Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-11-12
Eyom the Port fJho.
THE THREE HUMpBACKS.

Nj a short distance from Dauai, there
stood castle oo The bank oil river, near
o bridge. The master of this castle was
humpbaeke Ma ure had exhausted
her ingenuity in the formation OF this
Whimsical figure. In place OF under
standing, she had given HIM an immense
hean, which nevertheless was los, be-
tween his two shoulders; he had thilk
hair, short neck, and horrible visa =.
Spie OF this deiortniy, this be gbear
be;hought himself OF falling in love with
a beautiful young woman, the daughter
OF poor but respectable burgess OF
Douai. He sought her in marriage, and
as he was the riches, person IN the dis
tri the poor girl was delivered up to
him. Alter the nup,iaIs, he was as much
an object Of pity as she, for being de-
voured by jealousy, he had 90 tranquil
,y nigh, or day, but wen, prying and ram
bling every where, and suffered no stran-
ger 10 enter the castle.
One day during the Christmas festi-
val, while standing sentinel at his gate,
he was accosted by three hnmpbscked
minslrels. They saluled him as a bro.
ther, as such asked him for refreshments,
and at the same time they ostentatiuusly
shouldered their humps at him. Con
trary 10 expectation, he conducted them
to his kitchen, gave them capon with
peas, and to each piece of money over
and above. Il fire their departure, he
caulioned then never to return again on
pain OF being thrown mo the river. At
this 'hreat OF he Chae clam, the Minis rels
laus bcd heartily, and took the road TO
the town, singing in foil chorus, and
dancing in grotesque manner, IN der-
sion of their brother hump OF the castle.
He, on his part, without paying further
attention. went to walk 10 the fields.
The lady, who saw her husband cross
the fridge, and had heard the MINISTRIES,
called them back 10 amuse her. They
had not long returned to the castle, when
her husband knocked at the gate, by
which she and The mins'rels were equal
ly alarmed. Fortunately the lady per.
ceIved in a neighboring room three emp
ty Golfers. Into each Of these she stuffed
a nins.rei, shut the covers, and then
opered the gate to her husband. He
had only come back to espy the conduct
oil his vile as usual, and alter a short
stay went out anew; at which you may
believe his wife was not dissatisfied.
SIZE Instantly ran to the Golfers to release
tie prisoners, for night was approaching
and Der husband would not probably be
long absent. But what was her dismay,
when she found them all suffocated
Lamenta.on, however, was all useless.
Ths main object now was to get rid OF
the dead bodies. and she had not mo-
merit to lose, She ran to the gate, and
seeing peasant 90 by, she offered him
Q reward Of thirty livres, and leading him
into tie castle, she took him TO one of
the Golfers. and showing him lis contents,
told him he mus, throw the dead body
into the river: he asked for sack, pul
the carcase into it, prched it over the
bridge, and then returned, out oil breath,
to claim the promised reward.
~ certainly intended to satisfy you"
said the lady, shut you ought first to
fulfil the condition of the bargain--you
h We agreed to rid me OF the body, have
10 no, i? There, however, it is still I"
S s,ng his, she showed him TO The other
Golfer, in which the second humpback