The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-09-08
CURE FOR THE RHEUMATISM.


was left to bring up small famly-that is,
a number of young children on slender
means. In harvest, beside the usual labor
in the fields, she employed her time very
pro6tably in gathering nuts Her success
in this last mentioned OCCUPATION was SO
great, that on her death bed, along with ma
nv other excellent instructions, she enJolned
peculiar attention to it on her children. APP
prehensive, however, lest all her advlces
and example might be forgotten, she re-
quested that few nuts might be placed un-
der the turf along with her; hoping that
hazel bush over her grave would act as a
remembrance of her industrious habits ana
her dying commands. In fine OctoDer
night, the second after the remains OF poor
Maggie, were consigned to the dust, two
fellows indulging propensity to wh'ch the
! Hichlanders were said to be naturally ad-
dicted, formed a plan for lifting one of the
minister's wethers. One Of the men entered
the Sheep park; the other took his station
on the churchyard wall, 70 observe and
give notice of interruptions; but tired OF sit
! tine idle, he bethought himself of Maggie's
nuts, he dug up the bag in which they we're
tied, and regaining his post, commenced eat
ing them.
The scene now shifts to the Manse par
lor The minister was labouring under his
annual attack of Rheumatism; the door burst
open with unwonted violence, and in rushed
the giant figure Of Donald Dhu, the beadle !;
his grizzlng grey hair bristlng like "the
quilts upon the frctful porcuplne," and his
visage wrink!ed into all the expressions OF
genuine terror" Oh sir, oh sir" vocirer-
ates this parsonage, she's up, she's up
Maggie Shoemaker's up, and crackin, her
pockey O. nuts doun by tho kirkyard dyke y
Il 81 IL
iusting himself in the comfortable posture
from which he had been started" Silly old
man! had hoped, considering the mani
fold advantages you enjoy under my minis
try, and the many promises you have made
to dscredt suLh foolish superstition, that you
would invent no more ghost stories to alarm
the neighbours and disturb the family
"Ou ay," responded Donald, "ou ay, indeed,
sir, said ] wadna mistak an Outleyin' quey
guager's ghaist, agn, after the tricht | gat
in spring; but dear me, Sir, this Gamma be a
quev, We ken, sittin' on dyke crackin' nuts;
and as sure as l hae the RIGHT use o.
) my cen, and my lugs, l bath saw and
hear
The clergyman regretted exceedingly, he
said, that his unfortunate rheumatism pre-
! vented him from goin5 down to the church
u yard and convincing him OF the deception
g Huut, said Donald. wrap your self weelup
it's braw moonlight night. tax your bible
and I'il hurl ye doun cannily in the
!, wheel -barrow--its late, an naebody II
5 KEN
OF course this proposal was Indignantly
t rejected; till at length the beadlc, who was
: determined to MAINTAIN his point, inslnuated
J his masters secret conviction that bis state
o ment was true. This was too much to be
e borne; so it was resolved that Donald, icing
s stout Highlander, should carry the minis
= ter On his shoulders, sufficiently ntar to be
{ satisfied of the phantom's reality. Ncmt
{ omnibus horis Sohit. No mal is wise at a!
: times. Forth they sailed, each resolutcly
: bent on triumphing ever the other. 'N hat
= yon, said Doliald, after they had procccdct
= little way i'll silence, "heard yc necht si
! CHI" It's but the Corry,' Cory wreck
F" en-, a whirlpool so called replied the minis
y ter. "'ris half tide Ill the sound Ih'
% bea,llc grumbled an unwilling assent: no
u had the last growl died away, ere he agail
/ disturbed the night bree2es, but i'll low
Whisper" she's nsw, denk at he
"a windin' sheet rnin' round the gravesH' 1t
Il only the grey mare, >" exclaimed ~
II minister "that you have forgot to STA
Ill ble'
! Every whisper of the wind, in short, TIL
- beadle constructed into an uncarthly groan;
- every struggling moonbcam into wander
u ing spirit till at last he succeeded in cHtort
g ing the confession of his master, that he fan
y, ccd he heard something not particular
III unlike cracking nuts. a cloud in the mea
E. time obscured the moon, and rendered it ne
Is cessary to approach nearer the spectr
er than Donald Dhu cared for--till at length
us when he had come to dead set, and wa
at beginning to articulate the minister's refu
ie tation as he pointed towards the subject {
CT his fears, Yontler she's now n'--Th
We sheep litter, who had seen simethins AZ
cd proach, and naturally taking it for his frien
6 with the wether, had advanced toward
CT them, and in a constrained unnatural voice
'st half whispered, half spoke the appallin
y question: Is he fat?'-'' No, that i'll av;
screamed Donald III constcrnation, but sic /
Is he is, hae-tak himi' He heaved his bur
as den most uncerimonously in the ditch, ai
ne as fast as his legs could carry him tled to I'll
70 mansc. The terrified minister recoyere
10 his feet, and sped with nconceivable cecr
a' ty in the same direction, overlook, and
VI attempting to pass, overturned his no lie
,ct terrified precursor, who concluded himse
ny In the skeleton fangs of the ruthless Maggi
8 yelled out prayer for mercy. and sArieke
in all the agony of terror, that he was ma Il
SO, minister, bnt only the minister's man." III
eu worthy clergyman has had no return OF i
no, rheumatism since.
a.