The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-12-21

but their dark outlines were discernlole. oh
the expiring enlbers of the fire stood the ket-
nc still singing audibly, and pouring form
streams Of vapour from its spout. 3.
The scene of gloom Was no impedimen,t,
TO the operations of the Barber. He sun
continued his incessant toll, and the strange
man as increasingly his vociferation "brush
away, my old bev," came perpetually IRON
his lips. and was succeeded invariably oy
long drawn desparing sigh from the bosom
of che shaver. The darkness at length oe-
came SO great. that the latter couiu WIN
difficulty perceive his own brush and soap
box. The lamps flickered some score OF
times like dying meteor, and tnen went
out while nothing remained OF the hre OUT
few red embers which communicated To-
cal glow of warmth. but scarcely emitted
the Slightest ray of light. The room was
illuminated solely by the faint beams OF the
moon, and was SO dark that nothing but the
outlines of the largest objects, such as the
chairs and tables, were visible. II he blocks,
long ere this time, had hid themselves in
darkness.
As the gloom became deeper, the Barber's
terror increased. His hand could scarcely
hold the brush, with which he worked at
random, like blind man-sometimes hit
ting, and sometimes missing the physiogno-
nv of the stranger. But though the dark
ness thickened around, the College clock
had struck the twelfth hour, the latter show
ed no signs of exhaustion. His eternal cry
continued the same. "Brush away, brush
away, brush away."-tha. incessant sound
rung like knell Of misery in the ears OF the
wretched shaver. Il He even thought that
he heard the accursed notes taken up by ev-
cry object around: his blocks, his klttle
seemed instinct with sound. They all re-
echoed it; the former with low and sepul-
chral notes from their wooden sconces: the
latter with kissing sound, like that OF
serpent endowed with speech.
Another half hour had now passed by,
and at length the horrid and unearthly tones
of the fat man became less loud He seem
ed to drop asleep, and his Brush away was
repeated at longer intervals; and in deep
hollow voice. 1t never ceased, however,
but was uttered with much less rapidity
than at first. He began to snore; and be-
tween each, long deep-drawn, 'Br-r-sh-
away was iearl to proceed from his bo-
som, as from the bottom of a tomb the
blocks and the kettle also re. murmured the
tones with kindred slowness. In all this
there was something lnexpressibly frightful;
and cloud passing before the moon, and
thereby leaving the chamber in utter dark
ness, the Barber found himsc overwhelmed
with unutterable dread.
There was not soul present but himself
and his fearful companion. His house open
ed into the College church-yard, which was
dismal place surrounded by high walls.
and regularly locked in each evening. Ev-
cry circumstance, therefore. contributed to
render his situation more appalling. There
was no one at hand to relieve him in his dis
tress: no one to hear him should he invoke
their aid. There was even no way of es-
cape should he be SO fortunate as to get out :
the lofty wall Of the cemetry rendered that
hopeless undertaking.
Meanwhile, he continued to play at his
endless task The least pause brought on
increased exclamations from the stranger.
While he athered him with rapidity he
was comparatively silent, but on any occa
sional pause from fatigue, the cries became
redoubled in loudness and rapidity. Times
without number was he obliged to shift the
brush from one hand to the other from actu-
al exhaustion. 1t was in vain there seem
ed to be no termination to his efforts. II he
relaxed moment he was sure to be recalled
bv the incessant Brush away oi the mystic
rious man.
Such intolersble misery he could not en-
dure. Human nature, in the person of the
Barber, was taxed to its utmost effort and
refused to do more. The anguish gave him
courage, and, stepping aside all at once, he
made to the door, intending to make his es-
cape. Alas scarcely had he advanced a
yard towards the threshold, than Brush a
way louder than any he had yet heard. fell
upon him like thunderbolt; and froze the
very spirits within him. He returned to
his task, and commenced brushing the beard
of the fat man as before. The cries of this
parsonage now become more loud than they
had been for the last hour. His slumbers
seemed to be broken, and he resumed, with
unabated vigor, his old system of singing
and whistling, and laughing fearfully.
"Brush away" continued he with his in
tolerabe laugh. ANT fatigued hope, my
old boys Will you have another taste of my
elixir, eh'
I'VE have more need of lights than of ell
ixir," calculated the Barber, with an effort
which cost him all his skill to accomplish.
BRUSH away, then, and we shall not want
for lights. There's brace of them for you.
DID you ever see any thing finer, old boy?"
The Barber started back a fathom with
amazement; and we'll he might, for in the
midst of the darkness he beheld two horrid
luminous eyes glarng upon him. The,
were those of the fat man, and seemed light
ed up with that hideous spectral glow which
is to be seen floating in cemeteries and other
places of corruption. The unnatural glare