Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1821-02-06

X
nor stay by myself in the day time''
The superstitious ideas impressed upon
Duncan's mind by this unfortunate encoun-
Ter with the ghost Of the piper, seem never
to have been eradicated; strong instance
OF The power OF early impressions, and a
warning how much caution is necessary
IN modelling The conceptions ofthe young
and tender mind, for, Of all men | ever
knew, be 10 the most afraid Of meeting
with apparitions. So deeply ID his ina
gination tainted with this startling Illusion
that even the calm disquisitions Of reason
have proved quite inadequate TO the task
|oi dispeIling IL. Whenever 1t wears late.
he is always on the lookout for these ideal
Scings, keeping d jealous ejJi upon ever;
bush aud brake, in case they should be
iarking behind them, ready 10 fly out aud
surprise him every moment; aud the APP
proacb OF a person in the dark, or any
sudden noise, always deprises him of the
power Of speech for some time.
After leaving Dewar, be again wan
dered about for few weeks; and it APP
pears that his youth, beauty, and pecul-
iarly destitute situation, together with his
friendship for his faithful Oscar, had TO-
terested the most part Of the country
people in his behalf, for he was generally
treated with Kindness. He knew his
fathers name, aud the name of his house |;
but as none Of the people he visited had
nvar hafoxe hpord III a;tha. tha eno ~ tho
other. they gave themselves no trouble
about the matter.
He staid nearly two years in place
he called Cowhaur, till wretch with
whom he slept, struck and abused bin
one day. Duncan, in rage, flew to the
loft, and cut all his Sunday hat, shoes,
and coat 10 pieces, and mol daring to a,
bide the consequences, decamped that
night.
He wandered about for some time Ion
ger, among the farmers of Tweed aud
Yarrow but this lie was now become
exceedingly disagreeable to him. He
burst not sleep by himself, aud the SER
wants did not always choose that vagrant
boy and his great dog should sleep with
them.
1t was on rainy night. at the close Of
harvest, that Duncan came to my fathers
house. remember all the circumstances
as we'll as the transactions Of yesterday.
The whole of his clothing consisted only
of one black coat, which having been made
for a full grown man, hung fairly TO his
heels; the hair ofhis head was rough, curled
and weather-beaten; but his face ruddy and
beautiful, bespesking healthy body, and
a sensible feeling beart.---Oscar was still
nearly as large as himself, had the colour
|of fox, with white stripe down his face,
and a ring Of the same colour around his
neck, and was the most beautiful colIey |
have ever seen. My heart was knit 10
Duncan at the first sight, and | wept for
joy when | saw my parents SO kind TO
him. My mother In particular, could
scarcely do any thing else than converse
with Duncan for several days. was al
ways Of The party, and listened with woli-
der aud admiration; but often have these
adventures been repeated TO me- My pa
reuts, " ho soon seemed to feel the same con-
cern for him as il he had been their own
son, clothed him in blue drugget, and
bought hia, smart little highland bonnet ;
in which dress he looked so charming,
that would not let them have peace un-
iii got one of the same. Indeed, all thai
Duncan said or did was to me a pattern,
for loved him as my own life. Twas at
my own request, which he persuaded me
to urge, permitted to be his bed-iellow,
aud many happy night and day did ]
spend with Duncan and Oscar.
As far as remember, we felt no priva.
ton Of any kind, and would have been
completely happy, lift had not been for the
fear Of spirits. When the conversation
CHANGED to turn upon the Piper Of Dewar,
the Maid Of Plora, or the pedlar of Thir-
Iestane Mill, often have we lain with the
bed-elothes drawn over our heads until
nearly suffocated. We loved the fairies
and the brownies, aud even felt little
partiality for the mermaids, on accouD,
OF their beauty and charming songs We
were little jealous Of the water-kelpies
and always Kept loot from the frigh;somt
pools. We hated the devil most heartily
but we were not much afraid of him Blu;
a ghost oh, dreadful 1.-THE names, ghost
spirit or apparition, sounded in our ears
like the knell of destruction, and our hearts
sunk within us as il pierced by the cold
icy shaft Of death. Duncan herded my
fathers cows all the summer--so did l.
we could not live asunder. We grew fish
ers so expert, that the speckled trout
With all his art, could not elude our ma
chinations We forced him from his waite
ry cove, admired the beautiful shades ant
purple drops that were painted on hissleel
sides, and forthwith added him to our num
hap mn tthonf ratucfonrn We ocoostad IN,