The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-05-26
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE BLASTED TREE.
al marked broad and blasted oak,
Scorched by the lightning's livid glare
Hollow its stem from branch 10 root,

Hollow its stem from branch 10 root,
And all its shrvelled arms were bare"
1t was q piercing night III mid-winter
I and along the rounded hills towards the
Clifton meadows, below Alesbury, the
moonlight sparkled on the bright and
tbickIy crusted SHOWS with peculiar spien-
dour. Far off the faint, but perpetual
roar Of the icy river was heard, and the
| dark forests beyond it were dimly seen in
the distance. like heavy cloud in the
| western horizon 1 he intermediate coun-
try presented only few solitary trees,
and save that here and there ragged
| group of overgrown shrubbery was seen
| above the bed of snow, one wide and vast
unc ultivated waste appeared. 1t was q
night in which the fancy of an honest
| German could not fail to conjure up a
thousand phantoms bis shrieking ghosts
| cried from the crevices of every sapless
tree his witches road on the pale moon
beams, in the distant and scarcely per
ceptible mist that spread a thin veil over
the beautiful stars, and the wandering
spirits Of his departed friends peeped out
| like premature resurrectioDists from be-
| hind every thicket.
| The hour of eleven had drawn nigh,
and the watchful family that inhabited
the crazy cabin on the borders OF this
barren country, had extinguished their
blazing pine lights, buried up their fires,
and sprinkled over the smoking ashes
the spoonful of salt, the magic virtues of
which dispersed the ghostly train,
and insured them peaceful rest,
when two travellers passed along the un-
broken road, that lead from the village
towards the ford above the falls One
bore the appearance OF an old man, IN
firm with age; his broad brimmed hat
hid his face, but some thin grey locks
waved around his shoulders, and he lean
ed, forward on his jaded horse like one
suffering with fatigue or decrepitude
behind him was the appendage OF e
stranger, large black portmanteau
which swelled with the treasure II CON
tanned. The other was an athletic youns
man whom the good people discovere,
to be hardy WoodsmaD who sometime
acted as a guide to travellers, and some
times, foi he had some science, run GU
patented lands, and was withal better &C
quainted with the country than perhap:
any other mai in all the county. He
led the old mans horse sometimes, and
sometimes ran before 10 break the read
The cottagers thought they discover
ed strong traits OF mystery in this, and as
every thing that pariook of mystery, DO
ded mischief according to their concep.
tons; they follow ed the midnight travel.
lers across the barrens with their eyes,
until they disappeared, and then lay Sc.
veral anxious hours dreaming Of mu, der
ana obbery, and blood. More than once
;hey thought they heard the piercing cry
OF despair mingliDg with the roar of the
waterfall, and more than once discovered
symptoms in the dusky room, that spoke
of death without.
But the wood6fhan was in the village
before sunrise he reported that he hac
put the stranger safely across the ford
and left him 10 pursue his Journey. Sus
picioD was hushed for the moment fol
1.-THE character OF the young man wa:
good--the traveller was known to have
possessed money but he had been call
ed down the river on business of such
urgen; importance, that il was necessary
for him TO reach the lower ford that
1 LlRutJ dUQ HS lduJ VIII oilIIubJJ piCNdH'
ed on Hulburt to accompany him to the
western road. Who thes rsDger was,
none knew, and thus far all was fair
But he never reached the ford, and no
trace was heard of him from that night
Suspicion once more was awakened, and
Hulburt maintained, when he was ques
toned on the subject, guarded and
scornful silence. The fortune tellers
were consulted, and they mathematical
the woodsmaD. Signs were attended to
with all the Formally o: Judicial inquiry
and even these condemned the unlortu-
nate young man.
When spring came it was discovered
that large oak tree, celebrated for its
age and majesty, did not put forth leaf
Ii grew near by road which led to the
river below the falls ! and as no other
cause could be assigned for its blighted
appearance, it was attributed to one
which now met the popular suspicion a
moDg the Germans. They called it the
blasted tree and located the place
where the strangers blood was shed, be-
meath its branches. Withered by the
hot breath of murder, they declared il
, should bloom again. whenever the muir
derer was brought TO justice, and hi:
! blood sprinkled or its dry roots.
Five years passed away and old imPres
sions and vague suspicious grew stronger
! 4 yaara ropt