Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-11-23

1
Peabody is faring."
| Tom looked in the direction that the stran-
ger pointed, and belteld one of the great trees
fair and hourishing without, but rotten at the
core, aud saw that it had been nearly hewn
through, so that the first high wind was likely
to blow 1T down. On the bark of the tree was
scored the name of Deacon Peabody. He now
looked round and found most OF the tall trees
marked with the name of some great men of
the colony, and all more or less scored by the
axe. The one on which he had been seated
and which had evidently just been hewn down,
before the name of Crownmshield; and he recol-
lectcd a mighty rich man of that name, who
nade a vulgar display of wealth, which it was
whispered he had acquired by buccaneerinr.
Giles just ready for burning.n said the black
man with growl of triumph. 'eYou see am
likely to have good stock of irewood for win
tter.n
"But what right have you," said Tom ssto cut
down Deacon Peabodys hmberan
..Ihe right of prior claims" said the other
"1his woodland belonged TO me long before one
OF your whItefaced race put foot upon the soil. -
"And who are you, If may be so boId?" said
Tenn.
ooh, go.by various Names am the Wild
Huntsman in some countries; the black Miner
IN others. In this neighborOod | am known bv
the name of the black Woodsman, ! am he to
whom the rcd men devoted this spot, and now
and then roasted white man by way of sweet
smelling sacrifice. Since the red men have
been extermnated by.you white savages,
ain'lsc myself by presiding ut the persecution of
qna1ers and anabaptists am tue great patron
and promPter of slave dealers, and the grand
master of the Salem witches.n
',Ihe uPsliot of all whichis, that if mistake
not" said Tom, sturdiIy, 'you are he common
ly called Old Scratch.n
me same at your service" replied the black
man with a i.alf civil nod.
Such was thc:opening of this interview. ar.
cording to the old story, though it has almost
100 familiar arr>air to be credifed-One would
thnik that to meet with such singular person.
age IN this wild lonely place would have shaken
any mans nerves; but Tom was a hard minded
ieiio'v, not easily daunted; and he had lived so
long with termagrant wife, that he did not
even fear the devil.
II is said that after this commencement, they
had long. and earnest conversation together as
Tom returned hotnewards.--The black man
tod MN OF a great Sums of money which had
been buried by Kidd the pirate, under the oak
trees on the high ridge not far from the morass
All these were under his command and protected
by hls power. so that none could find them but
such as prOpitiated his favor These he offered
TO place within Tom Walkers reach, having
conceived an especial kindness for him, but
they were to be had only on certain conditions
What these conditions were, may easily be sur
missed, though Tom never disclosed them pub
iicly. They must have been very hard, for he
required time to think ofthem, and he was not
4 man TO stick al trifes where money was ina
view. When they had reached the edge Of the
swamp the stranger paused.
:" w hat proof iisve that all you have been
telling me is true?" said Tom.
''lierc'ls my signature" said the black man,
pressing his finger on Toms forehead So saw
ing he turned off among the thickets of the
swamp, and seemed as Tom said, to GO dow N,
down. down, into the earth, until nothing but
his head and shoulders could be seen, and so till
he totally disappeared.
When Tom reached home he found the black
PRINT of finger burnt, as il wcfc into his fore
head winch nothing could obitcrate.
The first news his wife had to tell. was the
sudden death of Absolem Grow ninshield the ricI,
buccaneer. 1t was announced in the papers
with the usual flourish, that ga great man had
fallen in Israei.''
Tom rccollectcd the tree which his black
friend had just lcwn down, and which was rea-
dy Tor burning. ''Let the freebooter roast,n said
Tom, ''who cares" He now felt convinced
that all he had heard and seen was no illusion.
He was not prone to let his wife into his
coniidence;but as this was an uneasy secret, he
willingly shared it with her. All her avarice
was awakened at the mention of hidden gold,
and she urged her husband to comply with the
them wealthy for life. However Tom might
have felt disposed to sell himself to the devil he
was determined not TO do TO oblge his wife, so
he fatty refused out of the mere spirit of con-
tradicton. Many and bitter were the quar-
rels they had on the subject, but the more she
talked the rifore resolute was Tom not to be
damned TO please her. AT length she dctermn-
cd TO drive the bargain on her own account, and
if she succeeded, to keep all the gain to her
self.
Being of The same fearless temper as her hus-
band, she set off for the old Indian fort towards
ihe close OF summers day. She was many
hours absent When she came back she was
reserved, and sullen in her replies. She spoke
something of a black man whom she had met
about twilight, hewing at the root of tall tree.
iie was suiky, however, and would not come
10 TERMS she was To go again with propitiato-
ry Offering, but what it was she forebore to
say.
The next evening she sat OF again for the
swamp with her apron heavily ladeD.-Tom
waited and waited for her, but in vain; mid
night came but she did not make her appear
ance; morning, noon, night returned, but she
did not come. Tom now grew uneusy for her
safety; especially as he found she had car
ried of in her apron the silver teapot and spoons
and every portable article of value. In word
she was never heard of more.
What was her real fate nobody knows, in
consequence Of so many pretending to know.
II is one Of those facts that have become con-
founded by variety of historians.-Some
sert that she lost her way among the tangled
taorasscs OF the swamp aud sunk intosome pit or
slough others, more uDcharitable, hinted that
she had clipped with the household booty, and
made of to some other province; while others
assert that the tempter had decoyed her into