long ago battle, a cracked stone tablet was found. It appeared to be an old signpost. When the moss and soil were brushed away from the worn engraving, the words were made out to read, “S AINT NINIANS.”
The young ones, of course completely forgot their gathering duties at this discovery and hurried back to Redwall to spread the news. In no time the whole Abbey was abuzz and Foremole Gurchen and her crew were planning and excavation of the site. I asked to be included in the expedition as well. Being a Churchmouse myself, I have always felt a certain connection to the history of the burned out chapel.
Now it really was a holiday: singing, scoffing and watching the moles do their careful work. It took some time for the crew to get through the layers of many seasons of the forest's growth. Then finally they came down to the original flagstone floor of the building. It was a sure foundation. Had it not been for the structure being made of wood and susceptible to fire, the little chapel might have still been standing today.
And then the Foremole herself found a weak spot in the flooring. With a little molegrease one stone swung up as if it were on hinges. Beneath it, remarkably well preserved, was an ancient scroll. Gurchen carefully lifted the object out of its resting place with her powerful digging claws and placed it into my paws.
“Oi think you'm bees ee one to have this, mizzy,” she smiled, her cheeks crinkling so I could barely see her little shining black eyes.
I couldn't speak. Several beasts spoke up and told me to open it. As I carefully unrolled the yellowed bark parchment, I was glad Brother Diggla had insisted that I stick to my lessons in Loamscript when I was back in Abbeyschool. I had never thought it would come in useful, but here was the reason for all my study.
I cleared my throat and translated, reading aloud so that everybeast could hear, “Me name's Ninian Churchmouse and I'm writtin' down my story right here.”
I was too overcome to read anymore right then, but I promised to give a reading of the entire narrative as soon as I had a chance to translate all of it. The pawbeastship was in some places almost illegible and other sections had faded with age.
I have put my complete attention to the job for the past 3 days and now I am ready to read it out to all of our Abbeybeasts. You are welcome too, of course, as are all good and honest creatures who wonder down the path to Redwall.
Sister Cornelia Churchmouse
Recorder of Redwall Abbey in Mossflower Country.
