The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1823-08-21
Risreiianp.
From the Emporium.
7HE BLAsTED TREE.

Aud all it's shriveled arms we're bare"
j. was piercing night in mid winter, snd
siong the rounded hills towa,ds the Clifton
meadow,, below Alesbu'y, The moonlight
sp"kisd on the bright and thiekly crusted
SHOWS with peculiar splendor. Far of tho
faint but petpetosl roar OF tho icy river was
heard, and the DARK forests beyond Il were
dimiy seen IN the distance like heavy cloud
In 'bs western houzon. Tho intetmsdis,s
country presented only . tew solitary trees,
snd save that here end thete srueeed etoup
OF ove'growh shtuhbery was ssen shove tho
bed OF snow, one vide and vast and uncuI,i.
Va'ed waste sppeared. II wss q u,eht in
which the inncy Of sn honest Germso could
oo' is'i To conjurc ap . thou. and phan,ons--
his shrepking ghosts cried from The c,syices
OF cse'y seriess trea his witches rode ON
the pale moonoesn,s, 10 the distant snd scarce
ly PeIceptabie mist that spread thin veil
over the b1Su'iItil stsrs and the wandering
spi'!'s OF hts departed friends, peeped OUT
hIe premature eTcsorseeiions from behind cv-
e'y ihickst.
TIE hour Of eleven bod down nigh, and
tho ws'chIui i"mily 'bst iohsbi,eJ the crazy
cabin On The borders Of this barren county,
hsd eS'inSo'shed their blazing piuo lights,
buried op their fi'o, sprinkled over tho smok
'ng ashes the spoonful of salt, the magic sir-
uesoi which dispersed the ghos,Iy train, and
insured them peaceful res,, when ,wo trav-
oilers passed sioog the uobt oxen rood, that
led from the village towards tho Ford above
the Fsiis--Ooc bore the sppesrancc of NJ
old man, inRm wi,h age his broad brim-
med bat bid his lace, but some thin groy
locks waved around hts shoulders, add he
leaned forward on his j.ded horse liko ono
suHeung with fatigue or decropiude behind
h,fn wss tho appendage oi q stranger, large
black poftmanieau, which sweiled with tho
Uesso'o u cou,sined. The other wss an aih-
ieiic young man whom the good people dis,
covered 10 be u hardy wondsmap who some
times acted ~ guido to Jewellers, and
sometimes, for nc had some scieaee, ,un ous
patented lands, and was, whhal, better ae-
qusinlcd witb tho country than sny Other man
10 oil the county. He led tho old msn's
horse sometimes, aud sometimes ran before
10 b. oak tho roa5.
The cot'sgo,s though they discovered
traits OF mySery In this, and ss every thiog
par,ook OF mystery boded mischief according
10 'her concop tons, thsy followed inc mid
night travellers across tho barrens with their
eyes, until ,hey disappeared, and then lay rev.
ofal aoxious hou's dreaming OF murder anil
robbery, and blood. Mote ,hen once they
though, they heard tho piercing cry Of des-
pair mingIiDg with The iosr OF Tho ws,erfaIi.
and more ,han ooco discovered symptoms in
the dosky room ,h., spoke Of death without.
But the woodsInsn vss In the village before
suntise he reported iha, no had put tho
.tonsor safely scros, the Fod, and lei, hinl
n hI. .z,.n h..a ;,
Tor the oponentj tor tho character Of tho
young man was good-~,be traveller ws-
known to have possessed money, but be had
been called dowD the river on business OF
such utgeb, Impotence that IL was nece ssa'y
for him 10 feacn The lower Ford that night,
snd he bsd with difficulty presoied on HUI
bert TO accompany him 10 the wsslo,n road
who tho suaogcr was, none knew, and thus
far Ell was fai,. Bot he never rcsohed tho
Ford, aud co taco was heard oi him iron,
tba, oighi. Suspicion once moro IVES swok-
ebed, and Hubert maintained, when he was
questioned on The subject, guarded end
yeo;niui silonce. The Fortune TeIes we'o
consulted, and ,ney sDa,be emauzed the woods
tnsn. signs were attended 10 with all formal
ity Of Judicial inquiyr end even these con-
denned Tie unfortunate young man.
WDen spnng csmo q WAS discovered ,hst
a large osk uee, ceisbfged for ns sgo and
msiesy, did not put fonh . leaf g'ew
nesr by road which led 20 tho river below
the fail I; and IS no other cause could be az
signed lo' It's biigh'ed appearances, u was al.
uibuled TO one which oow met the popular
suspicion among tho Germans. They called
IL the blasted Iee and located the place
where the strangers blood w,s shed beneath
rs branches. Wihetsd by the no, breath of
mude', they declared IL would bloom sgainS
whcoevet the nv, de,e' SHOULD bs b'ogghi To
justice, snd his blood spnnsisd on its dry
-oo's.
Five years passed 'ess. and old imp'es'
sions aud vague su.p,cions grow stronger 80
years deplrsd; Hubert was now surto and-
ed by young .od tep;nden, family, bu, aus
pieion had fixed an indehble mark upon his
eharscIer, and lie va, followed by the eye OF
/ alou,y which watched his actions. his coun-
ten nee snd his words, while IL stunned his
a.socisticn. Tne man beesme restless snl
unhsppy--he felt seo.iby tho woigb, oi suls
lied reputsuoo, snd though he had disregard
ed u for years he began 10 sink under ns Ia