Northern star, and Warren and Bristol gazette. [volume] (Warren [R.I.]) 1826-1830, 1826-05-27
Warren, Saturday Morning, May ~, 1926. (.

upon ALL upon the setting Of the
sl,, deep as the silence Of the for
esr by which they were surrounded.
II was not long therefore. before
goodman Gross, like the rest of the
town, was snoring ssundIy in bed. and
Ichalking up long scores in bis dreams,
against customers whose accents seem-
ed to l. We to end. Suddenly, howev-
er, his thoughts took a less agreeable
tnrn. Nc Imagined that his customers
refused payment, and that he himself
was on the roint Of being arrested for
debt nay. the constable appeared to
be knocking at bis door at that very mo-
ment. And IN truth, there was knock.
{ ing ut the door Of the Three Mariners,
and loud demands for admit ance -
The misty dreams gradually cleared a.
way from the mind ofthe sleeping land
lord, and the light Of his waking SEN :
ses began to appear He listened and
was satisfied that the sounds were no
echoes, of his, Imagination. Thump.
thump, went the blows without, and
thump, thunp, went the throbs Of his
heart. Never was poor tavern-keep-
er struck with so great CONSERVATION.
Three successive attempts he made to
rise, but each only served to sink him
still deeper under the bed clothes. At
last, however, AS the noise continued to
Increase, goodman Gross, summoning
up all his courage, resolved to go forth
and meet his importunate visltant, who
seemed TO bis frightened imagination
like roaring lion in the way TO devour
him. .nat ee
I About this period. the marvellous
tales of the witches were current
Throughout this part ofthc country and,
Though numbers ofinnocent I'crsons bad
fallen victims TO the strange superstition
/ Of the times, the general terrour was
Iby no means abated. Every unusual
Ievent was ascribed 10 supernatural a.
lgency, SO that it is badly to be won
Idered at, il the master of The Three
:, Mariners, as he drew the bar from the
door, felt a secret belief that he wa.
going to admit some evil spirit. His
courage was screwed 10 the sticking
jplace, and histrembIihg person drawing
up into an attitude of defence, when a
huge mass tumbled violently in. upset
I,ing the poor landlord by the shock.
How long he lay in this state of appa-
rent insensIbility, we do not take upon
us to affirm but at length he was areus-
ed by voice from the ball. which had
now rolled itself into the fireplace, 'le.
Imanding in hollow, unearthly tone, il
he were the master Of the house. "Ver
lily, am goodman Gross the publican"
stsmmered the half-dead tavern keep
er, gathering up his scattered frag-
ments, and rallyng his confused senses.
+" And verify thou deservest the name
Of sinner also," replied the same hollow
voice )" thou art very levite, 10 keep
a fellow being at thy door this uncom-
Portable night" AT the mention of fel-
low being, deep groan escaped the
tavern-keeper, aad faint ray of hight
flashed on his mind as 10 the nature oi
his gue,t. "But peradventure, thy
bowels Of compassion be not i,rozen,''
tcontinued the mysterious parsonage,
who as Shakespeare says Of the devil,
quoted scripture for his purpose" bring
!. forth thy wine and oil, as did the good
Samaritan of old.' :" or such sinful
liquors there are none within my gates,
J which are moreover forbidden by the
wisdom Of our rulers.' T" Discourse
not 10 me Of the wisdom of your spir-
ituh government" interrupted the
stranger, I" little wisdom is there, trow
in making long prayers, and wearing
short hnn" /.
Hereupon the living mass Of .furs--
!. for such it seemed-s,owly unIolled it.
self aud in its very centre disclosed a
squab ducklegged person, with an ex-
Il tremely diminutive head, dark forbid.
. king features. and prodigious cue that
projected from behind like an iron pump
handle. Goodman Gross recbnnoitered
his guest at a respectful distance, as he
, stood with his back to the fire, whisk-
|, ing bis cue from side to side, somewhat
in the manner ofa cat playing with his
tail. The frost which had occasioaed
its singular projections soon began. to
melt before the warmth OF the FIRE, and
passing off in thick volumes Of smoke,
seemed to confirm all the worst suspic-
ions ofthe credulous landlord. A hosi
, Of stories Of devils with unnatural tail:
that walk abroad BY night seeking ia
eosnare The sons ofmeu. came thropg
: my on his n!ad. Nay. the very features
} Of the stranger, assumed ssch a disboll
5 cal look Of complaceacy; ~ LEFT i,ttls
1 doubt as to his character. or the eblec