The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828, 1827-01-06

ard the Devil. and therefore when Catherine,
the ldt>t sister, began, IN an audible VOICE. to
rccitr the prayer against Wlchcraft. the others
joined IN IT most devoutly Now, then, fortified
against evil, their courage rose with every addi
tlonal sentence and when the soft voice of the
young Agnes, the youngest and !ovrllc>t of the
throe, steadily responded lie Amtn, they
were as courageous as was necessary. and no
longer fearful of the power OF the evil one
know not, nv children, all the forms used upon
tins occasion; but Catherine, after repeating
certain words IN a solemn voice, advanced be
fore her sisters, and quietly placed upon the
ground her offering 70 the shade She had IN
yoked as by his conduct towards ii, she was to
judge of her future prospects, 1t was a beau
titul rose which she had chosen. and the flowers
were full and many; and the sisters were con
ten?plnting from little distance the richness Of
their hue. when they were startled by the clash
ing Of arms and the loud outcrics Of men in
fierce contfnton breaking upon the stiffness of
the night For moment they hestated whe
ther 70 fly or remain concealed. when their
doubts were decided by the rapid approach of a
stern and stately Highland chief, who brandsh
Ing his broad sword. swept on to the rose tree
if he would annIhllatc from the earth its fair
and fragile beauty. Suddenly he pauseo-his
arm was no longer raised to destroy-the wca
pom dropped gently down beside the tree and
they saw his blue eve look Il IDLY and kindly on
the flowers as. bending down to gather them,
he faded from their sight in the action Cathc-
rIne was by no means dlspleased with her for
tune and the appearance Of her handsome
bridegroom gave courage to the other two to
hasten the coming of theirs Marian the second
sister, removed the rose. placed lily hough in
its stead, and them with beating heart and
wandering eye, repeated the charm. Again The
silence was broken. as the quick but steady
tramp Of the warriors horse struck upon the
car. and the shade of noble cavalier dismount
ing from his phantom steed. advanced slowly,
very slowly, towards the lily his face was
beautiful. but sad--beyond EXPIRE sson sad and
they tear fall upon tie flower as he press
ed it gently in his bosom He too had faded
like dream, when the beautiful Agnes advanc
ed to perform her part in the witcherics Of the
night She trembled, but she would not rccedc,
and family repeating the charm, hung her white
handkerchief on the branch Of distant tree
This time there no sound, but dread and
solemn silence slowly u,hcred in her unexpect-
ed fate From the wood came long and sable
procession of horse and foot following a coffin
that was steadily borne towards them: many
were the ghasIy attendants supporting the pail,
ana many were the shadowy mourners who fol
lowed Agnes watched with hreathlcss attcn
ton the march Of the phantomcd dead they
advanced slowly and steadily till they came to
the tree where her white offering nuttered light
ly in The air it was seen suspended moment
above them. then dropped amidst the cavacade,
and Agnes behold the pale fingers Of the chief
mourner clutch at the offering as it fell
Days, weeks, months, passed away, and