The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-04-23

The wind of November whistled
shril! and cold among the rocky preci-
pices that jutted over the mountain road
from Alesbury towards Northumberland
as, at the decline OF day, two travellers
| on horseback, were crossing with wear,
pace the long range of ridges toward,
the great elbow of the Susquehanna, ane
Notwithstanding that the clouds lay hea
vily on the dark and distant mountain
tops, and the shadows of approaching
night gathered rapidly, they paused upon
the northern extremity of the last emf
nence, dismounted, and appeared to be
taking survey of the country around
them, Country embodying some OF the
most grand and sublime scenery in ma
ture. To the north and south, one vast
extent OF forest lay outstreched, broken
and diversified by hill and valley, now
dimly seen, but not less interesting in
its aspect. In one direction was to be
seen seven stupendous pyramidic piles {;
pushing their pine crowned SUBMITS
through the black clouds, they seemed
at habitations for the fierce spirits of the
restless elements, and one could almost
fancy the angels of the tempest gather
ing TO their awful dwellings, in those
unyisiled realms. universe of stormy
clouds; while in the west a peaceful
river flowed away in calm and unbroken
solitude through its devious course
Such was the scene the travellers were
left surveying when twilight followed
the declining sun, and the dreary nigh,
came swift upon the transient gloomin o.
A long three miles from this, on a
dim and narrow road, was a small pub
lie house called, in those days, the "Inn of
the Forest" There was thin settle.
ment from this some miles CD, chiefly
men of the rudest cast in life, often ho-
nest and kind in their way, nevertheless
brooked not the control of law, and
living far off from city and town, enjoyed
their game, and were Themselves the on
ly umpires of each others rights and
wrongs: such as these made up the
shat gathered in the tavern
that night, and as the winds blew louder,
and the weather grew colder without
so did their noise and riotine, and the
oftheir spirits increase, with.
in.
Mingling with this tumuliuous assen>
bly, around the bar room FIRE, and the
long card table stretched out before il.
were now to be seen the two strangers;
they were wrapped up in fur hunting
cloaks, and while one of them took part
IN the boisterous laugh and played his
game at the card table, and drank freely,
the other stretched himself to sleep in
Corner The more sociabIe stranger
soon acquired the confidence of his new
companions and as he himself profess.
ed to be tavern keeper, he gained the
favor Of the landlord, black
whiskercd, downcast, dark looking man,
upon whose countenance the stamp of
wee was liked, and Who was the loudes,
and most clamorous in the circle. and
drank and played, and boosted and cursed:
with kind of :renzied infatuatiop.
lheIr riotlng was kept up throughout
The midnight hours and while the
"earied and inebriatea guests, one by
'ne, dropped asleep, and while, without,
he storm Sung in melancholy and plain.
i've sweetness through the scared pine
ree'' that single stranger kept one lit,
lie circle he had gathered around him
~ the fire, in fixed and wakeFul attention
o narrowing tales of hell devised mur.
iers, and fearful retributions, and walk
ng ghosts, and marvellous facts brought
o the light of day by supernatural aeen.
les ) and detailed thousand instances
o prove that
.Murder, tho it bath no tongue, will speak
with most miraculous organ"
In vain the host endeayoured TO turn,
{ every period, the subject. In vain he